Hospital Security and Gun Control

The physicians of the American Medical Assn. offer their sincere best wishes to the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center physicians who earlier this month were critically injured while on duty. It is ironic and infuriating that those charged with saving the lives of patients actually could become the victims.

This is a tragedy for the entire country. There is enough pressure on emergency room physicians and other personnel without the looming threat that violence has on their lives and their work. In addition, as The Times has noted, violence against physicians and other hospital workers is on the rise, and much of that violence takes place in emergency rooms.

As a nation, we often times forget to take notice of the heroes among us. As a group of physicians, the AMA would like to commend its colleagues and the myriad of other health care workers who serve in emergency rooms. Their courage is demonstrated every day by their willingness to serve patients, even if it puts their lives in danger.

JOHN L. CLOWE MD

President of AMA, Chicago