Letters to the Editor 07-08-1997
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Lewis Responds - Ritalin - Pierceton EMS - Winona Fourth - Animal Lover - Cemetery
Lewis Responds
Editor, Times-Union:I tell ya - these days one really needs a sense of humor. I suppose I don't mind being the source of some community entertainment lately, but I did want to clarify a few things in your recent "Potpourri" column and perhaps this may lead to more local levity.
Again (Dan), I didn't "help build KC Online" - but I'll leave that one alone and won't rant any further. Regarding the KC Online "Death Watch": This began as a joke at the associates meeting you attended. As with most things I do, this began as a joke. It just so happened that a couple of overzealous teens took up the battle cry and actually created a site. But no, I had no hand in this. I am told that the page mysteriously disappeared from KC Online's server.
Of course you bring up the ultimate indignity of losing my account with KC Online (I wonder why they cut me off?). Then I had to confess the additional humiliation of getting a temporary account as "[email protected]." Well, the story does get better. Their system administrator called me and informed me that he really wasn't interested in putting "my kind" on their server (whatever could he mean by that?). So right now I'm "[email protected]" but that will soon be changed. We will have service up and operational in a few days, I am told; then look for me as "[email protected]."
Phil Lewis Kingdom Communications
Ritalin
Editor, Times-Union:As a developmental pediatrician, I was dismayed and horrified to read the article by Scripps Howard ("Two Million Kids Use Ritalin") in your Monday, June 16, paper. If Mr. Howard were a physician practicing the way he writes, he would certainly be sued justifiably for malpractice. This article represents the worst of journalism and would be more appropriate for a rag such as "The Enquirer" or "The Globe." Comparing Ritalin to cocaine is simply cheap sensationalism. His article is filled with contradictions, claiming that the effect of taking Ritalin is the same as cocaine and "these kids are wired," then two paragraphs later he states, "the drug ... makes kids who have been bouncing off walls and talking incessantly begin to sit still. They listen. They focus. Most make better grades." Cocaine induces euphoria and impedes learning and performance.
Although there is overprescribing of stimulant medication and some physicians do very little in the way of evaluating children before placing them on it, ethical and competent physicians carefully evaluate children before prescribing Ritalin. Further, close monitoring occurs to be sure that any side effects are outweighed by positive effects of the medication. Ritalin has been around for 30 years and amphetamines for 60, plenty of time to assess their safety. Their increased use reflects the relative safety of the medication.
In countries like Sweden where medication is nonprescribed, social workers are provided for families to help them deal with the problems created by attention deficits. I don't see the American public or the government supporting an additional 500,000 social workers to take care of those children (although this certainly would be a great idea, increasing the mental health of our children). People who are concerned about our children's welfare would do well to look at the real problems: the destruction of the environment, the pollution of our air and water, the terrible toll that poorly thought-out marriages and subsequent divorce have on children, the increasing poverty of children, the fact that two million children are often placed in cars without safety restraints, etc. The use of Ritalin to improve children's academic futures pales when compared to these atrocities.
Neil J. Stalker, M.D. Peru
Pierceton EMS
Editor, Times-Union:Recently there have been several articles in the area papers on the EMS system in Kosciusko County. I have been serving the people of Pierceton since 1990. I have volunteered with Multi-Township and I consider myself to have a good working relationship with them. I want to start by saying that the views to follow are not necessarily those of the Pierceton EMS. As a basic EMT, I realize that I am on the bottom of the pole. However, the fact still remains that not every call needs a paramedic response. Our philosophy is to quickly load the patient and treat them while we are en route. If paramedic response is required, then we expect that they will also react thusly. It makes no sense to wait for 20 minutes alongside the road while a medic establishes an I.V. Most of the medics do move quickly, but they have to perform certain tasks due to protocol.
I agree that we all deserve the same level of care, but that level varies from call to call. Does it make sense to have a medic respond to an accident with minor injuries, or a simple nursing home transfer? I have a basic idea, which I am sure that can be improved upon. If county EMS is the answer, then why not utilize what we have? Staff each county base with a paid EMT and driver to provide 24-hour coverage. The city of Warsaw should also have a basic response team. When a paramedic skill is needed, Multi-Township could send a paramedic response team in a chase truck. (A chase truck is a nontransport vehicle. They respond with extra equipment and drugs.)
