Ohio leaders need to work on state's doctor friendliness

Ohio leaders need to work on state's doctor friendliness
EDITOR:
As a member of the medical community, I felt motivated to respond after reading a front-page article in The Vindicator Jan. 4 titled "It's harder to stay, hometown doctors say." I wanted to give my own humble opinion on what patients can expect with the current exodus of physicians to doctor-friendly states or as the article also said, with doctors closing their practices for other reasons.
If we continue to lose doctors locally and in this state, patients may not be able to find another physician right away. When and if they do, it may not be the physician of their choice. More doctors may choose to limit their practices, possibly by the number of patients they choose to see or by the type of insurance they accept. I even read once that physicians in larger cities are having patients pay a yearly fee for the "privilege" of being their patient. In the future, it may take a patient much longer to get in to see a physician, especially a specialist. You may think Cleveland and Pittsburgh physicians are an option. They will be overloaded too, and if you think you have to wait a long time to get in to see a local doctor, wait until you see how long it will take you to get in to a doctor in a larger city! Most importantly, patients and their families may be in for a big shock should a tragic accident or serious illness occur and the physicians needed to treat the patient simply are not available because they were forced to leave the state.
Some of the problems that I foresee and have mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg. I am sure other members of the medical community can easily add to my list. We are facing a medical crisis in this state, and as a baby boomer, I can only hope we will see changes. If we don't see some sort of reform in this state, the quality of our medical care is sure to suffer. As patients, what type of medical care do we have to look forward to as we continue to lose physicians? The public needs to take these issues seriously now and not wait until they or their loved ones are directly effected. I encourage readers to contact their state representative if they feel it is important that we become a more doctor-friendly state. We need to strike a balance between the needs of patients in general and the needs of patients who have legitimate medical malpractice claims.
KRISTINE SCAGLIONE
Girard
Dean is like a dinner special
EDITOR:
Nominating Howard Dean would be a big mistake for the Democrats. The appointment would take the Dems back in time to the days of Dukakis -- in fact, candidate Dean may as well don the garb and pose in the tank.
Electing Dean would not take America forward to a time of opportunity, education and responsibility. It would be like the difference between ordering an all-you-can eat special (Dean), where they determine how much you can start with and you have to get their attention to get what you need, and going to a buffet (anyone else) where, while you may have to & quot;work & quot; for what you desire, you make the determination as to what, when and how much is yours.
DALE W. CLARKE
Newton Falls
Freedom for drunken drivershows justice system flaws
EDITOR:
Is one life worth more than another in the justice system of Mahoning County?
My friend was killed by a drunken driver in December 2002. Her killer is still free.
His attorney has been able to get one delay after another. We had a very high-profile murder case in Youngstown, and the killer is behind bars waiting for the death sentence.
They both used a murder weapon, one a gun and one a truck while driving drunk.
Where is the justice when you are trying to explain to your children that their grandmother was on her way to deliver gifts when her life was ended by a drunken driver who is still free?
Clean up the justice system so all families can finally have closure.
NORMA E. McKNIGHT
Hubbard