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Opinion
Mar. 03, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

LETTERS: Business as usual in clinic crisis

To the editor:

I woke up Friday morning knowing that I would have to take time out to get tested, thanks to the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada. While drinking my usual coffee and reading the newspaper, boy, was I not surprised to learn a few things.

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    • First, the center will not be closed. Second, licenses will not be suspended. Third, I will pay for the testing. Fourth, the good doctor in charge of the center is a good political donor. Business as usual.

    Because the so-called powers that be are busy wringing their hands, explaining that there is not much that they will do, I have possible answers. Number one, most important, is for the clinic's patients to get tested. Second is to file a claim in small claims court for the costs of said tests -- to have 40,000 claims put into the already overburdened court system would surely blow a circuit. The cost to the center to respond to a large amount of claims in itself would be huge -- probably more than the cost of the tests themselves.

    A message must be sent to bureaucrats and others that unethical and dangerous behavior by health care professionals will not be tolerated. It will take more than a slap on the wrist to finish this.

    At least Dr. Dipak Desai, who has 65 percent ownership of the center, used the money he saved by using dirty syringes to help pay for his 8,500-square-foot home. I thought it might have been wasted on something foolish.

    Darrell Welch

    NORTH LAS VEGAS

    Gross recklessness

    To the editor:

    The despicable Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada should be put out of business immediately. I was shocked and appalled as I learned of the unforgivable danger that its employees knowingly and recklessly subjected their patients to.

    The culpable persons are nothing short of villains and should be treated as such. I wonder if they got their treatment protocols from a trash can outside the Lied Animal Shelter.

    They can stay in business as long as they can hemorrhage cash.

    I'd rather die from my own disease than go there and die from someone else's. I'll never associate with you, and I encourage others to avoid you, too.

    P.S.: Your malpractice carrier called -- he hopes you used those syringes on yourselves.

    Russell A. Wood

    LAS VEGAS

    Should have left town

    To the editor:

    We constantly read that our citizens go out of state for medical treatment. I certainly wish I had gone somewhere else for the test I had at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada in 2005.

    This is greed, pure and simple, overtaking safety concerns and proper medical treatment for patients -- over probably 50 cents per syringe!

    Jim Horsley

    HENDERSON

    Start being parents

    To the editor:

    The Review-Journal's John L. Smith nailed it in his Wednesday column about recent school shootings when he wrote: "Every year police officers and schoolteachers are asked to do more because parents, and society generally, do less and less."

    The real litmus test begins at home, then with the understaffed and overwhelmed schools. It used to be that schools reinforced the values and standards of parents and the community's societal norms. Not any more. Now, parents expect the schools to create those values and standards because Mommy and Daddy have better, more important things to do, like work, or golf or gamble.

    Too many kids enter the school system with no concept of right or wrong, no guilt, no conscience. Then parents blame schools when things go seriously wrong. It's easier that way in this time of "not my fault" attitudes. Then our besieged police are asked to sweep up the mess.

    Police, in my mind, have one job: enforce the laws. They shouldn't have to deal with feel-good programs that cater to punks and criminals. What I would have loved to hear Undersheriff Rod Jett say at his Tuesday news conference is: "Parents, these are your kids. Start being parents!"

    Jan Ashman

    LAS VEGAS

    Hunt must go

    To the editor:

    I was disgusted when I heard Clark County Democratic Party Chairman John Hunt's interviews on TV and radio on Feb. 25. He had the nerve to blame the Clinton and Obama campaigns for his failure of a convention on Saturday, Feb. 23 at Bally's.

    Had Mr. Hunt exercised one of the values of the Democratic Party -- inclusion -- he would have known that many people in the party and within these two campaigns wanted to attend the convention. At least now he realizes that the campaigns should and need to be involved in planning the second convention.

    But he still doesn't get it. Your Feb. 26 article indicates that Mr. Hunt is seriously thinking about trying again on Saturday, March 22. Yes, that date falls within the time frame that he needs to meet, but has he looked at the calendar? That is the Saturday before Easter. We should not be conducting political business that day.

    We suspended the Feb. 23 convention because delegates were disenfranchised. How many more people will be disenfranchised because the convention is held during Easter weekend and Spring Break?

    It is time for Mr. Hunt to apologize to Clark County Democrats -- and step aside.

