Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams is out of surgery and
recovering at a medical facility in the U.S., his office confirmed Thursday.
Acting premier Kathy Dunderdale said Williams underwent heart surgery on
Thursday morning and the procedure went extremely well.
It’s not known what type of procedure Williams underwent, but Dunderdale
said the premier was able to have “the preferred option,” which means his
recovery time should be minimal. She said Williams is expected to remain in
intensive care for the next 24 hours, and should be back to work in early
March.
The premier's office continues to be tight-lipped about his whereabouts,
calling it a privacy matter.
Dr. David Fitchett of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto said there are “very
few” heart procedures that are done in the U.S. that can't be done in
Canada.
“I do not think any centre (in Canada) is replacing valves with robotic
surgery as they are doing at the Cleveland Clinic.”
Williams' decision to go to the U.S. for treatment has sparked debate across
Canada. The premier is known as a staunch defender of Canada's public
health-care system.
Dunderdale said the experience has been “frustrating” for Williams and his
family.
“This is a stressful time. Any kind of heart surgery brings with it a great
deal of angst,” she said. “And to have to deal with the debate and the
invasion of privacy during this time has been difficult, for his children, I
think, particularly.”
The debate has also been picked up in the U.S., where the situation has been
used as an example of the failings of a public health-care system.
Dunderdale said it was wrong to make Williams the “poster boy” for the
health-care debate there.
“It's a bit much,” she said. “It goes beyond the pale.”
She said Williams didn't do anything different than anyone else would do in
the same situation.
While debate continues to pick up in the rest of Canada, Newfoundlanders are
showering their ever-popular premier with well-wishes online and over the
airwaves.
Newspapers and talk radio shows have been inundated with praise for
Williams, and fiery criticism for anyone questioning his office's silence
about the situation.
One person called VOCM Open Line host Randy Simms an “idiot” when he
questioned the government's silence about the situation.
Numerous Facebook groups have emerged to express support for the ailing
premier.
Get Well Premier Williams boasted 3,962 members by Thursday afternoon.
Get Well Soon Premier DANNY WILLIAMS had 1,139. Both groups threatened to
remove any users who posted negative comments.
“If I was down and out, I would appreciate knowing that I have people who
are thinking about my well being, not just trying to get political points,”
said Daniel Foley, creator of the DANNY WILLIAMS group.