I am not sure of the cost to the people. That I'll leave to those who know. What I am sure of is that there have been dedicated volunteers for 20 years. Do not demean the success that they have experienced. We do have good ideas if you will just ask us.
I encourage all area EMTs to write to the editor and be heard. It is what we have worked for years for. Don't let them take it away without saying your piece.
Liz Campbell EMT, Pierceton EMS
Winona Fourth
Editor, Times-Union:Accolades to those who planned, worked and participated in making the 3rd and 4th of July in Winona Lake a resounding success. It gave a hometown atmosphere for families and friends to enjoy and share good times together. A special thanks to the Dane Millers for the spectacular fireworks show.
Joann Wilcoxson Winona Lake
Animal Lover
Editor, Times-Union:I love my two dogs and I love animals. I am a life member of PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals). I live on a busy street and know family pets get hit by cars on that street. I see unleashed pets next in line for the splattered pet of the week award. I have read three tear-jerking editorials of lost pets that the mean old bad animal-killing car drivers turned into road pizzas. If you truly love your pets, leash them. Cars don't kill animals. People that don't leash kill animals. Please be responsible with your furry family members and slap a leash around their necks.
Daniel Stevens Warsaw
Cemetery
Editor, Times-Union:I just want to say how very disappointed I am about the people in charge of Oakwood Cemetery in their trimming around the headstones. Someone is very, very careless. My daughter put up a flowered memorial that said "Dad." Someone cut part of it off plus the urns were moved and not put back in their place. I understand it takes a lot of work, but we paid for the plots. And in our contract, it does not say we couldn't have our shepherd's rod up, but this spring we had to remove them or they, the caretakers, would remove them. But our plot contract did say no shrubs or trees but did nothing about that. We loved those people we had to bury! Can't you be just a little more careful? I know I'd greatly appreciate you taking a little more care of our plots! Please, if anyone else feels the same, let people know your feelings. Thank you.
Dot Sponseller Winona Lake
[[In-content Ad]]
- Lewis Responds - Ritalin - Pierceton EMS - Winona Fourth - Animal Lover - Cemetery
Lewis Responds
Editor, Times-Union:I tell ya - these days one really needs a sense of humor. I suppose I don't mind being the source of some community entertainment lately, but I did want to clarify a few things in your recent "Potpourri" column and perhaps this may lead to more local levity.
Again (Dan), I didn't "help build KC Online" - but I'll leave that one alone and won't rant any further. Regarding the KC Online "Death Watch": This began as a joke at the associates meeting you attended. As with most things I do, this began as a joke. It just so happened that a couple of overzealous teens took up the battle cry and actually created a site. But no, I had no hand in this. I am told that the page mysteriously disappeared from KC Online's server.
Of course you bring up the ultimate indignity of losing my account with KC Online (I wonder why they cut me off?). Then I had to confess the additional humiliation of getting a temporary account as "[email protected]." Well, the story does get better. Their system administrator called me and informed me that he really wasn't interested in putting "my kind" on their server (whatever could he mean by that?). So right now I'm "[email protected]" but that will soon be changed. We will have service up and operational in a few days, I am told; then look for me as "[email protected]."
Phil Lewis Kingdom Communications
Ritalin
Editor, Times-Union:As a developmental pediatrician, I was dismayed and horrified to read the article by Scripps Howard ("Two Million Kids Use Ritalin") in your Monday, June 16, paper. If Mr. Howard were a physician practicing the way he writes, he would certainly be sued justifiably for malpractice. This article represents the worst of journalism and would be more appropriate for a rag such as "The Enquirer" or "The Globe." Comparing Ritalin to cocaine is simply cheap sensationalism. His article is filled with contradictions, claiming that the effect of taking Ritalin is the same as cocaine and "these kids are wired," then two paragraphs later he states, "the drug ... makes kids who have been bouncing off walls and talking incessantly begin to sit still. They listen. They focus. Most make better grades." Cocaine induces euphoria and impedes learning and performance.
