Image Credit: Province of B.C.

By James Peters

Two & Out

PETERS: Rendering scrutiny on our public health officer is a tricky game to play

Apr 3, 2020 | 11:19 AM

OUR PROVINCE’S CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER, Dr. Bonnie Henry, is open to scrutiny and critique just like any public official.

You wouldn’t think that’s the case by all the fawning praise she has received for her handling of the pandemic here in B.C., but it’s true.

If that praise is the result of a thorough, even-handed evaluation of her job performance, then it’s entirely warranted.

There are a number of challenges to carrying out an evaluation of Dr. Henry’s performance, though.

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First, very few of us have a detailed understanding of Henry’s field of specialty: epidemiology.

We don’t know whether the measures that she is taking are in line with the best practices that epidemiologists have generated after similar pandemics in the past.

But there’s another rub — when have there been similar pandemics in the past?

The threats of SARS or Ebola or H1N1 pale in comparison to COVID-19.

Third, Henry and the provincial health ministry have insulated themselves from some criticism by focusing testing on those who will be more likely to need medical intervention rather than testing on a more widespread basis.

That, as we discussed last week, has produced a set of numbers that paints an incomplete picture of the impact of COVID-19 in B.C.

And that leads us to a critique of Dr. Henry and her policies that we can make.

The province has put a tight clamp on information it is distributing — including a near complete muzzle on the individual health authorities like Interior Health.

All but the most basic questions are being funneled to the daily briefings, where there is a 50 per cent shot a particular journalist will be able to ask one question, and a zero per cent shot at asking any more than one.

It’s not transparent, smacks of a lack of trust – and is inconsistent with the trust Dr. Henry is placing in the public by not enacting more draconian restrictions on public movement.

Ultimately, though, there is one factor that will determine whether Dr. Bonnie Henry is doing a good job: hindsight.

We will know looking back after months and years, looking back at how many people died in B.C. compared to other jurisdictions.

As for now, three weeks ago, I praised Dr. Henry in this space for her leadership through this pandemic.

There are cracks showing in the facade, but until I have the benefit of hindsight, I’m not willing to back away from that praise.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.