Letters to the editor: The fight over Medicare chief Donald Berwick; the war in Afghanistan after 10 years; trouble at L.A. County’s jails

The good doctor

Re “Trying to heal a system’s flaws,” Oct. 5

How could Medicare and Medicaid chief Donald Berwick, the esteemed patriotic doctor who has the answers for fixing the mistakes and mismanagement of Medicare, possibly be a “lightning rod for criticism” in the halls of Congress?

And why would President Obama circumvent the Senate confirmation process when he could have put this incredible medical professional before the American people and shamed any member of the Senate for not confirming him?

Now the public is faced with the fact that one of the most scrupulous doctors to serve us may be forced out of his post. What an embarrassment we are to the world.

Charlene A. Richards

Los Angeles

Although there is little doubt that adopting methodology from aviation and other labor-intensive disciplines will reduce the unacceptably high rate of medical errors, I am surprised that The Times did not mention the system used by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The VA switched to a mandatory electronic record system in the 1990s, which has virtually eliminated handwritten records. Every unit of medicine administered to patients is bar-coded and matched electronically with the patient’s wristband. Before undergoing any procedure, an elaborate series of steps is taken to virtually eliminate

human error.

That government care has not even entered into the healthcare debate is an unfortunate omission because it offers perhaps the only low-cost, high-quality option to those currently uninsured.

Jonathan D. Kaunitz, MD

Santa Monica

Berwick’s attempt to mimic the aviation industry’s success in improving flight safety through systems engineering should be applauded. As a pilot’s wife, I have seen accidents avoided by utilizing simple processes.

Recently, a flight controller gave my husband permission to take off while another plane was landing on the same runway. The procedure to acknowledge receipt and understanding of the clearance saved both our lives. Medicine is filled with examples of equally dangerous and preventable errors.

I’m angry that Republicans are blocking Berwick’s permanent appointment. His looming departure will allow them to preserve a wasteful, error-ridden system.

Nora Hazi

Pacific Palisades

Fixing L.A. County’s jails

Re “Deputy cited inmate abuse in jail,” Oct. 7

The article says, “The jails are a place where inexperienced deputies learn how to handle potentially violent and manipulative criminals.” This is, to me, absurd.

The Twin Towers Correctional Facility has often been called the “nation’s largest mental institution.” Mental health workers and professional corrections officers receive extensive training in dealing with these types of individuals. Yet the county sees fit to send new deputies into a caldron of complex and dangerous situations.

The quote I cited above adds that this occurs “under constant supervision.” In this former deputy’s case, we see just how effective that “supervision” was. He was allegedly ordered to beat an inmate, and the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department has lost one of its most prized recruits. Some training program.

Robert Von Bargen

Santa Monica

Each day seems to brings more disgusting revelations about the beating of inmates at county jails at the hands of deputies. Sheriff Lee Baca is not only inept, he appears to be the leading advocate of “see no evil” in the department under his control.

He needs to be recalled, and the Sheriff’s Department should be placed under federal receivership until it is cleaned up.

Mel Frohman

Los Angeles

Afghanistan isn’t for us

Re “10 years at war in Afghanistan,” graphic, Oct. 7

Those of us who spoke out against the Afghanistan war in 2001 were derided as unpatriotic and pompously told to “move to France.”

I’m not trying to say I told you so, but after 10 years, it’s a little bit hard to swallow Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal’s comments that America didn’t know as much as it should have going in. Some of us were well aware that we lacked the knowledge and ability to bring the conflict to an agreeable conclusion. We just weren’t listened to.

I’d like to think that in 40 years — when the trillions in war debt are repaid and the generation whose lives have been shattered by IEDs is old enough to be easily forgotten — that when America is again on the brink of war the dissenters will be given a seat at the decision-making table. But if there’s anything I’ve learned from the war in Afghanistan, it’s that history repeats itself.

Lukas Baumgartel

Los Angeles

The present situation and the prognosis in Afghanistan must change. There is no such thing as military victory for the U.S. in any Muslim country.

The president should declare that the primary objective in Afghanistan was to help guide the country to an elected government, which has been achieved. It is not our role to engage in the fantasy of bringing stability to that nation or any other nation.

We can be in Afghanistan for another 10 years and little will have changed, other than more lost American lives and more debt.

We have accomplished our mission and should depart.

Sid Pelston

Marina del Rey

Audit, again

Re “L.A. college district probe opened,” Oct. 5

This story, in part, concerns my role and qualifications as inspector general of the Los Angeles Community College District. The story is based largely on an audit of the district by state Controller John Chiang.

Most of the findings in this audit are in dispute, particularly in regard to the scoring process for appointment of the inspector general. The many questionable findings in the audit were presented in a report made by the district chancellor during a public special board meeting on Aug. 17.

Of particular importance is the finding that the state auditors did not correctly interpret the scoring sheets used during the selection process. The controller would have recognized that my company, Policy Masters Inc., was among the highest rated candidates every step of the selection process.

The controller’s office is considering this information and reexamining its audit.

Christine E. Marez

Los Angeles

La Plaza’s flaw

Re “La Plaza is an open, and empty, space,” Oct. 5

The problem with projects like La Plaza de Culture y Artes and other boondoggles is simple: They are created more for political reasons than providing value.

As with any single-subject center, once you have been there, you never have to go back. In this example, living in Los Angeles and already knowing the Mexican American contributions, there is no need to go at all.

La Plaza must hope that enough out-of-town tourists find it. But have you been to Olvera Street lately? Why would tourists want to go there?

Vince Antonino

Los Angeles

Pot Rx

Re “Feds ramp up efforts to close pot shops,” Oct. 7

Several years ago when a since-deceased friend was battling cancer, he had marijuana and THC pills. When I asked him why he had bought weed when he could simply take the pills, he explained that one week’s worth of THC pills cost $300, whereas he could buy less than an ounce of marijuana buds for the same money, and that he would have to smoke all day to go through that much in a week.

Big pharma scores again.

Liz White

Los Angeles