Rationing AICDs in Canada

Dr. Wes on rationing of electrophysiology services in Canada:

I asked how many defibrillators (they) performed a year and asked who paid for them, and she said the government. "But we got authorization to do five more devices next year," she said.

"Only five?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yep, and we were lucky. Other centers got fewer. They're expensive, you know. We have to be very careful about who we select to get one of those. It's not like America - people here are used to waiting."

And then I wondered: would America ever be capable of overt rationing, as in Canada?

I hope not.