Readers Write for Friday, Nov. 27

They're hurting the entire community I read with interest recent articles about the Hennepin County Medical Center. I first went to HCMC as a 10-year-old with no job or insurance, but I was given excellent care. It has remained my choice for clinic and hospital care for almost 40 years, even though I have health insurance and could go elsewhere. Why? Because of the superior care and tremendous doctors and nurses.

Many years ago, I was brought into the HCMC emergency room after midnight, by ambulance, for a life-threatening asthma attack. Dr. Dave Plummer stayed by my bedside talking to one of my clinic doctors, Dr. Con Iber, who was at home, on the phone for hours until I was out of the woods. Dr. Scott Davies has been my pulmonary doctor for close to 30 years. When I was having severe asthma attacks for no apparent reason, he dug through all the research to come up with answers, and my asthma has been under control now for more than a decade.

I am but one of thousands of people who owe their lives to the fine doctors and nurses at HCMC. The loss of staff and programs at HCMC will hurt not only the uninsured, but all of us.

BAZILLA (BUZZY) BOHN, MINNEAPOLIS

HCMC, the care provider of last resort for our county's poorest brothers and sisters, is forced to cut hundreds of jobs. A food assistance program for citizens with special dietary needs is cut. Spokesmen for the governor say that there "might" be other programs available to supplement these peoples' needs, and that these cuts were "necessary in order to balance the state's budget."

The level of callousness and indifference these actions and statements exhibit is appalling, even more so because they were deemed "necessary" solely to serve a political agenda.

more And the man responsible wants to be president? And the legislators who enabled him want to be reelected?

ALAN HUSBY, MINNEAPOLIS

Americans need to understand that we have a limited supply of money to spend on health care. The use of evidenced-based medicine allows us to direct these funds to tests and treatments that provide the greatest benefit to the largest number of patients.

The anger expressed when new evidence contradicts long-held beliefs is misguided. The new breast cancer guidelines simply suggest we may be able to save more lives by applying that money to other tests or treatments. Patients who feel they need a test that is not recommended may still receive that test by paying out of their own pockets.

DON ANDERSON, MAHTOMEDI

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Economists have long advised that government subsidies for medical education, drug development and medical equipment could significantly lower the cost to provide medical care, with a subsequent drop in rates for insurance.

And where are the provisions that would impact medical malpractice? It is no secret that much of the testing and other medical practices patients undergo are designed to protect doctors from malpractice suits. Unnecessary use of medical practitioners and expensive equipment accounts for a huge portion of the health care burden.

The officials elected to serve Americans are forcing on us a health care system burdened with top-heavy costs at the outset. While we all would like to see health care coverage for all citizens, the means do not justify this end.

TIM CONAWAY, MAPLE GROVE

Jill Burcum's Nov. 22 column about the new Northstar rail line said that because of the Northstar's "inflexible" schedule, she went back to fighting traffic en route to and from work.

Just some advice from a one-time bus rider.