Letters

ON THE FRONT LINES OF MEDICINE

"We expect hospitals to have all the answers; they can't. But you showed me what a hospital should be--human." PERRY STUDEVENT JR. Advance, N.C.

I was overwhelmed by your article on Duke University Medical Center [A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A HOSPITAL, Oct. 12]. It was at once heartbreaking and heartwarming. To know there are still people in the medical profession who care so much is uplifting. I appreciated your bringing the experiences in a teaching hospital to life, including the personal stories that touch the heart. NATASHA BAGWELL Indianapolis, Ind.

Health-care reform is overdue. Relief from pain, suffering and fear of death carries a price as a free-market product. But the real buyers are the government and health-insurance middlemen. American health care comprises an elaborate structure. Backstage, courageous nurses and ethical physicians keep things from falling apart. Reforming America's most powerful cartel requires enormous political courage. Wallowing with Kenneth Starr is safer. THOMAS A. MCGOFF Moscow, Pa.

As the chief operating officer of Duke University Hospital, I would like to acknowledge the excellence of the team you sent to prepare your report. I would also like to make clear that the hospital group that is truly on the front line is the staff, particularly the nurses. As a nurse and administrator, I am acutely aware that hospitals exist because people are in need of the round-the-clock care that nurses provide. BRENDA NEVIDJON, R.N., M.S.N. Duke University Hospital Durham, N.C.

Your "Week In The Life Of A Hospital" was extremely compelling and inspiring--until you descended into touting prayer. People are healed by the knowledge of trained physicians and nurses, by drugs discovered and developed by scientists and by each individual's own immune system. If the body is strengthened by the belief in recovery, that does not prove the efficacy of prayer; it proves the power of the brain and its connection with all other parts of the body. VICTORIA D. MCCOY Glen Haven, Colo.

You took readers from the hallways of the White House to the halls of a major teaching hospital. What a welcome change! The American public is far more interested in the activities of the intern whose job involves saving lives than in those of the intern who played naughty games with our President. ANN DOW West Deptford, N.J.

An outstanding piece of journalism! The only way to describe your special "hospital" report: compassionate, caring, critical. But also truthful and revealing. LARRY STRAIN Irving, Texas

From a physician's standpoint, Duke epitomizes current U.S. health-care philosophy: compassion and heroism coupled with financial altruism. But curing medical problems doesn't hinge on the extent of the treatment; it depends on the extent of the disease. Prevention doesn't simply mean administering vitamins to the young; it requires eliminating environmental factors conducive to disease, such as smoking, drugs, improper diet and pollution. Society has become inured to its harmful behavior. This results in the overutilization of medical resources and ever growing expenses, with doctors and hospitals serving as convenient scapegoats. DONALD H. RUDICK, M.D. St. Marys, Pa.

As a critical-care and lung specialist in a small community-based hospital, I am frequently confounded by the decisions made by faceless HMO administrators who tell me how to take care of a person they have never seen. The most important "contract" in medicine is, and always will be, between the physician and the patient and his or her family. Until Congress completes the work of protecting patients' rights, health care will continue to take second place to the financial health of the insurers and HMOs. GARY R. SCHAFER, M.D. Rutherfordton, N.C.

We will always need hospitals like Duke for help with the serious, tragic and complex medical problems that may affect any one of us. But what of the hardworking men and women who each day try, without fanfare, to provide humane, affordable, high-quality medical care despite the obstruction of regulators, the parsimony of businesses and the suspicions of a disillusioned and fearful public? These dedicated professionals are the real heroes in medicine. MICHAEL RADETSKY, M.D. Albuquerque, N.M.

As a lab assistant and phlebotomist, I have the privilege of working with some of the best in the medical field. And every one of them puts the patient first. That's the way medicine should be. Period. LEAH H. MANN Hercules, Calif.

A BRIEF FOR MILITARY SPENDING

Military unpreparedness is costly, but the news media always seem to advocate the reduction of our defense budget as the obvious and righteous thing to do [BUSINESS, Oct. 5]. The Gulf War marked the first time in this century that American forces went to war fully equipped and fully trained. The results, quick victory with miraculously few allied casualties, speak for themselves. Now that the U.S. military has finally got it right, let's not be too quick to tamper with success. Though some post-cold war cutbacks are inevitable and necessary, history shows that in the end it is always less costly to our sons and daughters in uniform when we can meet any foe with overwhelming superiority from the very outset. JERRY KOCH Studio City, Calif.

PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES

Your article on the clash between Earth First activists trying to save redwoods in California's Humboldt County and the Pacific Lumber Co. [ENVIRONMENT, Sept. 28] was imbalanced and inaccurate. You charged that the Interior Department is engaged in "federal nonfeasance" in negotiating habitat conservation plans (HCPs) with landowners under the Endangered Species Act. The fact is, Congress created the HCP process to reduce conflicts between listed species and economic development. HCPs do provide for long-term conservation of species. HCPs allow us to rely on protected habitats for species across wide tracts of land for years to come, which helps in planning recovery of species covered by HCPs. JAMIE RAPPAPORT CLARK, Director Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of the Interior Washington

Anyone reading your article on the Headwaters Forest issue in California's Humboldt County would think the only relevant participants in this discussion are Earth First and the Sierra Club. That is wrong. The Headwaters Agreement is the last best hope to save the Headwaters redwoods and end more than 10 years of bitter controversy. The plan will protect the environment of the area surrounding the Headwaters as well as the fish and wildlife that inhabit those lands. The product of more than two years of negotiations with state and federal officials, it is the most comprehensive conservation and resource-management plan ever proposed for private forest lands. That is why the agreement has nearly universal support. JOHN A. CAMPBELL, President and CEO Pacific Lumber Co. Scotia, Calif.

GOVERNOR BEASLEY RESPONDS

I was shocked to read your report about the campaign for Governor in South Carolina [CLINTON VS. STARR, Oct. 5] in which you reported scurrilous lies [about an extramarital affair]. My wife and I have a wonderful, 100% faithful, Christ-centered marriage. Our relationship is strong enough to survive anything. But the lies that are being spread have surely damaged others. I am sorry that TIME chose to aid this effort. DAVID M. BEASLEY Governor, South Carolina Columbia, S.C.

FIRST AID FOR A HEDGE FUND

So the Federal Reserve has used its might to rescue the high-flying hedge fund Long Term Capital Management [BUSINESS, Oct. 5], and some billionaire greed addicts have been spared. But where was the Fed when American farmers were having their land auctioned a few years ago? Why isn't the Fed rescuing women who are paid less than men for the same work? And why isn't the Fed saving American children living in poverty? The risk of saving this hedge fund has been called a "moral hazard." Hell, I'd call it a "moral outrage." ROBERT MARRONE Fair Oaks, Calif.

It is terrifying that a few disgracefully greedy people who were able to invest $10 million each with Long Term Capital Management might have disrupted the world economy with their avaricious money games. Surely the "geniuses" running this shell game knew the earth-shaking risks involved, and they proceeded anyway. This is much worse than unfettered hubris. Shouldn't the well-to-do speculators be severely punished for exposing all the rest of us to such dangers? SUSAN BARRETT St. Louis, Mo.

The chutzpah of Long Term Capital's principal manager, John Meriwether, is matched only by the unmitigated greed and ignorance of his hedge fund's investors. They took absurd risks, and they deserve to lose! MITCH FALCON New York City

Americans should be asking if it is good that the government rescued the irresponsible millionaire investors in Long Term Capital Management. One can no longer invest in the international economy for the long term. What is truly long term is the environment, education and the incorporation of the developing nations into the global economy. FERNANDO DIEZ Buenos Aires

VIAGRA FOR THE TROOPS?

So the Pentagon is planning to spend $50 million on Viagra for servicemen and retirees [NOTEBOOK, Oct. 12]? I don't think so. The active-duty troops don't need any stimulation at their young age, and the retirees' wives may have a thing or two to say about their guys getting Viagra. Who decided to do this? Some impotent politicians hoping for praise and credit? Not with my taxes! MARSHA MORGAN-MCGUIRE Mesquite, Nev.

