"Let's Be Fair to Our Medicos"


The Mexican doctors, in the eyes of many, have not been given the recognition they deserve. In my humble opinion, they&rsqu;yve been given a "bum rap." Many of us winter visitors are receiving excellent treatment every day. Still the impression is left that we are better to go home, should serious problems develop. In our case, a trip home would have been sure death, but you be the judge.

My wife, Mary, is 80 years young and because of previous minor heart problems, I had one of our girl&rsqu;ys fly down to Mexico with her from Toronto. A few days later, Mary developed symptoms of heart problems. I contacted a Guadalajara cardiologist, Dr. Roman Garcia Garcia, through La Floresta Clinic. After Dr. Garcia&rsqu;ys examination, it was obvious my wife should be hospitalized. A couple of days later we headed for the Mexican Hospital Militar Regional in Guadalajara, where we have privileges through the American Legion via the Royal Canadian Legion. From here on, our eyes were really opened to modern Mexican medical services.

This facility is staffed by top qualified military doctors. But since the Hospital Militar does not perform heart surgery, we were transported to Santa Margarita Hospital. This hospital is over 100 years old, where the nuns still wear their capes and are proud of it. Before we could go further, an angiogram was necessary in order to observe the heart in action. This of course was after ultrasound, blood tests, X-rays, etc. During the angio procedure, I was called into the observation theater where the arterial blockage was in evidence on the screen. I was shown & told what the next step was to be. By the way, an angiogram is an invasive & life threatening procedure which must be approved in writing by the patient or his or her spouse.

It should be pointed out that this same operation was done in the USA two years earlier, with another angiogram done in Toronto less than a month later, when the problem should have been discovered and solved. Anyway, here in Mexico, a stint was placed in the left coronary artery, but further repair work was not advisable for medical reasons. Incidentally, a stint is nothing more than a cylindrical wire mesh cage inserted in the artery at a point of weakness in the arterial wall, or where the artery wall collapsed after blockages of plaque was cleaned out. The first operation Mary had was successful. Unfortunately, another operation was necessary.

At this writing, Mary is home with an oxygen supply available when needed. She is making steady progress.

Needless to say, we are indebted to our doctors and nurses who extended us professional care not exceeded anywhere in the Western World. Mexican Doctors need not take a back seat to any other group of specialists.