Readers Write

HEALTH CARE

Stop the innuendos, change the status quo

Even in the age of blogs and Twitter, I am not used to sending comments. However, I believe that the future of our health care system is hanging in the balance — and that each of us is required to use our voices.

Although I have been fortunate not to have truly serious illnesses, I have realized how expensive it is to see a doctor now and be treated for “regular” pains and illnesses.

In this time of uneven economic pain, those who are affected are inordinately penalized from receiving care.

I am frustrated by the power of the moneyed interests to keep the status quo, and diminish accessible preventative health care. I am tired of the commercials that are propounding “socialized medicine” with innuendos not backed up by facts.

I want the right to opt for a public insurance plan, and I see no reason that the private providers can object if they are offering a competitive service. Clearly, that is not true.

Sandy Watts, Atlanta

Public option would save money and lives

Millions of Americans are uninsured. It is my understanding that more than 50 percent of Georgia residents are uninsured.

The only free clinic in Clayton County is the Good Shepherd Clinic. It is a blessing to people with diabetes, high blood pressure and other serious conditions, but it does not have the money or personnel to provide needed procedures and specialized care.

It takes a long time to get an appointment. People are forced to go to the emergency room, where care is expensive and inadequate, especially for the uninsured.

Every day I meet people who, from lack of preventive medicine and routine medical care, have developed disabling conditions. Untreated diabetes can affect all parts of the body.

A public health insurance option is needed to save people, and to save money.

Lavinia George, Morrow

Investigation should remember the patients

As a patient of Dr. Zachary Stowe for the past seven years, I was disturbed to read that he received a “letter of reprimand” from Emory University (“Emory professor criticized,” Metro, June 11).

However, I am more disturbed by an investigation that seems completely unconcerned with the patients involved in Stowe’s studies and practice.

At each visit with Stowe, I sit beside women in the waiting room who are pregnant, and hoping for guidance in decisions about how their depression might affect their unborn children.

Stowe facilitates an informed decision about whether or not to continue with medication during pregnancy based on trusted research — information that is often unknown to the average ob-gyn or psychiatrist.

My guess is that these women — the many patients of Stowe — will continue to place their trust in this doctor’s expertise.

As they reprimand Stowe, it’s unfortunate that no one at the National Institutes of Health or Emory seems bothered to care about patient care.

Susan Fikse, Atlanta