Letter to the Editor

Your view: A doctor speaks out

Sunday, January 22, 2006

As most of us know by personal experience, being involved in a lawsuit is never fun for either party.

While some cases can be entertaining on TV, most are not even fun to watch; and some, can be embarrassing to see. Both sides routinely make claims which barely resemble the truth, hoping at least some of it sticks, and somewhere, after all the dust clears, there may be a pot of gold.

Some things are certain. Lawsuits, like FMG vs MDMC/Doctors, destroy lifelong friendships, destroy people and families and affect the entire community. At the end of this, only the attorneys will have won.

The hospital, FMG and all the physicians are very important, even essential to this area. They should be places to respect, role models for children, and overall a source of pride for the community.

I don't know where this whole process is going, or can't even imagine where it will end. I do know, from over 30 years of experience in this medical community, that we have a lot to be proud of. We have been fortunate to have some excellent physicians, like the recently retired John Askew, who would have been a boon to any community.

I also know that the physicians who I work with every day, from both sides, are more concerned with patient care than the outcome of this lawsuit. We, all of us, appreciate being allowed to participate in your care.

Sincerely,

Anthony Poole, MD