July 4, 2009 in Letters

Reconsider decision on clinic

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As a patient of Dr. Anthony Santiago, I received an impersonal letter from Deaconess Medical Center saying the Movement Disorder Clinic that he capably runs will be closing.

This leaves 800 patients, including myself, who struggle daily with movement disorders without the doctor who has customized treatment plans for us using his compassion and amazing brilliance.

As a registered nurse, I know personally that healing occurs only when a doctor connects with each patient on an individual basis.

Movement disorders can take away your joy of living. To the owners of Deaconess who made this devastating decision, don’t take away the joy of life that Dr. Santiago has restored for us. He is a one-of-a-kind doctor, a rare treasure, and a doctor who treats both the physical and emotional aspects of each of his patient’s disease. With his superb training, compassion and sensitivity, he restores productivity and purpose to our lives.

The medical community and private citizens need to challenge the decision made to close Dr. Santiago’s clinic and to embrace that for-profit medical care should not take precedence over allowing a doctor who provides life-changing medical care to movement disorder patients to continue his clinic.

Please don’t take our doctor away from us – reconsider your decision.

Karen J. Nelson

Spokane Valley

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