A Doctor Responds to Story on Death of Implant Patient

Re “Death Follows Breast Implant” article (March 22):

I was shocked to read your article regarding the tragic death of Martha McClellan. I am amazed at the sensationalism and feel compelled to respond. It is appalling how your paper could tolerate and assent to the inclusion of the innuendoes, accusations and comparisons regarding myself and my staff that appeared in the article even before any actual tests with their results, investigations or reviews have taken place.

Also, does not the family have enough grief than to have it detailed to the public and then inaccurately? I think you have gone beyond your journalistic freedom in damaging my professional reputation and good name by cleverly omitting many pertinent facts and overstating others. To detail them here would serve no purpose save to violate patient confidentiality and further prolong the trauma to the McCellan family. Let these await an accurate review and recounting that should have been done prior to irresponsibly, indiscriminately and unfairly passing judgment on a tragic incident!

EDWARD J. DOMANSKIS, M.D.

Newport Beach