FP Report -- April 1999
Readers' Forum
Affirmative action
To the editor:
I am commenting on the Resident/Student News article "Attacks on Affirmative Action Threaten Medical School Diversity" (FP Report, February). Certainly the controversy concerning affirmative action is a difficult question.
I must say, however, that the statement "I think people clearly perceive the anti-affirmative action agitation as anti-minority agitation" by Dr. Herbert Nickens is a troubling statement and should not have been included in the article. I also doubt that the bullet points in the article are proven points.
Neither of my parents graduated from the eighth grade, but in no way did their lack of education add to my qualifications as a family practitioner of 45 years.
LEO R. GREEN, M.D.
Alton, Ill.Smoking letters
To the editor:
I am a third-year family medicine resident in Wichita, Kan., and am writing in reference to an article in the March FP Report. On the back page, there is mention of the fact that AAFP is in support of President Clinton's recommendation that Janet Reno, on behalf of the federal government, sue the tobacco companies to recover the Medicare costs associated with treating tobacco-related diseases. I want to strongly express my disgust for such support on behalf of the organization that represents me.
I am not in support of tobacco use and do agree that its use is destructive and costly. However, it is the individuals' choice to use tobacco and, therefore, their responsibility alone for the health consequences they suffer.
Everyone is aware of the dangers of tobacco use, and I do not believe that we should push the blame off on the tobacco companies. Our society is full of people trying to pass the buck and not take responsibility for their own actions, and this is another example of just that.
Where will this mentality lead us? Why not sue automakers for motor vehicle accident-related health dollars? And what about suing pharmaceutical companies for the costs of treatment related to adverse effects of their products? Oh, and let's sue fast-food chains for causing heart disease because of the high fat content of the majority of their foods. My point is that this will not end.
I adamantly oppose such action and want to register my complete disappointment in the stance that the AAFP has taken. I thought we were smarter than that.
DOUGLAS LEWIS, M.D.
Wichita, Kan.To the editor:
I oppose the idea of excusing people's personal responsibility for their decision to smoke. For 100 years people have admonished youth and adults that smoking is bad for your health.
Same with guns. If some drunk, angry, teenage gang member shoots someone, the problem is not addressed by suing the gun manufacturer.
If anyone shoots anyone unlawfully, there are plenty of laws to deal with that incident.
It is only logical and fair to take the same course with beer, wine and liquor producers and distributors.
LANCE E. MONROE, M.D.
Paragould, Ark.Hospitalists
To the editor:
Hospitalists (March FP Report) are an interesting topic -- seem to wonderfully improve efficiency. Where is efficiency in the Hippocratic Oath?
FRANK DENNEHY, M.D.
Wellsboro, Pa.
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department. Copyright © 1999 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
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