PRINCES OF THE MIDDLE EAST

I read with interest your unusual interview with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud [World, Oct. 12]. He has clearly demonstrated his competency and willingness to take forthright and necessary steps to stem the economic crisis in his nation. But the best long-term measure to improve the economic health of countries in the Middle East would be to undertake drastic reductions in the wasteful military budgets of every kingdom, sheikdom and republic. CLIFTON WELLMAN New York City

In your report on Jordan, you identified the main economic and political successes of Crown Prince El-Hassan bin Talal, inevitably the next King of Jordan. But one action will undoubtedly threaten future stability in that country: imposition of repressive measures. Although Hassan has endorsed the gradual elimination of government price controls, he has also hindered democratization by limiting freedom of the press. The prince needs to realize that the suppression of the media undermines any other significant attempts at democratization. MARK R. BRADFORD, Research Assistant National Defense Council Foundation Alexandria, Va.

MORE DEATHS IN KOSOVO

It happened in Germany during world War II, was repeated in Bosnia in 1992 and is taking place in Kosovo now [WORLD, Oct. 5]. I refer not only to the genocide of innocents, based on religious prejudice and hatred, but also to the fact that those responsible for providing moral and religious guidance to the world remained and remain silent while these heinous crimes were and are being committed. One wonders which is worse, the crime or the silence of the keepers of our conscience? HUSSAN ZIA Brossard, Que.

I am grief-stricken at the sufferings shown in your pages and also puzzled at the complicated reporting of NATO's actions, negotiations, propaganda and whatever. It is reminiscent of the Bosnian tragedy. While the media were busy analyzing the situation, Bosnians were tortured, raped and murdered. The Serbs have no compassion for these helpless people. I plead to Serb leader Slobodan Milosevic: Do not kill them; send these Muslims to me. I shall take care of some of them. With all these horrendous deeds, I do not think for one moment that the Serbs are going to be happy and prosperous. NOR'AINI M. NOR Shah Alam, Malaysia

Where now are the people who were demonstrating against atrocities in the past? Is there no need to protest Serb behavior? Are they waiting to raise their voices only against NATO countermeasures? And our politicians, will they wait until no more lives can be saved? Always hiding behind empty phrases? We again have reasons to be ashamed. JUERGEN LAUCHARDT Wedel, Germany

NATO and the U.N. should supply the Serbs with shovels so they can dig mass graves. These organizations seem unable to do anything else to act against the atrocities. Where are the Churchills and Thatchers of the '90s? STEPHEN YOUNG Lac du Bonnet, Man.

MALAYSIA'S BLACKEST HOURS

I used to support Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad because he dared to do things contrary to popular belief, making Malaysia a force to be reckoned with [BUSINESS, Oct. 12]. But like a cat cornered in a cage, Mahathir has turned into a belligerent and cruel dictator. He seriously misread the Malaysian public in trying to get rid of his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, by unjust means. Many of us had backed Mahathir because Anwar supported him, and we waited patiently with Anwar for a peaceful transition of power between the two men. But now such a thing is no longer to be. Violence is not our way, but Mahathir lost our support because he threw away Anwar. And we are young. Mahathir is old. We have time on our side. FADHLINA ABDULLAH Kuala Lumpur

Mahathir is the bravest leader in Asia. He is able to speak his mind and articulate his vision for his country. He has declared in no uncertain terms his feelings and intentions. Mahathir has support here in South Africa, a country ravaged by the effects of so-called globalization. Here the man in the street is literally a man in the street, having seen his home taken away from him through mortgage foreclosure and unemployment that are the result of market manipulation. SABER AHMED JAZBHAY Durban, South Africa

There has been plenty said about the present political crisis afflicting Malaysia. With Mahathir publicly claiming that Anwar is guilty of sexual misconduct and abuse of power, how many Malaysian judges will dare contradict him? Mahathir and his cronies have been in power far too long and have delusions of grandeur. They feel they are beyond criticism. They cannot allow Anwar, the only credible and fairly clean leader to emerge in recent times, to come to power because the stakes are too high. But the Mahathir regime is illiterate. It is unable to read the handwriting on the wall. ROB MAVERICK Kuala Lumpur

The people in Malaysia who believe the foreign media are biased are either damned naive or unable to face the fact that Mahathir is becoming more and more dictatorial. HAJI MUSTAFA KAMAL Durban, South Africa

