Paging Dr. Sherman! Paging Dr. Sherman! A patient has fallen ill and requires your immediate attention. Unfortunately, in this emergency it’s your own credibility that’s suffered the malady, brought upon by a sudden, vicious and — until proved otherwise — baseless outward attack.
Dr. Raj Sherman should be gravely concerned about the condition of his political credibility after his antics in the legislature this week. The former PC MLA who was booted from caucus for criticizing his government’s mismanagement of health care went from hero to zero when he amped up his finger wagging, this time accusing former health region executives of offering hush money to Alberta doctors over cancer patients who died waiting for care. Specifically, Sherman claimed a ‘source’ told him that 250 people died while on a lung surgery waiting list between 2003 and 2006, and pinned the hush campaign on specific health region bosses and executives.
So far Sherman has refused to offer one shred of proof to his explosive charge, uttered inside the legislature where he, as an MLA, enjoys absolute privilege and is immune from defamation. The good doctor has not repeated his accusation outside the house, all of which adds up to a most troubling bout of politician gamesmanship without scruples. Naturally, the premier, health minister and current and former health officials aren’t pleased with their former colleague’s irresponsible grandstanding and accusations of criminal wrongdoings.
Sherman owes it to those health officials — and all Albertans — to come up with some proof to justify such a serious accusation. Suggesting this conspiracy is buried within the books of now defunct health regions does not cut it, and only does a disservice to recent public and political pressure to improve health care delivery, a campaign in which Sherman played no small part.
It’s hard to believe that a few short months ago Sherman was widely praised for putting the health of Albertans ahead of his political career when he spoke out about health care. But after accusing the Tories of conducting a whisper campaign against him (suggesting his mental health has been questioned), his musings about joining leadership campaigns for pretty much any political party out there as if he’s a hired gun and now this, there are questions about whether Sherman’s motives are so purely selfless. Albertans need a healthy health care debate backed up with facts, not cheap political rhetoric that smacks of revenge.
