The Consumer Experience with Cataract Surgery and Private Clinics in Alberta: Canada’s Canary in the Mine Shaft By Wendy Armstrong Consumers’ Association of Canada (Alberta) Original release January 2000 Reformatted Electronic Format II (2009) Revisions: This electronic copy has been reformatted for a PDF online version resulting in changes to the numbering of pages. Minor revisions have been made to the text and illustration headings to improve clarity and facilitate formatting without affecting content. Some additional footnotes were added in 2003 along with a one-page author’s update. In March 2009, the report was again reformatted resulting in changes to page numbers and footnotes, etc. The Alberta Chapter of Consumers’ Association of Canada is an independent non- partisan, not-for-profit, provincially incorporated consumer rights organization. (1968). The purpose of the organization is to protect consumers’ rights to health and safety, access to reliable information, and fair and honest dealing in the marketplace. Funding for activities comes from donations, memberships and ad hoc non- restrictive grants and fees. It is affiliated with the national Consumers’ Association of Canada (founded in 1947). The author of this report, Wendy Armstrong, is a public interest researcher and advocate who has been affiliated with the Association for over 10 years. Printed copies are original available for a fee of $15.00. The separate Appendix is an additional $10. To order a printed copy of the report, contact: Consumers’ Association of Canada (Alberta) Box 11171, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 3K4 Telephone: (780) 426-3270 E-mail:
[email protected] Website: www.albertaconsumers.org Canada’s Canary in the Mine Shaft II Author’s Update February 2003 • Following release of this report, the provincial government commissioned an external review of the literature relating to the merits of contracting out publicly insured surgical services.