Canadian Healthcare: Premier of NF & L goes to US for heart surgery
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Posted on: 02-02-10 16:56:52
Even the premier of Newfoundland and Labardor does not trust his healthcare system. He goes to US for his heart surgery. He could come to Ontario or someother province for his surgery.
We used to blame our Neta's for double standards and all changed after Happy Singh of Kichidi party had his open heart surgery in New Delhi hospital.
So much of patriotism when one comes to his personal health.
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http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100202/national/nl_premier_surgery
Williams seeks heart surgery in U.S. because it is not available in N.L.
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Tue Feb 2, 10:47 AM
By Sue Bailey, The Canadian Press
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ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Premier Danny Williams of Newfoundland and Labrador is undergoing heart surgery in the United States later this week because the treatment he is seeking was not available in his home province, his deputy premier said Tuesday.
Williams, 60, decided to go to the U.S. for surgery after weeks of consultation with his doctors, Kathy Dunderdale said. \"Having the surgery done in the province was never an option,\" Dunderdale said.
\"Obviously, it's taken some time to have the diagnosis, progress, consultation with a number of medical experts, so it has taken several weeks.\"
Dunderdale would not reveal what the surgery was beyond the fact that it was heart surgery. She also declined to say where and what day it will take place and whether the type of surgery Williams is having was available elsewhere in the country.
\"Ultimately we have to be the gatekeepers of our own health and he has taken medical advice from a number of different sources ... He is doing what's best for him,\" she said.
Dunderdale said she wasn't sure if the premier was covering his own medical costs.
\"I would expect that he is eligible for all that the rest of us would be in terms of our own private insurance or government insurance and I'm sure if there's anything over and above that the premier will certainly take care of it himself.\"
Williams, an independently wealthy former lawyer and businessman who donates his premier's salary to charity, will take anywhere from three to 12 weeks to recover, Dunderdale added.
He will speak publicly about his condition once he is well enough to do so, she added.
\"He's more than prepared to talk about this whole process ... once he recovers.\"
She said the medical advice he has received is that the prognosis for a full recovery was \"very good.\"
His decision to go to the U.S. for health care has triggered a heated debate online, particularly in a province that has tried to restore public confidence in its health care services after a major scandal involving botched breast cancer tests.
Williams is a hockey buff who played in a recreational league until recently. He last met reporters Friday after a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and looked relaxed and fit.
The father of four grown children has four grandchildren.
In an interview last year, Williams spoke candidly about the stresses and frustrations of the job he has held since 2003.
Williams openly mused about his occupational choice. Still, Williams has said repeatedly in recent months that he has every intention of running in the next provincial election slated for 2011.
Dunderdale will serve as the province's acting premier while Williams recovers.
In Newfoundland, Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones and NDP Leader Lorraine Michael both expressed concern for Williams and offered their best wishes for his full and fast recovery.
But, Jones also said Williams owes the public more of an explanation about exactly what procedure he needs and why he felt it necessary to go to the U.S.
She said her office hears all the time about patients on long wait lists for various services in the province, she said.
Jones said the province has worked hard to restore confidence since the breast cancer testing debacle but added that she is concerned news about Williams will shake the public's faith in local health care once again.
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Sunny Leone a true Canadian DESI now back in India !.
What are you implying here? It just isn't clear - besides why this urge to compare ourselves with India?
What has patriotism got to do with a health issue? I see pure politics here.
I would let Vandemataram Defend if he wants to but this is what I implied from above:
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Originally posted by ILOVENA
What are you implying here? It just isn't clear
NF & L had and probably still has issues with Healthcare and if a premier goes not only out of province but out of Country how the local public to trust the healthcare system there.
Quote:
- besides why this urge to compare ourselves with India?
Users of this site compare a lot of good things (such as india's leadnig economy) and bad things (such as child molestation, fight over language etc) with India. Good thing that is compared here is that India's healthcare system is good. And however it is, India's premier showed faith in the system that he is directly or indirectly responsible for.
Quote:
What has patriotism got to do with a health issue? I see pure politics here.
1) Free speech it is, if one wants to compare stand of premier on health issue with patriotism, that is how one sees it.
2) In the past (even now) our netas also used to do major surgeries out of country just like premier of NF &L. But faith in our countries doctors and health system, isn't it a one aspect of patriotism?
Seeking medical service where I want to is the question of my own comfort level, I decide where I want to, media is blowing this just for their sake and so do the American politicians who found another story to boo against the wish of Americans seeking universal healthcare like Canada, why would they support the universal healthcare if they are compensated by the giants) .
He could be going because he might not want to cut the line and go in front. If there are concerns with work as a Premier, well it is right to criticize. What is the point in criticizing his personal interests. There should be a limit to what we should for inside the life of the leaders. No point of becoming a victim of the frenzy created by the media.
