WHAT AILS OUR LEADERS?
We should not be obsessed with the health of individual political personalities but instead, ensure appropriate succession plans are in place
THE by-election in Sungai Kandis due to the death of Selangor assemblyman Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei from stage 4 lymphoma is the consequence of one of many health issues that have plagued the new government.
More recently, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin underwent surgery to remove a growth in his pancreas and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim underwent surgeries to help restore function to his back and shoulders. Even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has not escaped comment, with his history of cardiac disease and humanity’s failure in discovering the Fountain of Youth.
Do these health issues matter? When, if ever, should politicians share their intimate health conditions with the general public?
Medical ailments are part of the human condition. Some are acquainted from the moment they are born; some even before. Despite its ubiquity, the sight of a leader afflicted by healthcare problems can conjure negative perceptions. However, some of the most revered leaders in modern history suffered from serious ailments that did not prevent them from discharging their duties.
Franklin Roosevelt suffered from a severe polio attack at the age of 38, leaving him paralysed in both legs. It hardly proved to be an impediment to him. He became one of the greatest presidents of the United States; he even had to contend with congestive heart failure during the height of the war against the Nazis.
His World War 2 compatriot, Winston Churchill, was no stranger to physical ailments either. He was also often accompanied by the ‘Black Dog’, the name Churchill gave to the prolonged fits of depression from which he suffered.
John F. Kennedy famously suffered from Addison’s disease (a condition requiring him to receive regular steroid injections in order to function), Ronald Reagan underwent surgery for colon cancer whilst in office, Theresa May requires multiple daily insulin injections for control of her diabetes — the list goes on.
Unfortunately, health issues are great fodder for political intrigue. Hillary Clinton almost had her presidential campaign derailed in 2016 as a result of candidate Donald Trump hammering home the message that she did not have sufficient stamina to stand as president, especially after she contracted pneumonia.
Closer to home, a forum was held to discuss the suitability of a nonagenarian to lead the country. Of course, watching the panellists squirm when Dr Mahathir made a surprise appearance at the forum was one of the greatest acts of trolling I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing.
The fact that one’s state of mental or physical health can be used against him is a reason that many politicians are reluctant to be more open about their conditions. Some seek treatment abroad not because of the lack of confidence in local doctors, but for fear of loose tongues wagging. This despite the fact that in the context of medical ethics, there is no room for doubt: patient confidentiality is of paramount importance.
However public figures need to find the right balance between privacy and transparency. Warren Buffett’s announcement of his diagnosis of prostate cancer is an example of how it can be done — the moment he had all the facts in hand, he gave a brief announcement that allowed him to control the narrative before news leaked out and was sensationalised.
At the end of the day, an individual’s mental and physical health are entirely his own business with the caveat that one has the insight into stepping away from positions of authority should one become incapacitated. If the individual lacks insight, it is usually beholden on the doctors, colleagues and loved ones to point out the limitations that exist.
There are many things that can be manoeuvred in the field of politics, but nobody can claim authority over the Almighty in the grand chess game of life. The healthiest of individuals may drop dead from a sudden heart attack. This unpredictability should serve as a reminder that we should not be obsessed with individual political personalities but instead ensure that appropriate succession plans and independent systems are in place should the worst befall an individual.
There are many things that can be manoeuvred in the field of politics, but nobody can claim authority over the Almighty in the grand chess game of life.
Dr Helmy Haja Mydin is a respiratory consultant physician with an interest in healthcare and socioeconomic policies