In Italy, I never ever went to the doctor just for the hell of it, but only when I was sick or when scheduled for yearly or semi-yearly check ups.
My pediatrician made home visits when I was very sick (high fever, etc.). I remember one time when my younger sister was really sick and he came in the middle of the night. He was a great guy. Dr. Valentino - I still remember his name. He gave birth to me and my sister and he was our primary physician until we moved to the U.S. at ages 15 and 14. In Italy, the pediatrician remains your primary physician until age 19. By age 11, I also saw an ob/gyn because I started menstruating. But I never went to a doctor or ER just because.
My only time in an ER that I can remember was when I was teaching my sister how to dance a waltz at age 5, she fell and I put my right arm behind her to cushion her fall. I broke my ulna and radius. Went to the ER. The ER doctor put my broken arm on his knee and pushed the bones back in. Put me in a cast and learned how to use my left hand for a couple of months 
My arm works fine.
I have plenty of friends and relatives in Italy and no one goes to the doctor unless necessary or as part of preventative medicine.
Edit history
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
= new reply since forum marked as read