To ensure our well-being, premiums must be limited

To ensure our well-being,premiums must be limited
EDITOR:
You may have read previous letters in this column concerning the issue of increasing malpractice premiums for physicians in Ohio. I am writing to increase the public's awareness of this problem. You see, this is -- or should be -- of great concern to everyone, not only physicians.
I have been a nurse in surgery in the Youngstown area for 25 years. I know many of the physicians who are facing the closing of their practices. They are all experienced, dedicated surgeons who live their work 24/7. They are always tied to a pager to alert them to a patient's need. They seldom get an uninterrupted night's sleep, yet always rise to the occasion when they are summoned to the hospital in the middle of the night.
How many people could live this stressful lifestyle? Yet, there are people who begrudge the money they earn.
In all these years, I have never seen a surgeon act in any way other than in the patient's best interest. I have, however, seen a surgeon work all day on a patient who has no insurance.
I am not only concerned as a nurse, but it frightens me to think who will be left in this community to care for myself and my family.
One of my doctors has announced the closing of his practice, and another is not sure how much longer he can afford to continue. Their malpractice premiums are around $100,000 a year and are likely to increase 20 percent each year.
After this and their office expenses are paid, their profit is not enough to make the long hours, stress and hectic pace worthwhile. I fear the general public will not recognize the severity of the problem until their own doctor's office closes.
Lawyers and insurance companies can blame each other for the problem, but the bottom line is the problem is escalating and we need help from our elected officials. Some of them mentioned this issue in their election campaigns. Please write to your representatives. We need their help. Legislation that places limits on these premiums must be instituted.
SUE KUDERCA, R.N.
Boardman
Cable TV news outlets seemto assume we don't think
EDITOR:
Cable TV is a television world where political pundits meet every night to discuss what everybody in America already has an opinion on.
It shows the failings of our institutions of higher learning with the masters of truth and untruths they send out to persuade and try changing America's behavior patterns.
Some seem to think if you tell the same lie every night, people will believe it. It's only true and has effect if you withhold their bread and water.
The American public isn't as dumbed down as the elitist might think. First instincts and opinion very seldom change. If a person hears Kobe Bryant's public apology for committing adultery and being charged with sexual assault or Scott Peterson's plea to being innocent of his wife's murder a hundred times, would it change a person's first opinion? I doubt it.
The cable channels' elite must be exposed as mush makers. They will make mush out of your brain if a person continues watching their micromanaging of the news everyday.
STEVE KOPA
Weirton, W.V.
Let's show some respectfor funeral processions
EDITOR:
We attended a funeral in North Jackson recently and were appalled at the ignorance of other drivers. Not only is it illegal to interrupt a funeral procession, it is also disrespectful to the family and rude.
To the person in the Chevy pickup truck who interrupted the procession: We got your plate number and notified the North Jackson police.
There was also a woman who cut in behind us, interrupting the cars following ours. If the light had turned red, you would have had to stop -- thereby stopping the other family members and friends from getting to the cemetery with the others.
Keep in mind that when there's a death in the family, there are people coming in from other cities and states who aren't familiar with the area. We depend on being able to follow the car ahead of us.
This isn't rocket science -- it's common courtesy and respect. It's also the law! When you see a line of cars with flags and headlights, it's a funeral. Please show some respect.
MARION STANTON
Lorain
The truth is, beauty is hard to find among the billboards
EDITOR:
Outdoor advertising, billboards, off premise signs, call them what you like -- they have become a menace to the aesthetics of city, township or anywhere they are erected. I think they are archaic usage of advertising -- they are monsters of the sign business. Austintown was fortunate to be without them for years until about 10 years ago when a Texas lawyer for Petro researched the Ohio revised code and discovered an article that reads: Any property zoned industrial, agriculture, or business is qualified for billboards, this means when the zoning board has a change before it and the request is a change from residential to any of the above and the board is for the change, the billboards are automatically included in the change - the township cannot exclude them -- That's the law!
When Petro pointed the article out to the board and the Trustees -- I requested the law should be changed because it was too broad in the way it was written, they told me if I wanted it changed I should go to our representative (Ron Gerberry at that time) but I was told he was too busy to be involved with such a small problem.
There was a letter sent to Mr. Gerberry by the zoning inspector, the response was he did not know enough about it and would be willing to talk about it, but nothing was done. In the meantime the billboards went up all over the township virtually over night.
The township is faced with a reconstruction of Rt. 46 and there's a controversy between the state and the township as to what the area should look like. The township wants a boulevard look because they want an aesthetic look for the township, they were not interested in pursuing the change of the billboards, but they wanted a boulevard look with businesses in that area which will have billboards and they have no power to stop them. How will the boulevard look with all those billboards and on premise signs?
I suggest they should have thought about that 10 years ago -- forget about the boulevard, concentrate on street aesthetics and you'll get the look you want.
FRANK MORAN
Austintown
Wise enough to know whenyou shouldn't drive anymore
EDITOR:
Not too long ago the press was focused on elderly drivers and the risks they cause -- with good reason. Jay Ambrose's article of July 1 covered it quite well.
I am, or was, an elderly driver. On June 30 I surrendered my beautiful Impala. As you can guess, I surrendered more than my car!
However, my decision to give up driving is not one-sided. It is true the decision to do so is based heavily upon my conduct behind the wheel, but contributing to it is the unmistakable fact that today's motorist drives, or is expected to drive, an office, a bus, entertainment center, fast-food restaurant and even a bedroom.
Now, as an 82-year-old passenger and pedestrian, I am not at ease. It might be some consolation to know it wasn't my fault.
LOUIS MAMULA
Lowellville