France best, U.S. worst in preventable death ranking

The United States has come in last among 19 industrialized nations in a new health survey that measured preventable deaths. The survey, conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, defined preventable deaths as ones that could have been prevented by timely and effective medical treatment.

The United States had 109.7 such deaths per 100,000 people. The survey leader, France, by contrast, had 64.8 deaths per 100,000. A similar survey conducted ten years ago ranked the United States 15th out of 19, with France again finishing first.

The 47 million Americans without health insurance are believed to be a major factor in the country’s low ranking. All other nations surveyed have some form of socialized medical coverage.