As Premier Danny Williams lay in intensive care after heart surgery Thursday in a U.S. hospital, his second-in-command lashed out at the “ferocious” debate around his trip south for treatment.
Deputy premier Kathy Dunderdale said it's “absolutely unacceptable” how her boss's choice of care has exposed him to a “battery” of ill-informed opinion.
“We forego a lot of privacy when we put our hands up to do this job, but there still are parameters,” she said.
“I believe it goes beyond the pale. The Premier hasn't done anything that anybody else wouldn't have done.”
Mr. Williams, 60, touched off a storm of media and Internet commentary on the state of Canadian medicare when news broke Monday that he would have undisclosed cardiac surgery at an unnamed U.S. clinic.
Ms. Dunderdale said Mr. Williams was able to have his “preferred” procedure but declined to say more, citing his family's wish for privacy. “This is a stressful time. Any kind of heart surgery brings with it a great deal of angst,” she said.
She said Mr. Williams will be “chafing at the bit” to return to work and is expected back in his office in early March – in about four weeks.
“Nobody has to encourage him to work. He's a workaholic,” she said of the father of four grown children and grandfather of four. “We're all delighted that this part of the journey is over.” Source...