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The cowards never started,
The weak died on the way,
Only the strong arrived.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yK1i9cLAMM
Quote:
Originally posted by JRF
Seeking medical service where I want to is the question of my own comfort level, I decide where I want to, media is blowing this just for their sake and so do the American politicians who found another story to boo against the wish of Americans seeking universal healthcare like Canada, why would they support the universal healthcare if they are compensated by the giants) .
He could be going because he might not want to cut the line and go in front. If there are concerns with work as a Premier, well it is right to criticize. What is the point in criticizing his personal interests. There should be a limit to what we should for inside the life of the leaders. No point of becoming a victim of the frenzy created by the media.
Should a millionnaire, businessman or for that matter any common man takes such a decision, there would not have been such criticism. Lets say if a minimum wage worker has similar condition would he have the same option? The premier represents Region, country and universal healthcare system and will be criticized for this action especially when other countries are looking at Canada on healthcare. Agreed it is personal decision but when you are a public figure, people look upon your decisions. OF course politics is involved but there is a base for the criticism. India's PM did get praise for undergoing operartion within India.
The premier in the subject is a successful businessman, millionaire and had enjoyed a lifestyle before becoming a premier, which could also be visiting luxurious hospitals ( could be like Mount Sinai where Hollywoodies go), just because he became a premier, he doesn't need to give up his lifestyle which he spends from his pocket.
Being an affluent individual, he might have thought why to use the facilities set for the public as he would end up getting more attention from the hospital management that may stir controversy for such treatment hence he would've thought it is the way to go US by not compromising his lifestyle which he enjoyed before and at the same time saving $$ for the citizens to use.
There are chances that he was consulting with the same Doctor in US for quite sometime.
You elect a premier not to live the same lifestyle as you but to develop your region and society. (Were you happy to see the Prime Minister wearing sweaters (no tie), driving minivan dropping his kids to school just before the election time). The premier wouldn't need fix the healthcare for his needs but for the public.
Quote:
Originally posted by manserwadekar
Quote:
Originally posted by JRF
Seeking medical service where I want to is the question of my own comfort level, I decide where I want to, media is blowing this just for their sake and so do the American politicians who found another story to boo against the wish of Americans seeking universal healthcare like Canada, why would they support the universal healthcare if they are compensated by the giants) .
He could be going because he might not want to cut the line and go in front. If there are concerns with work as a Premier, well it is right to criticize. What is the point in criticizing his personal interests. There should be a limit to what we should for inside the life of the leaders. No point of becoming a victim of the frenzy created by the media.
Should a millionnaire, businessman or for that matter any common man takes such a decision, there would not have been such criticism. Lets say if a minimum wage worker has similar condition would he have the same option? The premier represents Region, country and universal healthcare system and will be criticized for this action especially when other countries are looking at Canada on healthcare. Agreed it is personal decision but when you are a public figure, people look upon your decisions. OF course politics is involved but there is a base for the criticism. India's PM did get praise for undergoing operartion within India.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The cowards never started,
The weak died on the way,
Only the strong arrived.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yK1i9cLAMM
Quote:
Originally posted by JRF
The premier in the subject is a successful businessman, millionaire and had enjoyed a lifestyle before becoming a premier, which could also be visiting luxurious hospitals ( could be like Mount Sinai where Hollywoodies go), just because he became a premier, he doesn't need to give up his lifestyle which he spends from his pocket.
Being an affluent individual, he might have thought why to use the facilities set for the public as he would end up getting more attention from the hospital management that may stir controversy for such treatment hence he would've thought it is the way to go US by not compromising his lifestyle which he enjoyed before and at the same time saving $$ for the citizens to use.
There are chances that he was consulting with the same Doctor in US for quite sometime.
You elect a premier not to live the same lifestyle as you but to develop your region and society. (Were you happy to see the Prime Minister wearing sweaters (no tie), driving minivan dropping his kids to school just before the election time). The premier wouldn't need fix the healthcare for his needs but for the public.
Point is, if he was just a millionnaire/ businessman, there wouldn't have been such a criticism. Many of such canadians might already be doing that. Fact behind that is american healthcare system is far better if you have money. Praise for dropping a kid to school in a minivan would have been much lesser for a millionnair than for a premier, again because you are in public eye.
About the lifestyle, I don't think he will be critisized for how lavishly he lives, where he spends his vacations, what restaurants he eats, etc. The healthcare issue concerns everyone, rich or poor.
People are already skeptical about the overall healthcare here, and if the public figure takes such an action it adds more skepticism. I know as a premier, you are not in control of healthcare system. But when it is universal care, what is getting done to get the similar treatment in this country where a common person can avail same.
