Not all medical errors should be made public
Re: the May 1 article βWith medical errors kept buried, deckβs stacked against consumers.β
As a retired physician I donβt believe that all mistakes should be disclosed to the public as Larry Aldrich states. Mistakes are often not just black and white. It is best that they be evaluated by those with knowledge in the area. I am familiar with Tucson Medical Centerβs system, which looks at all potential mistakes by practitioners, thoroughly investigates them and works to improve any deficiencies that investigation brings up.
Having these possible errors brought up for the public to decide whether they are important or not would lead to a lot of discussion without the changes being needed to personnel or policy quickly taking place.
I am sure every hospital in Tucson is working hard to try to prevent errors and to correct them when they take place, trying to improve as best as they can the health and safety of their patients. That is what the physicians who care for patients and the hospital administrators want.
Steven Ketchel
Northeast side
Prop. 123 spotlights disregard for rule of law
Re: the April 29 guest opinion βVote βnoβ on Prop. 123 β itβs a bad deal.β
Former Arizona Supreme Court Justice and prominent attorney Stan Feldmanβs op-ed regarding the reasons not to vote for Proposition 123 says it better than any one has said it so far.
It is so clear that what the governor and Arizona Legislature have done is overtly decide that the rule of law does not apply when a judicial judgment has been rendered against the state.
This is a very dangerous position for our great state to follow. The rule of law means the law, which applies not just to individuals but to government entities as well.
Failure of the Legislature to follow the law, in this case Prop. 301, is a violation of the oath of office and clearly unconstitutional. Donβt be fooled that this is good for education. It is not.
Dennis DeConcini
United States Senator (Retired), Midtown
Forget Scooby praise; real talent is Martinez
Re: the May 1 article βTucsonβs Martinez prepared to help address Packersβ need.β
I was disgusted that the Star chose to celebrate Scooby Wrightβs three picks away from βMr. Irrelevantβ in this yearβs NFL draft as a front-page news story, while local Tucson product, Blake Martinez, was buried as an afterthought on page five of the sports section.
I donβt understand why Scoobyβs seventh-round 250th pick gets front-page attention while Blakeβs fourth-round 131st pick is treated as an βoh by the way.β
Remember, it was Blake who wanted to stay home and be a Wildcat but was never recruited by our then incompetent football staff at the time. He was told he wasnβt good enough.
To add further insult, the Star disses Blake one more time, pushing his accomplishments to the back pages.
Perhaps the Star will show Blake more respect in the fall when he makes the Green Bay Packersβ roster and Scooby is buried somewhere on a practice squad. Maybe then he will be claimed as βone of Tucsonβs ownβ as we often do once somebody becomes successful.
Tim Robertson
Midtown
Looking at D-M closure from natβl perspective
There is much talk about shrinking government expenditures. Fifty-four percent of the discretionary federal budget in 2015 went to military expenses, almost $600 billion.
Instead of focusing on how much Davis-Monthan contributes to the Tucson economy, shouldnβt we be asking how much Davis-Monthan is needed by and contributes to our military? There need to be, and there will be, more base closings to lower our military expenditures and to reflect the changes in global threats.
I am concerned the impact on Tucson would be harsh if D-M shut down, but if it is for the better of the U.S., wouldnβt it be the right thing to do?
Bob Enyeart
Downtown
