System handling medical devices is working well
I was disappointed to read The Sun's article on the medical device recall process ("Ineffectual recalls of medical devices have proved deadly," May 27). While the article raises important issues, it opens with three examples of recalls that occurred between nine and 20 years ago. Yesterday's recalls say very little about the challenges facing our health care system today.
Over the past 10 years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and medical technology companies have put in place strong new procedures for handling complaints, reporting problems, conducting product recalls and tracking products.
While no system is perfect, the current system is working well. Only a handful of medical technology recalls that pose a risk of serious adverse health consequences or death occur each year.
Even one recall is one too many, however, and America's medical technology companies are continually working with the FDA, doctors and health care facilities to ensure patients receive the safest, most effective care in the world.
Pamela G. Bailey
Washington
The writer is president of the Advanced Medical Technology Association.
Attacks on Arafat don't promote peace
The latest attack on Yasser Arafat's headquarters is solid evidence that the current Israeli government is not interested in the Palestinians cracking down on their own terrorists or in making peace with the Palestinian people ("Israel again surrounds Arafat's compound," June 6).
Among the damage was the destruction of the offices of the Palestinian intelligence service, which would be central to attempts by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to monitor and arrest militants.
How absurd and disingenuous are Israeli calls for greater effectiveness of the PA in controlling violence. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon knows better than any of us how his incursions into the West Bank breed hatred - more suicide bombers and more excuses for brutally driving out an unwanted ethnic group.
Does Israel want peace, or simply land devoid of Palestinians, for "settlements"? To me, Israel's actions speak differently than its leaders' words.
Keith Inman
Baltimore
Spread of AIDS is a security issue
The Sun's article "Senate begins debating a growing anti-terror bill" (June 4) refers to money to combat AIDS overseas as an example of an amendment that "has nothing to do with the fight on terrorism." I would point out that senior officials in both the Clinton and Bush administrations have declared AIDS in Africa a national security issue.
And, given its devastation of a continent's work force, the economic destabilization and subsequent militarization of African nations and a projected 40 million new orphans by 2010, AIDS in Africa has been rightly recognized as creating an ideal breeding ground for future terrorism.
The inclusion of AIDS funding in the proposed anti-terror legislation would be an essential component of a long-term campaign against terror.
David Fessler
Ellicott City
Global warming policy is pathetic
When President Bush refuses to implement the Kyoto treaty and suggests voluntary efforts by industry and the American people will cure the global warming problem, it confirms my suspicions that he is losing his faculties.
Who is Mr. Bush trying to kid? Industry will do nothing to reduce emissions without mandatory controls. The almighty dollar is all it cares about.
And will the American people be the answer to this ever-increasing problem? No, they prefer cruising in their gas-guzzling polluters and being part of the problem, instead of selecting more environmentally compatible vehicles and participating in the solution.
The combination of a confused administration and Congress and an apathetic, uninformed citizenry bodes poorly for the fight against global warming. Future generations will suffer because of our ignorance.
Ronald Stearns
Bel Air
Brand name drugs aren't foolish choice
Well, brand me a fool ("Only a fool pays more for a brand name drug," Opinion
Commentary, June 4). I agree that people should take greater advantage of the availability of generic drugs. I do believe, however, that there remain reasons other than foolishness for taking brand-name drugs.
My cardiologist specifically prescribes the branded form of warfarin (the generic drug) for reasons of quality control. It is a powerful and dangerous drug that is taken in minute doses. Getting the prescribed dose is crucial.
While the generic form has increased its reliability, my doctor continues to prescribe the brand-name drug - a decision I would be foolish to ignore.
Con Manning
Cockeysville
Life sentences today rarely end in parole
The writer of the letter "Criminals don't fear state's justice system" (June 5) states that the average time served for a life sentence in Maryland is 7 1/2 years. This is not true.
Someone sentenced to a life sentence must serve 15 years to be eligible for parole. While good time credits may be applied to that sentence, the absolute minimum still is no less than 12 1/2 years.
But, in reality, very few inmates serving a life sentence ever get paroled anymore. This has been the case since approximately 1994.
As long as the current political climate holds, the only lifers paroled will be old-age and medical-hardship cases.
Vernon M. Gentile
Bel Air
The writer has been an assistant state's attorney in Harford County for 15 years.
Controlling guns won't control crime
In regard to the letter "How many must die before we limit guns?" (June 3), I must say that "feelings of powerlessness and anger exuded from my core," too, only these feelings come over me when a criminal attacks a defenseless citizen. Or when a convicted felon is caught on the street with a gun and not given the mandatory five-year federal sentence they would get under Project Exile, then goes on to kill someone while he or she should have been in prison.
If gun control is the answer, why is England now arming its police? Shouldn't the draconian gun control measures it recently enacted have made this unnecessary?
No, they only emboldened the criminals, who no longer have to fear their victims.
Bob Adams
Baltimore
The letter "How many must die before we limit guns?" asserted that "guns are designed for violence and death, and that is what they will be used for as long as we allow them to be bought freely."
This assertion is utterly belied by the fact that about 80 million U.S. citizens use their firearms safely, responsibly and lawfully.
Lee E. Brown
Baltimore