We Malaysians may feel uncomfortable with recent developments, but we still have faith in our judicial institutions and the electoral process. The silence of the people should not necessarily be interpreted as fear or lack of interest. We are capable of voting out any government that is unjust and draconian. NEIL KHOR JIN KEONG Kuala Lumpur

THE TRACK TO IMPEACHMENT

You described how House Speaker Newt Gingrich and President Bill Clinton, engaged in an ongoing vendetta, have been aching to set traps for each other to stumble into [NATION, Oct. 12]. I believe Clinton has inadvertently set a beauty. The impeachment process will proceed, and the Republicans, blinded by their vitriol against Clinton, will gallop full tilt into an election in which the majority of the electorate are disgusted with their witch hunt. From my perspective, north of the border, I'm betting the Democrats will score a big win in the November midterm elections--a form of self-impeachment by the Republicans! LEWIS D. JACKSON Barrie, Ont.

Clinton's behavior has contributed to raising doubts about the soundness of his reasoning. If a President cannot stop himself from getting involved in a risky adventure and has no capable advisers once he has gotten into trouble, he should not be surprised if his political opponents and even his supporters become uneasy about his ability to make the right decisions in important matters. Can Clinton now be trusted fully when it comes to deciding about using bombs in Kosovo or anywhere else? JOSE H. GUNZBURG Antwerp

As international strife and economic instability threaten the structure of Western society, President Clinton is being sidetracked from taking care of business. Putting things back into perspective might restore a little respect and faith in the country that has ungratefully been left with practically the sole responsibility of policing the planet. Get back on track! Clinton has done a decent job so far; leave him be. PETER JESPERSEN Hoevik, Norway

Clinton is 99.99% fine. Congress is trying to throw him out for a minor 0.01% error. Why should Americans even for a moment consider it? It would be like shooting yourself in the head. FRED SCHRIEVER Vancouver, B.C.

History teaches us that great empires are destroyed from within. The political bickering in Washington over impeaching the President is sowing the seeds for the decline and fall of American values at home and abroad. TIM PARSONS Brentwood Bay, B.C.

It's not the sex, stupid. It's the alleged misdemeanors, obstruction of justice and lying under oath by Bill Clinton, America's Commander in Chief and chief law enforcer. BEL M. DE PINHO Richmond Hill, Ont.

The world is on the brink of financial turmoil. When will the Republicans and conservative Democrats admit that the attempt to impeach is nothing more than a Capitol Hill of beans? DAVID FAGAN Hydra, Greece

MERCY SHOULD SEASON JUSTICE

In her column "The Unreachable Starr" [PUBLIC EYE, Oct. 12], Margaret Carlson made the snide observation that Monica Lewinsky's mother broke down after "just two days into testimony," saying she couldn't take it anymore. The inference to be drawn is that Carlson would gladly and willingly testify against her own daughter for more than two days. Perhaps four? Ten? This thought is an abomination. NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST New York City

HIGH-DEFINITION TV IS HERE!

About your report on the new HDTV sets and supersharp digital pictures [TECHNOLOGY, Oct. 5]: TV-set manufacturers and the Federal Communications Commission must think America is ready to return to 1950s-style television viewing. During that period, if your family could afford a TV, everyone would gather as a unit in the living room to watch the same program. Things have changed quite a bit in the '90s; many households have multiple sets (in bedrooms, family room, home office, kitchen). If we are forced to watch our favorite programs only on HDTV-compatible sets, the FCC and others need to re-evaluate this process, as we will not purchase three to five new $6,000-to-$9,000 televisions a household. R. DENNIS GALLOWAY Pittsburgh, Pa.

I can't wait to get my $9,000 HDTV. It will go well with my $2,000 quadraphonic sound system. RICHARD LONGLEY Lake City, Fla.

CORRECTION

In a story about possible financial improprieties in the pathology department of Tulane University's medical school [NATION, Nov. 3], TIME reported allegations that the head of the department, Dr. Michael Gerber, may have faked his own death in an automobile accident. These allegations were made by persons involved in a lawsuit against Gerber.

After further investigation by TIME and by Brill's Content magazine, we are convinced that Gerber and his wife died in the accident, and we apologize for any suggestions to the contrary.