In China, cancer rates are rapidly rising as smoking, the westernization of the diet, and pollution take their toll.

In China also, there is a tradition of paying a Doctor to keep you healthy. What a quaint idea.

So nowadays, when a family has sold all their assets, to include the family cow, to pay for expensive cancer drugs and guess what, the patient dies - they are angry with the Doctor for his perceived failure.

In the US, we may not pay directly for these drugs, but we certainly pay indirectly as insurance rates soar - I think we should ask whether the millions are worth it for drugs which ARE NOT EVEN A CURE, but which add at most a few painful months to a patient's life.

Attacks by angry patients and family members on China's medical personnel almost doubled last year

I am well qualified to comment on this, since as some of you know I was diagnosed with lymphoma in September 2005.   I would certainly not opt for ruining my family financially, just to live a few extra short months.