Summary

“Dentists without Borders” - This essay begins with a reference to the American Health Care debate, and how “socialized” medicine such as that practiced in Canada and in Europe is held up to be an extremely negative experience. The author describes his confusion about why this belief is so prevalent, and cites some examples of why the treatment he received from a physician in Paris (who works within a socialized system) is just fine. He makes the same point about the treatment he receives from the three Parisian physicians who take care of his teeth, all of whom, he says, treat him with respect and humor, professionalism and warmth, recognizing his needs as a patient and his curiosity and experiences as a human being. He describes in relative detail his experiences in each of the physicians’ three offices – specifically how, in spite of...