blame.

But the National Research Council experts rejected this possibility.

"The health care system in the United States differs from those in other high-income countries in a number of ways that conceivably could lead to differences in life expectancy," they wrote.

"However, this is a smaller factor above age 65 than at younger ages because of Medicare entitlements. For the main causes of death at older ages -- cancer and cardiovascular disease -- available indicators do not suggest that the U.S. health care system is failing to prevent deaths that would elsewhere be averted," they added.

"In fact, cancer detection and survival appear to be better in the United States than in most other high-income countries. Survival rates following a heart attack also are favorable in the United States."

The National Research Council,Commitment for Life

Commitment for Life (CfL) is the world development programme of the United Reformed Church.
Participating churches are encouraged to take action, pray and give for people across the world but especially in the four partner countries/regions:
– Bangladesh
– Central America (Honduras, Guatemala. Nicaragua and El Salvador)
– Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory
– Zimbabwe

CfL works in partnership with Christian Aid and Global Justice Now (formerly The World Development Movement), raising around half a million pounds a year from contributing churches.

Guildford URC is a CfL church with particular interest currently in the work in Bangladesh, although members follow all the regions with interest. The church makes a significant donation to CfL annually and supports it through regular giving, and monthly book and cake/jam/produce stalls.