'My heart, my choice,' Williams says, defending decision for U.S. heart surgery

[Texacon]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h0QC7bditrEb3wYz_6_b-gsGGDxA

'My heart, my choice,' Williams says, defending decision for U.S. heart surgery

By Tara Brautigam (CP) – 16 hours ago

An unapologetic Danny Williams says he was aware his trip to the United States for heart surgery earlier this month would spark outcry, but he concluded his personal health trumped any public fallout over the controversial decision.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Williams said he went to Miami to have a "minimally invasive" surgery for an ailment first detected nearly a year ago, based on the advice of his doctors.

"This was my heart, my choice and my health," Williams said late Monday from his condominium in Sarasota, Fla.

"I did not sign away my right to get the best possible health care for myself when I entered politics."

-snip-

Are you friggin' kidding me?!

Answer THAT libs!

KC

[Texacon]

LOL it gets better!

Williams said he didn't announce his departure south of the border because he didn't want to create "a media gong show," but added that criticism would've followed him had he chose to have surgery in Canada.

"I would've been criticized if I had stayed in Canada and had been perceived as jumping a line or a wait list. ... I accept that. That's public life," he said.
"(But) this is not a unique phenomenon to me. This is something that happens with lots of families throughout this country, so I make no apologies for that."

Williams said his decision to go to the U.S. did not reflect any lack of faith in his own province's health care system.

"I have the utmost confidence in our own health care system in Newfoundland and Labrador, but we are just over half a million people," he said.

"We do whatever we can to provide the best possible health care that we can in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Canadian health care system has a great reputation, but this is a very specialized piece of surgery that had to be done and I went to somebody who's doing this three or four times a day, five, six days a week."

That is a great article.

KC

[jinxmchue]

Government-run healthcare is crap and the uppity-ups in countries that have it know it.  That's why they all come here, because we have better doctors due to privatized healthcare.

[RightCoast]

This will get no real coverage.

[JohnnyReb]

So, socialist politicians would really rather have a greedy, heartless, capitalist bastard do "THEIR" heart surgery than a big hearted, socialist, liberal one.

I understand completely.

[Texacon]

This will get no real coverage.

You got that right.  I didn't hear one word about it on the MSM last night.

KC

[BEG]

Anyone over at DU talking about this?

[Texacon]

Anyone over at DU talking about this?

I've been hoping to see it over there.  Even if a mole had to leave some droppings of it.  I would love to see/read the reactions to the story.

KC

[debk]

Part of living in a "free" country....is being allowed to be free.

Included in that is the right to make a informed choice on medical care for your own body. And make the best decision for yourself....not what's politically correct.


Over 25 years ago...one of my son's godfathers needed open heart surgery. At the time, University of Alabama-Birmingham's Medical Center was one of the top places in the SE for the type of problem he had. He went there for his successful surgery. He was a Professor of Urology at Duke University Medical Center.

[Texacon]

Part of living in a "free" country....is being allowed to be free.

Included in that is the right to make a informed choice on medical care for your own body. And make the best decision for yourself....not what's politically correct.


Over 25 years ago...one of my son's godfathers needed open heart surgery. At the time, University of Alabama-Birmingham's Medical Center was one of the top places in the SE for the type of problem he had. He went there for his successful surgery. He was a Professor of Urology at Duke University Medical Center.

I couldn't agree more.  The problem with this one is this guys station in Canada and his stances;

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -- Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams will undergo heart surgery later this week in the United States

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2510700#ixzz0gSsvAa3a

A popular Progressive Conservative premier, Mr. Williams has also seen his share of controversy. During the 2008 federal election, Mr. Williams vehemently opposed the Conservative government, launching his "Anything But Conservative" -- which has been credited with keeping the Tories from winning any seats in the province.

Seems like if you are running on liberal values you should be living under the problems that causes.  Meh, that's my take.

KC

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Now you peasants get back in line.

[debk]

I know he's from Canada....but Canada's a "free" country.

Maybe now that he's been on the other side of needing quality health care....when HE needed it....he will change his liberal position.

It's very easy "to talk the talk".....not so easy to "walk the talk".....as evidenced with this guy.

If our Congress Critters had to deal with health insurance issues like the rest of us mere mortals....they might look at our health care system differently....and work on what needs to be worked on instead of where they are focusing.

They are getting the best of the best in Washington (even Murtha did, I have to wonder if some Divine intervention happened ... ) all for free paid for by OUR tax dollars....not living in the real world like the rest of us.

[Texacon]

I know he's from Canada....but Canada's a "free" country.

Maybe now that he's been on the other side of needing quality health care....when HE needed it....he will change his liberal position.

It's very easy "to talk the talk".....not so easy to "walk the talk".....as evidenced with this guy.

I'm just saying he has helped to make it 'Less Free' for those he works for.  He should have to live with his decisions just as our elected reps should have to live with their decisions.  This guy should have gotten in line and let them crack his ribs for the procedure instead of running to the US.  How many of his constituents can do the same?

He is not just Canadian, he is a Premier!  By God!!   

Had your sons God Father been in charge of making sure his staff couldn't go to another hospital to get medical treatment then he himself went to the other hospital do you think there would have been an outrage?

KC

[debk]

I'm just saying he has helped to make it 'Less Free' for those he works for.  He should have to live with his decisions just as our elected reps should have to live with their decisions.  This guy should have gotten in line and let them crack his ribs for the procedure instead of running to the US.  How many of his constituents can do the same?

He is not just Canadian, he is a Premier!  By God!!   

Had your sons God Father been in charge of making sure his staff couldn't go to another hospital to get medical treatment then he himself went to the other hospital do you think there would have been an outrage?

KC

I agree with what you are saying....but he's just a perfect example of what's good for the gander is NOT good enough for the goose. 


There were a lot of nasty comments made regarding the godfather going to Alabama. Not so much that he went there, but that Duke was behind the curve in heart surgery compared to *gasp* Alabama. 

At that time....Duke's cardio-thoracic residency program was 9-11 YEARS....and the chairman of the department was very proud of the fact that "his" residents spent every other night in the hospital for the entire residency program, that if one was a resident in "his" program...the program was to be the most important part of their lives. The divorce rate in that program was about 75% per year....it was 33% per year, in the urology department.