VALLEY VIEWPOINT : Don’t Punish Ghazalpour for Caring About People

Rules are made to benefit the masses, not to be broken. The question is: Who broke the rule?

The California Interscholastic Federation and the Los Angeles Unified School District require medical supervision of all high school football games. Where was that supervision that October day at Glendale High when Alex Ghazalpour, a 16-year-old Crescenta Valley High student, had to assume a responsibility--right or wrong--that was not his by driving an injured teammate to the hospital?

The coach (after the game), the athletic director or other administrative officials from either school, the medical attendant (M.D., R.N., EMT or paramedic) or even one of the parents of the injured player should have handled the situation. More information or clarification is needed because right now, something stinks in the Crescenta Valley.

Alex shouldn’t be punished. He should be recognized as a caring human being. He need not be made a hero. However, if someone else would have followed their rules and protocol, he would not have been put into the position in which he found himself. I have been a high school team physician for over 30 years and am a member of the L.A. County Medical Assn.’s Committee on Sports Medicine.

JEROME L. BORNSTEIN, M.D.

Sherman Oaks