Saldivar Gives His Profession a Black Eye

As a registered respiratory therapist with 14 years of experience, I read with unmitigated loathing the antics surrounding the “angel of death,” Efren Saldivar, in “Graveyard Shift” (April 28-29). Not only does Saldivar represent a human failure but also the failure of a respiratory department to exercise cross-checks within the department itself. He has single-handedly given a black eye to an honorable profession that, in my experience, has always exercised the highest degree of professional and personal integrity.

Michael Ryan

Venice

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As president of the California Society for Respiratory Care, a volunteer organization representing respiratory therapists in California, I am concerned with the portrayal of our profession. While this article may describe one group of therapists, it is definitely not the norm for the other 20,000 California therapists and hundreds of thousands across the world. The CSRC, along with our national organization, condemns any illegal or unethical acts performed by Saldivar or his co-workers. All therapists are not “like high school kids.” Yes, therapists enjoy their work and accomplishments, but behind that joy they are dedicated, educated and highly skilled professionals.

Since Saldivar began his respiratory career in 1988, many facets have changed. Among them is the minimum two-year AA degree required to become a therapist in California--with a four-year requirement in the near future. Today there is also mandatory reporting--for both employees and employers who witness any unprofessional act by a therapist--to the Respiratory Care Board.

Michael Gibbons

Agoura Hills

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Re “Digging Deep for ‘Angel’s’ Terrible Toll,” April 29: Congratulations to the Glendale Police Department and other involved people for deciding to continue the investigation of Efren Saldivar. Today’s society tends to ignore the needs of the silent and helpless, so it would have been easy to drop this case for excess cost or lack of evidence. Special congratulations to Sgt. John McKillop, who acted because he could not “trivialize” the lives of the “vulnerable . . . elderly in the hospital.” When he first became a police officer, McKillop took an oath to protect all people, and his efforts in this case indeed show how seriously he saw his profession.

Congratulations to The Times for choosing to dedicate so much well-researched space to this story. Unlike the cases of O.J. Simpson, Robert Blake or Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, this “angel of death” story is truly sensational.

Judith M. Seki

San Gabriel