All parts of the elephant
But I grow weary - his definitions is wacked and I can't help him apparently.
I'm sure the view from his side of the argument is equally frustrating.
I (and you I think) take the position that the best care would keep a scratch from turning into massive sepsis by effective use of low tech (and cheap) means (basic cleansing, clean dressings, observation). This is the best outcome and hence the best care.
His view is, once you've got massive sepsis, the US doctors are more likely to pull you back from the brink of death (most likely with amputation of the affected limb, fancy blood filters, and extensive and elaborate drug regimes) than anyone else. I don't call that good care though and its only a tiny part of the picture. At one single data point, there is a spike in the graph. If you are really screwed up, certain stars might be able to do better than anyone else.
I think its fallacious though. If Michael Jordan came to France to play basketball professionally, does that mean that France is now the best in basketball because he brings a million coconuts with him? Er.... you know what I mean.
So I think this argument is exhausted and we just don't agree on what "best" is.
Next topic.
I am out of the country for the duration of the Bush administration.
Please leave a message and I'll get back to you when democracy returns.