Public mustn’t lose faith in physicians

As local physicians and anesthesiologists here in Las Vegas, we feel the need to comment on recent events concerning questionable medical practices. Like thousands of people, we were shocked and appalled to learn of the sloppy practices which contributed to the infection of a significant number of patients. Our hearts go out to the many who wait for their test results, undoubtedly losing sleep wondering if they have received what amounts to a ticking time bomb. As members of the medical profession, we can only join in your outrage and apologize for the sins of a few in whom you have placed your trust, even your very lives.

But please let us not forget that for every one physician who has had a lapse in better judgment and failed to render safe and appropriate care to his patient, there are thousands of physicians like us, who have devoted themselves to skilled, exceptional care of our patients. Most of the physicians in Las Vegas are conscientious, knowledgeable, and perform their duties with integrity and dedication. We never get our pictures on the front page of the newspaper.

But because of the few who betray their profession, some of the local hospitals and surgery centers are sending off letters to all physicians, requiring them to sign statements that they have read the "policies" and agree to adhere to them. This, no doubt, is so the hospitals and surgery centers can distance themselves from the wrongdoing.

As physicians who already practice safely, we are actually offended that the situation has deteriorated to such a degree that the hospitals feel the need to cover their collective legal gluteus maximi by sending us a letter reminding us to wash our hands.

One fallout from this fiasco that will seriously affect even those physicians who are blameless is malpractice insurance rates. The cost of this catastrophe to the malpractice carriers insuring these providers will eventually be transmitted to all the other providers insured. We can expect to see malpractice carriers go under with the financial weight of this, and others will pull out of Nevada altogether. For the rest, malpractice insurance rates will rise to prohibitive levels.

Since coming to Las Vegas, our sense was that the medical community was not as cohesive and excellence-driven as we would have liked to have seen, the "Wild West," if you will. We hope that this situation will bind together the physicians and not foster a sense of "every doc for himself."

Cherie Many, M.D.

Brian Hager, D.O.

LAS VEGAS