Drug shortages? Thank the lawyers
To the editor:
I can think of nothing more frightening and potentially life threatening than to arrive at a hospital only to find out that the medications required to treat the injury or illness are not available (“Hospitals adapt to shortages,” Thursday Review-Journal). As I scanned the short list printed by the Review Journal, I found drugs that would need to be used on a daily basis such as morphine, propofol and amikacin.
Yet, at the same time, I constantly witness the television ads by attorneys to recruit people to sue because of “bad drugs.” Those drugs may have been the best thing on the market at the time. We should all be aware of the fact that when we are putting chemicals (drugs) in our body, there may be a short-term benefit but, perhaps, an unknown consequence in the future.
Drug companies spend millions on research and marketing, receive a period of time for patent protection, and then the drugs can be copied for generics. What drug company now wants to put in the money for this endeavor knowing that profits might be years away and that it could potentially be sued for those profits or more at a later time? No executive in his right mind would create a business model for this kind of catastrophe.
Granted, there are drugs that have done tremendous harm to people. But there are even more drugs that have improved medical conditions and prolonged life. Pharmaceutical companies are going to take the risks only if they know they will have a positive outcome.
Additionally, prescription drugs have become outrageously expensive. I am almost embarrassed to admit that I no longer purchase my prescriptions in the United States. I can purchase the same drugs from Canada for one-third the cost. They are even cheaper if I choose to try their generic versions.
If we want to talk wealth redistribution, this is another example of it. We as a society are all paying higher costs or do not have the drugs available because of the few who collect the millions from the lawsuits, and those are mainly the attorneys.
Laura A. Friedlander
Las Vegas
Gender issues
To the editor:
So Carson City has decided, after using up taxpayer dollars to the tune of thousands, no doubt, that we can’t discriminate against transgenders.
I know I speak for a good number of “normal” fathers when I say that if I see a man who is dressed as a woman near my kid, I will put him in the hospital, and it won’t be for a sex change.
God help us.
ROBERT BOWEN
LAS VEGAS
Plenty of experience
To the editor:
On Sunday, your newspaper contained a full-page advertisement by The Meadows School naming its graduates for the current year together with their academic achievements, and listing the colleges these graduates will be attending — a very impressive list indeed. The Meadows School is the result of the vision, courage, planning, ability and dynamic energy of Carolyn Goodman, who brought this academic institution into being from nothing. Her efforts continued its growth into the outstanding institution it is today.
Many children in our community have been educated under its high standards. This school has become a source of pride for our entire community, and its capable faculty is to be commended for their outstanding efforts.
Almost daily I receive a flier of some sort from mayoral candidate Chris Giunchigliani informing me that she has all kinds of experience and that her opponent, Carolyn Goodman, has none. Ms. Giunchigliani has been a special education teacher, and one would think that as a teacher she would have high praise for Ms. Goodman and her creation of this splendid institution. Instead, she claims Ms. Goodman has no experience — even though this magnificent school and its campus are a virtual tribute to the vision and industry of Carolyn Goodman, who built it from nothing, providing employment for its extensive faculty and staff and making an academic difference in the lives of its students. I understand that Ms. Goodman received no pay for her efforts.
While Chris Giunchigliani has been receiving her paychecks provided by the taxpayers, Carolyn Goodman has created an outstanding scholastic institution, providing many jobs in the private sector and has taken no pay check. Carolyn Goodman has the kind of experience I voted for, and I look forward to having her experience guide the city of Las Vegas as its mayor.
Paul B. Winn
Las Vegas
No statesman
To the editor:
I just read Steve Sebelius’ comments on how Gov. Brian Sandoval’s shift on the budget shows that he is a statesman (Tuesday column). Quite frankly, I was appalled on Mr. Sebelius’ take of the situation.
First, the governor has had his head in the sand when it comes to the needs of the state. He has held the Legislature hostage. He changed his view only when the court shot down the state’s ability to steal money from other governmental agencies to balance the budget.
Gov. Sandoval is no statesman. He’s just a governor who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Now they have to put that money back.
Mr. Sebelius, you’re just trying to rewrite history to the governor’s advantage, regardless of the realities.
Bob Chiodo
North Las Vegas
Yucca breathing?
To the editor:
Some members of Congress are trying to resurrect the Yucca Mountain “repository” for their nuclear waste (“Panel starts new Yucca Mountain bid,” Thursday Review-Journal). We have been told, repeatedly, that Yucca Mountain is dead. Yet like a bad zombie movie, it keeps coming back to haunt us.
The only way to stop this ecological madness is for Nevada to come up with an alternative use for the site. Just closing it is, obviously, not enough.
Let’s have a contest to come up with alternative uses. Mushroom farm? Wine cellar? Government records storage?
Let’s put it to another use before Congress shoves the nuke waste down our throats.
David Farmer
Henderson
