Keep Politics Quiet in the Hospital Zone

This morning I walked into Community Memorial Hospital to discharge a patient who delivered her baby there yesterday. Normally, this is a pleasurable experience for me. This particular morning, though, as I entered through the emergency room entrance, I was assaulted by a huge eyesore of a sign imploring me to “Vote No on Measure X.”

I was quite offended by this as it has always been my belief that hospitals are supposed to be safe havens for all who are sick, infirm, or in some need of medical attention, not arenas for political grandstanding.

If I were a patient feeling ill and vulnerable, I might have also felt that the hospital--instead of being completely available and supportive to me in my time of need--was using my state of vulnerability to advance its own personal/political agenda.

WENDY STEIGER

Ventura

Steiger is a certified nurse midwife.

* We just received in today’s mail a pamphlet from the “Vote Yes on Measure X” group.

The information submitted by the “Saving Money As Responsible Taxpayers” organization included a back page devoted to trashing Community Memorial Hospital.

One thing these “responsible taxpayers” did not do was mention anywhere the amount of $54 million. They were willing to let the $27 million covered by a state grant stand as the only figure that should be taken into consideration by the voters. While this may not qualify as a true “half-truth,” it sure comes close. The voters should be wondering what other surprises will be waiting if Measure X should somehow be passed.

DWIGHT CATES

Ventura

* Ventura City Councilman Jim Monahan states that he is against the improvements in the Ventura County Medical Center’s health-care safety net proposed in Measure X. He has not yet demonstrated a thorough understanding of this complex issue and has joined his colleagues on the Ventura City Council in their conspicuous silence on this issue so critical to more than half of the residents of this county who rely on VCMC for medical care.

If Mr. Monahan is so certain that investment in the VCMC safety net is unnecessary, why hasn’t he encouraged his colleagues on the City Council to examine the subject and speak out on behalf of their constituents?

For the members of the Ventura City Council to remain silent on this critical issue is unfortunate. But for Mr. Monahan to join the silent conspiracy while claiming to be qualified to lead our county through the complex problems facing our Board of Supervisors every year is disingenuous at best.

BRIAN PRESTWICH, M.D.

Ventura