Although there is overprescribing of stimulant medication and some physicians do very little in the way of evaluating children before placing them on it, ethical and competent physicians carefully evaluate children before prescribing Ritalin. Further, close monitoring occurs to be sure that any side effects are outweighed by positive effects of the medication. Ritalin has been around for 30 years and amphetamines for 60, plenty of time to assess their safety. Their increased use reflects the relative safety of the medication.
In countries like Sweden where medication is nonprescribed, social workers are provided for families to help them deal with the problems created by attention deficits. I don't see the American public or the government supporting an additional 500,000 social workers to take care of those children (although this certainly would be a great idea, increasing the mental health of our children). People who are concerned about our children's welfare would do well to look at the real problems: the destruction of the environment, the pollution of our air and water, the terrible toll that poorly thought-out marriages and subsequent divorce have on children, the increasing poverty of children, the fact that two million children are often placed in cars without safety restraints, etc. The use of Ritalin to improve children's academic futures pales when compared to these atrocities.
Neil J. Stalker, M.D. Peru
Pierceton EMS
Editor, Times-Union:Recently there have been several articles in the area papers on the EMS system in Kosciusko County. I have been serving the people of Pierceton since 1990. I have volunteered with Multi-Township and I consider myself to have a good working relationship with them. I want to start by saying that the views to follow are not necessarily those of the Pierceton EMS. As a basic EMT, I realize that I am on the bottom of the pole. However, the fact still remains that not every call needs a paramedic response. Our philosophy is to quickly load the patient and treat them while we are en route. If paramedic response is required, then we expect that they will also react thusly. It makes no sense to wait for 20 minutes alongside the road while a medic establishes an I.V. Most of the medics do move quickly, but they have to perform certain tasks due to protocol.
I agree that we all deserve the same level of care, but that level varies from call to call. Does it make sense to have a medic respond to an accident with minor injuries, or a simple nursing home transfer? I have a basic idea, which I am sure that can be improved upon. If county EMS is the answer, then why not utilize what we have? Staff each county base with a paid EMT and driver to provide 24-hour coverage. The city of Warsaw should also have a basic response team. When a paramedic skill is needed, Multi-Township could send a paramedic response team in a chase truck. (A chase truck is a nontransport vehicle. They respond with extra equipment and drugs.)
I am not sure of the cost to the people. That I'll leave to those who know. What I am sure of is that there have been dedicated volunteers for 20 years. Do not demean the success that they have experienced. We do have good ideas if you will just ask us.
I encourage all area EMTs to write to the editor and be heard. It is what we have worked for years for. Don't let them take it away without saying your piece.
Liz Campbell EMT, Pierceton EMS
Winona Fourth
Editor, Times-Union:Accolades to those who planned, worked and participated in making the 3rd and 4th of July in Winona Lake a resounding success. It gave a hometown atmosphere for families and friends to enjoy and share good times together. A special thanks to the Dane Millers for the spectacular fireworks show.
Joann Wilcoxson Winona Lake
Animal Lover
Editor, Times-Union:I love my two dogs and I love animals. I am a life member of PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals). I live on a busy street and know family pets get hit by cars on that street. I see unleashed pets next in line for the splattered pet of the week award. I have read three tear-jerking editorials of lost pets that the mean old bad animal-killing car drivers turned into road pizzas. If you truly love your pets, leash them. Cars don't kill animals. People that don't leash kill animals. Please be responsible with your furry family members and slap a leash around their necks.
Daniel Stevens Warsaw
Cemetery
Editor, Times-Union:I just want to say how very disappointed I am about the people in charge of Oakwood Cemetery in their trimming around the headstones. Someone is very, very careless. My daughter put up a flowered memorial that said "Dad." Someone cut part of it off plus the urns were moved and not put back in their place. I understand it takes a lot of work, but we paid for the plots. And in our contract, it does not say we couldn't have our shepherd's rod up, but this spring we had to remove them or they, the caretakers, would remove them. But our plot contract did say no shrubs or trees but did nothing about that. We loved those people we had to bury! Can't you be just a little more careful? I know I'd greatly appreciate you taking a little more care of our plots! Please, if anyone else feels the same, let people know your feelings. Thank you.
Dot Sponseller Winona Lake
[[In-content Ad]]
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