Examining a Hospital in Crisis

Americans must get over the notion of perfection in medical science and a life without pain and consequences. All medications have side effects (known and unknown) and -- get this, folks -- people die. The three most recently publicized deaths at Martin Luther King Jr./ Drew Medical Center have been politicized and blown out of proportion (April 6-7). The patients were terminally ill; it was just a matter of days before they would succumb. To blame King/Drew for their deaths is ridiculous.

That is not to say that King/Drew doesn’t have problems, but we must regain our sense of proportionality and reasonable expectations. To pull funding to force the closure of King/Drew will devastate not only the community that King/Drew has served but the surrounding communities as it puts undue pressure on medical care providers already overburdened. And then there will be even more casualties as a result of overcrowding and understaffing.

Stephany Yablow

North Hollywood

*

Re “King/Drew Med School Under Fire,” April 7: I am just dumbfounded by Drew University interim President Harry Douglas’ remarks that 11 of the hospital’s 15 doctor-training programs recently have received favorable reviews from accreditors. Fifteen of 15 programs should have received favorable reviews. To have four programs not receive favorable reviews is deplorable.

Elliott Brender MD

Villa Park