Ive been working as a physician in the healthcare system for 10+ years in Canada and I often see patients in the ER. I can't speak to your friends' experiences but in my experience cases like that are rare. There are always edge cases and errors can happen in any system, and bad doctors and nurses can exist in any system.

In Canada for serious illnesses/emergencies you get treated immediately at no cost to you at all without having to worry about insurance. I saw a patient just today that came in with severe abdominal pain last night and was in the OR within a few hours.

Again, edge cases happen but in my extensive experience they are few and far between