Letters To The Editor

MEDICAL CARING

Medicine is exclusively about healing

When I taught in medical school not so many years ago, doctors were guided by the honorable precepts of the Hippocratic oath. St. Luke, the gospel writer and himself a physician, likely also followed it.

The Hippocratic tradition counsels doctors to act for the best interest of the sick. It does not mention the benefit of taxpayers, the insurance companies, the hospital accounting department, the ethics committees nor the state.

The focus of medicine is to heal the sick. Period.

There are costs in treating a baby Ryan. They can, however, be seen as a kind of insurance premium, to see to it we do not become a society that tosses the unwanted overboard. The myth that some people are of lower quality in life has been responsible for the horrors of genocide, slavery, persecutions and other crimes against humanity. This myth has no place in medicine.

Expenses involved in treating a baby Ryan are small compared to the costs of adopting guidelines that would favor a culture-of-death approach, which would use death as a means for solving the problems in life.

Medicine is not a cold, infallible science. The attitude of the healer toward the patient can make a critical difference in the therapeutic outcome. An initial diagnosis of a terminal condition should not become a self-fulfilling prophesy.

We should therefore and with hope err on the side of life by giving the patient a chance. Dr. Greg Maloney, Ph.D. Danville, Wash.

We see in hospital flaw of our own

As a physician who has maintained an active practice at Sacred Heart Medical Center for over 10 years, I write to comment on my experience at Sacred Heart Medical Center as it may pertain to the baby Ryan situation.

I have had many patients at Sacred Heart in situations in which it was clear that Sacred Heart would get very little reimbursement or none at all. Some of these situations were ones in which the usefulness of inpatient care was debatable, others in which little could be done for the patient but alternatives to staying in the hospital were worse. I have never been pressured by anyone at Sacred Heart, staff or administration, to do other than what I thought was best for the patient.

Whether we admit it or not, all of us have a conflict between our selfishness and our altruism. Sacred Heart Medical Center is now a convenient scapegoat, as it is all too easy to think we see what we dislike about ourselves in others, rather than struggle with it in our own mind.

The technological advances of medicine, miraculous but very expensive, have become a focus for this conflict. Everyone wants the best health care there is, but no one can pay for it themselves. David Grubb, M.D. Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

New York has its garbage act together

I’m concerned about the problems associated with garbage disposal.

As I understand it, New York City has the best plan: Everything to do with garbage is separated at the household level. I suppose small, multi-bin garbage cans are used in the kitchen and that paper, non-edibles, etc., are separated there. For those families who even refuse to try, a $10 fine is imposed.

This method should just about eliminate the need for garbage dumps. The non-edibles can be burned. I realize that all garbage can now be burned, but this way, much more material can be recycled.

Extra income, too, can be derived from this method. I certainly think that the residents should share in this extra income earned.

Once kitchen garbage is mixed, it is all but impossible to separate. Obviously, if kitchen material is separated first, it won’t be turned into garbage. Bob Mauzy Spokane

Flag thief should be ashamed

I was driving home a few nights before Christmas from another fun-filled evening spent with my buddies. My blissful mood, however, quickly turned to mush when I pulled into my driveway on South Perry.

The colorful, happy Santa flag that my family had put up to spread the Christmas spirit had disappeared. I thought, “It must have fallen off. Nobody would want to steal our Santa flag.” However, I discovered that I was quite wrong. My eyes welled up with tears as I looked on either side of me, at my neighbors’ Santa flags that still remained. Our first combined neighborhood attempt at holiday cheer had been ruined. Now when people drive by our block, the Santa flag in the middle house is missing.

As time wears on, I’m sure I will feel sorry for the person selfish enough to take our flag. But heck, I’m only 17 and right now it just makes me very sad and angry. The pattern that I see in this example and others like it is upsetting. It seems that one rotten person can always ruin a good thing for the whole.

So, fellow people of Spokane, if someone you know suddenly shows up with a beautiful Santa flag, you may want to comment. I’d say, “Gee, that looks a lot like a flag that got stolen up on South Perry.” And then, if they have a guilty look on their face, “I hope the way you got that flag was in keeping with the true spirit of Christmas.” Britty Boyd Spokane

Retired Teamsters overlooked

I want to thank The Spokesman-Review for its drive to help the poor at Christmas, for putting in the paper the good that was done by the Marine Corps, Toys for Tots, the Tree of Sharing and all of the other organizations that help the needy during the holiday season.

I have been in charge of the food drive for the Inland Empire Retired Teamsters Association. For seven years we have given food to 689 families plus the families whose names were turned in late. We are retired people who start in August and continue through December to save canned goods for the needy. We use our dues money and donations to buy turkeys, etc. We also have others who deserve thanks but that would be free advertising.

When a needy person or family receives an apple box full of food, or up to five boxes, depending on the size of the family, I am sure that they appreciate it even though the local news media cannot.

When we were on the payroll, our slogan was, “If you got it, a truck brought it.” Maybe the people who gave will remember the recognition we received when you send out your next billing. Gene T. Anderson Spokane

A stitch in time …

Regarding the Dec. 26 article, “Agencies remodel for disabled”:

Taxpayers expect things to be paid for only once. This is not the case with the city and county. The $46,000 for those 64 curb cuts should have cost only 5 percent, or $2,300. The other $43,700 could have been spent more wisely.

