Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Several weeks ago, while visiting my birth land of Scotland, I had occasion to need medical care for a muscle spasm in my back which rendered me unable to stand erect without great pain. After four days of suffering, where I tried to walk it off, I decided to seek medical help. My twin brother took me to his health clinic, which is run by the National Health Service, a British government-run health care, often frowned upon and disparaged by many of our elected officials and some citizens in America.

Upon arrival, I was asked to fill out a visitor’s form and was told I might have a bit of a wait. Within 35 minutes, I was called in to see a doctor. After examining and talking with me, he appeared to be somewhat embarrassed at having to inform me that, since I had not paid my NHS stamp over the past 51 years of living in the U.S., there would be a charge. I did not expect free treatment. My office visit came to 25 pounds (about $30). My prescription, a thi...