Copyright 1999 The Columbus Dispatch
The Columbus
Dispatch
October 26, 1999, Tuesday
SECTION: EDITORIAL & COMMENT, Pg. 8A
LENGTH: 428 words
HEADLINE:
DRUG TRAFFICKER SHOULDN'T WORK IN TREATMENT CENTER
BODY:
Can the management of Maryhaven
explain how a person convicted of "aggravated trafficking in bulk amounts of
LSD'' could have been hired as a case aide and put in a position of trust in
their institution (Dispatch, Oct. 13)?
These children were placed in
Maryhaven to help get them on the path to a decent, normal life. Instead, they
are further abused and corrupted by an individual who never should have been
allowed near them. I am absolutely disgusted at such a breach of trust. Proper
personnel policies and background checks must be put in place. The responsible
parties in management should lose their jobs because of this incredible
misfeasance.
David Hellard
Grove City
House takes step
to boost training for pediatricians
Members of the U.S. House of
Representatives have taken the first step toward approving legislation that is
critical to the health of our children. They authorized federal funding to
support graduate medical education at our nation's children's
hospitals, which train nearly 30 percent of all pediatricians and nearly half of
all pediatric specialists, and which care for the sickest children.
Senate action is still needed on this bill, and the money required to
support it has not yet been appropriated. But the House vote to provide
assistance to our children's hospitals to maintain their teaching programs is
important.
Today, Medicare provides the most reliable and significant
support for graduate medical education, but children's
hospitals do not treat Medicare patients, who are mostly senior citizens. So
independent children's hospitals are the only hospitals that receive little
federal support for their training programs.
Every member of Ohio's
congressional delegation supported the bill. Those who think our children need
and deserve the best health care in the world should be most appreciative.
Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Perry Township, played an especially important
role in this action. She championed the strategy that allowed this legislation
to be linked to another bill that was moving quickly toward passage.
And
on the House floor, she reminded her colleagues that it is "absolutely critical
for the physicians who treat children to have the proper training to meet the
needs and challenges that are specific to children.''
At Children's
Hospital, we agree. We are proud of the courageous action that our
representatives in Congress have taken. We urge them to continue their work on
behalf of all children.
Dr. David J. Fisher, medical director
Children's Hospital
Columbus
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October 27, 1999 