Those same curbs were replaced in the late 1980s, when the new sewer system was installed along Sprague. The city and county negligently failed to comply with or enforce RCW 35.68.075.

More than 20 years ago, that law required the installation of curb cuts when replacing curbs. This problem of accessibility has been ignored for more than 15 years. Just think of the hundreds of curbs that have been replaced since then that now need to be replaced a second or third time.

Hundreds of curbs that need a second $800 installation will waste millions of taxpayer dollars. I am upset at the local bureaucrats who ignore the laws, the handicapped and the taxpayer by wasting what little money is designated for barrier removal.

Just look at last week’s new curb cuts on the north side of Stevens and Spokane Falls Blvd. Others will be replaced along West First and Second avenues and along East Broadway. W.J. Blaine Otis Orchards

Why bring on the middlemen?

I feel the very high fees asked of county users of the public library could open a new cottage industry in this town, as city residents check out books for a small fee to county people in need of books. That’s all we need - more crime. Maxine McCandless Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Attorney offends, story disappoints

I was shocked when I read the front page of the Dec. 27 Spokesman-Review - shocked that anyone, even Russell Van Camp could make such an insensitive and inaccurate statement about Sacred Heart Medical Center and its medical staff. I was also shocked that The Spokesman-Review would lend credibility to Mr. Van Camp by putting both his quotation and picture on its front page. That was truly disappointing.

The medical and ethical decisions which are made in cases similar to baby Ryan Nguyen’s are incredibly complex and difficult. It’s unconscionable for your paper to give even an ounce of credulity to Mr. Van Camp’s continuing self-aggrandizement campaign.

We need to continue to debate complex medical/ ethical/socioeconomic issues similar to this most recent unfortunate example involving baby Ryan. Mr. Van Camp would be better suited to join the debate if he were to demonstrate a fraction of the moral fiber that baby Ryan possessed at the time of his birth. Michael Henneberry, M.D. Spokane

He epitomizes profession’s worst

Russell Van Camp’s cheap outburst in The Spokesman-Review reminded me of a carnival evangelist, a legal Jimmy Swaggart. With his 15 minutes of fame, Van Camp could have reflected a positive image for attorneys. He could have presented to the public a mature, sensible presentation of the dispute.

Instead, he gave us inflammatory hyperbole. He screamed racism. He called the men and women of Sacred Heart Medical Center killers. He chose a route designed to increase his wealth. He took an avenue suited to increase his fame.

He is only interested in what this can do for him, what he can get out of it.

It’s wrong. Van Camp is doing a disservice to the Nguyens, to the employees of Sacred Heart and to the profession he represents.

He gave us a photograph of what is wrong with the legal profession in America. The profession will continue to sink in esteem and will continue to lose respect in the minds of Americans until operators like Van Camp are removed.

Several months ago, William Etter, president of the Spokane County Bar Association, wrote, “At the core of our national spirit is our proclaimed respect for the law. Lawyers must do their part in refortifying this deal… We are realizing the only way to improve our image is to improve ourselves. We know that we need to throw lawyers out who deserve it.”

Mr. Etter, meet Mr. Van Camp. Tom McArthur Spokane

Stand by for killer reparations

The Dec. 27 front page story about Russell Van Camp is probably the largest reason I have ever seen for passing laws to put limits on malpractice suits. And I’m sure that by the time this lawyer gets done with Sacred Heart Medical Center, it will be a shocking dollar amount he will be asking for. I am also disgusted by the extremely racist remark that was made.

The legal profession is a very noble profession and, thank God, we have lawyers to protect us. As stated in this article, the legal profession in this town is also disgusted.

A major factor in overall health care costs is the high cost of doctors, hospitals, drug companies, etc., spiraling liability insurance costs in an effort to gain protection from insane awards given by juries and judges - awards that go way beyond any amount common sense would call for. We all pay the price in the long run.

In my opinion, one of the major reasons the American people rejected Hillary Clinton’s health care reform plan is because when she accused all of the above of profitmongering and driving up health costs, she left out malpractice reform. You don’t suppose it was because both Clintons are lawyers, do you?

I am sure Sacred Heart’s doctors made the best assessment they could. Remember, they are not God. If I were that hospital, I would find a lawyer to sue Van Camp over that needless statement. W.J. Bennett Spokane

IRS should know earnings

Russell Van Camp says he “doesn’t want the IRS to know all his business.” That is the business of the IRS.

People who work for wages have a copy of their earnings sent to the IRS. Retirees have copies of interest earned on investments, etc., sent to the IRS. Why shouldn’t he declare his earnings? After all, it’s the law.

This man claims to be a Christian. Bilking anyone is not my idea of a Christian virtue. He talks of running for office. We already have too many who are shady, we don’t need more.

His personal life does not signify a life I would call “Christian,” either. Please! Helen Reed Spokane

Arrogant grandstander appalls

Russell Van Camp is the reason that attorneys are widely regarded with contempt these days. He is an arrogant grandstander whose inflammatory remarks concerning the baby Ryan case stem more from his desire for personal financial gain and publicity than from sincere compassion for the child and his parents.

While I do not believe that doctors at Sacred Heart Medical Center based their decision on racial or financial factors, I have no doubt Mr. Van Camp will squeeze some money from the hospital anyway.

I am disgusted that The Spokesman-Review would be such a willing accomplice to Mr. Van Camp’s antics. You have plummeted to the level of tabloid journalism. Annamary N. King Spokane