Maybe check the Alaska section?

Re: The exciting announcement that Sarah's memoirs are on their way. Where will I find this in the book store? Under fiction? Non-fiction? Or science fiction?

-- Jon Morton

Anchorage

First do no harm to hospital coffers

As an Alaskan emergency medicine resident training in New Mexico, I challenge your assertion that the threat of medical malpractice reduces medical errors. You state that I wash my hands between patients because I might get sued if I don't. That is ridiculous. I wash my hands to avoid spreading infection, I order tests to appropriately work up my patients for their possible injuries or illness, and I do procedures when the risk benefit ratio is in the patients favor. I never do the right thing because of the threat of lawsuit.

Unfortunately I have been a party to, and witnessed, unnecessary testing, procedures, and surgeries because of a perceived threat of lawsuit. This is not benign in an economic or patient safety sense, even if the patient thinks they are getting what they want.

Tort reform is a part of the solution to rising costs, as is rewarding doctors for efficient, evidence based care, limiting medication and medical device costs, reimbursing primary care, covering the uninsured, and getting rid of huge private insurance overhead.

-- Andrew Elsberg

Albuquerque, N.M.

You made it, you use it, Congress

On Tuesday, the Senate health committee voted 12-11 in favor of a two-page amendment, courtesy of Republican Tom Coburn, which would require all Members of Congress and their staff members to enroll in any new government-run health plan.

Rep. John Fleming has proposed an amendment that would require Congressmen and Senators to take the same health care plan that they would force on us. (Under proposed legislation they are exempt.)

Rep. Fleming is encouraging people to go to his Website and sign his petition. The process is very simple.

Sen. Coburn and Rep. Fleming are both physicians. Regardless of your political beliefs, it sure seems reasonable that Congress should have exactly the same medical coverage that they impose on the rest of us.

Please urge as many people as you can to do the same!

-- Ken Magwire

Eagle River

Keep cryin' kids at home

In a recent ADN article, John Rosemond wrote, "One of the first tests of good citizenship occurs in a nice restaurant. If your children can't pass it, then don't bring them."

The same should be true of PAC performances. During the "Lion King," cell phones were silenced but some children were not. The crying went on throughout much of the performance, with the parent(s) saying, "Shhh ... Shhh," instead of (a) not having brought a very young child or (b) having the courtesy to take the youngster outside. A similar thing happened at a movie theater we went to a couple of weeks ago.

It's true that Lion King is also for children, but the PAC's advertising said "For six-year-olds and up." The costumes are scary for little ones. Nor should movies and the PAC be substitutes for babysitters.

The PAC needs to have, and enforce, a policy regarding children. And some parents need a dose of social responsibility.

-- George Guthridge

Dillingham

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