If a stranger is sick, is it your duty to help pay his bill?

Depending on what part of the world you live in, you will have different flavors of health care.  For example in the United States, there is no free universal health care.   If you get sick in the United States you will have to pay for a hospital visit out of pocket, or use an insurance plan to cover the expenses.  North of the border in Canada you have the exact opposite situation.  In Canada, you pay a percentage of taxes which allows for free hospital visits.

Is one way better the other?  Perhaps a blend of Free and Pay services are best.  Keep in mind, depending on the form of health care you have will entitle you to different levels of service.  In the United States you may have access to a free cat scan, but you will not have to wait 3 months for one like you would in Canada.  In Canada you can have heart surgery absolutely free and not have to worry about having to mortgage you home in order to pay the hospital bill.

One side is free at the time of use but you pay for it through your taxes.  The other system only required you to purchase insurance or pay for service when it is needed.     What is the best system and why?  Do you feel it is right to pay for another person’s medical bills through taxes?  Should we all want to help each other, or should we take care of ourselves at our own expense?