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NEWS: Fiona Fleck Nine candidates nominated for top WHO post BMJ 2002; 325: 1259 [Full text]

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Information on Candidate for WHO postion wrong.

Frank A Frizelle, Richard Reid   (2 December 2002)

Information on Candidate for WHO postion wrong. 2 December 2002
Frank A Frizelle, Professor of Colorectal Surgery Colorectal Unit, dept of surgery, Christchurch Hospital, riccarton Ave, Christchurch, New Zealand, Richard Reid Send response to journal: Re: Information on Candidate for WHO postion wrong.	The BMJ news item on the nine candidates for the top WHO post contains information about one candidate, which is factually incorrect. Dr Joseph Williams is said to have been the prime minister of the Cook Islands from 1999 to February this year, this is incorrect. He was Prime Minister for four months in 1999, before Dr T Maoate (a general surgeon). Dr T Maoate was Prime Minister from 1999 until earlier this year. Dr Williams is a general practitioner in Auckland New Zealand, and held the overseas seat in the Cook Islands Parliament for some time before his four months as Prime Minister and continued since that time. While it might seem strange that a person lives in one country and is a parliamentary representative in another this is part of the unique relationship that has developed between the Cook Islands and New Zealand. While I do not know how this misinformation occurred, GB Shaw once said of politicians "I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common ... A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar" Competing interests:   None declared