Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams will travel to the United States this week where he will undergo heart surgery, according to the Globe and Mail. However, Williams will have surgery south of the border because the treatment he needs is not available in his province.
The Premier’s office did verify that Williams will have heart surgery, reports CBC, but added that it not a routine procedure. Deputy Premier Kathy Dunderdale is scheduled to hold a press conference on Tuesday to discuss how the province will be handled during Williams’ absence and provide more details on his condition.
“Obviously, it's taken some time to have the diagnosis, progress, consultation with a number of medical experts, so it has taken several weeks. 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,” said Dunderdale. The Deputy Premier added that she wasn’t sure if he is covering his own medical costs or taking government insurance.
Once Williams is in good condition and is well enough to do so, he will speak publicly on his health and the entire procedure.
The Canadian Press notes that the Premier’s surgery in the US has caused a fierce online health care debate because Newfoundland and Labrador has attempted to restore confidence in their health care system after several botched breast cancer tests.
Provincial Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones offered the Premier her best wishes but demanded that Williams owes the public an explanation on what he needs and why he’s traveling to the US for surgery.
Comments
I'm sure he wants the most immediate and best care. No mystery there. This is why all of us, here in the USA, do not want one size fits all healthcare.
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