    DONNA WEST

    LAS VEGAS

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    JL wrote on March 03, 2008 08:17 PM: Roger, what you write may all be true but it was wrong to blame the campaigns for getting people out to the convention. That is their job. It was Mr. Hunt's job to make sure the convention went smoothly. I know nothing about conventions but when the line was around the building, I would know you don't let the alternates in the main room. You don't let so-called guests in the main room. Heck, you don't let ANYONE in the main room until ALL the elected delegates are in the main room. This would have eliminated some of the problem. The fact remains the room wasn't big enough. The fact remains that I stood on line for 3 hours and heard not one speech.

    The fact remains that it took Mr. Hunt almost two weeks to issue a simple apology, to take any responsibility for what went wrong. If he had done this at the convention, there wouldn't have been such bad blood. A simple, "hey folks, I screwed up" would have made all the difference.


    YourMama wrote on March 03, 2008 05:08 PM: "What's wrong with holding the (Re)Convention on the Saturday before Easter? Holding precinct caucuses on the Saturday before the day of observance of Dr. King's birthday..."

    Here's the difference fool... Easter is a sacred and important holiday - King's birthday is not.

    You got it lefty?


    Brian wrote on March 03, 2008 04:41 PM: Thank you, Been There.


    jakzen wrote on March 03, 2008 12:30 PM: What's wrong with holding the (Re)Convention on the Saturday before Easter? Holding precinct caucuses on the Saturday before the day of observance of Dr. King's birthday didn't seem to harm (or tremendously upset) anyone. As far as the Convention itself goes, the Clinton and Obama Campaigns had just as much to do with the overwhelming turnout. It has been estimated that as many as 20,000 people tried to attend. With Clark County electing around 7500 delegates (plus alternates)at the caucuses the numbers just dont add up. Should the venue have been bigger? Absolutely. Should John Hunt be blamed for the entire fiasco? I don't think so, however, I do think that he does have some responsibility for the failed outcome.


    Paul Xu wrote on March 03, 2008 11:17 AM: Dear Editor:
    I heard the news about the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada deliberately infecting patients with used syringes. Those medical facilities are supposed to cure patients, not to kill people. I think those who are responsible should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It is outrageous for the center to remain open, to allow the licenses not suspended, the worst of all not doing anything for the criminal doctor Dr. Dipak Desai.

    Although I had the procedure done at the Burnham facility of the ECSN, it still had me wondered whether I could have infected with the viruses. I just had a new child and what would have happened to my newborn had I be infected since I take care of the baby everyday.

    This weekend I had a call from my parents from oversea and they heard the news and were very considered about my wellbeing. People from other countries know what happened here in Las Vegas. Good job Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada!

    Someone should start a class lawsuit and put Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, doctor Dr. Dipak Desai and his staff who are responsible out of business once and for all!

    Paul Xu


    Roger Tabor wrote on March 03, 2008 08:12 AM: After reading many opinions regarding the debacle at the Clark County Democratic convention, I finally felt the need to weigh in.

    John Hunt may be the most proud and passionate American I know. He is a military veteran himself, and his son just returned from active duty in Iraq. He is also a self-made man, overcoming many obstacles to become a true American success story. He is an atypical Democrat. The Clark County Democratic Party will be hard-pressed to find a better ambassador.

    If either Clinton or Obama care about us or our community (beyond our votes), they will accept their share of culpability in this travesty.


    Been There wrote on March 03, 2008 08:09 AM: Ken, if you will "read" my opinion email, I said "guidance and responsibility" for children begin at home! I'll stand by that comment. Nowhere in my posting did I state "responsibility for education" did not belong in the public schools. I brought up two children and I tried to instill in each of them that they are accountable for their actions, they should respect other people and their property, and obey the law. At no time did I feel the responsibility of my children should be on the public schools or society. It was my decision to bring two children into this world, and it was my responsibility to try and guide them into becoming worthwhile adults.


    Dennis #1 wrote on March 03, 2008 08:00 AM: Willard Roker wrote "Healthcare should be about helping people not making money"
    Having recovered this past year from a dual surgery that cost $150k I know what it costs first hand for some health care.
    But Roker - just how willing are you to give up some of your earned income to help others? Do you lower your charge[pay] when someone wants your service?
    I doubt it.
    Socialists like you that demand others give it up are what will ultimately ruin health care and all other aspects of a free economy - that is what the government screwballs like Reid haven't already ruined.


    Russ wrote on March 03, 2008 07:49 AM: KK, please go irritate the Henderson police please. We would like to get rid of you!! Don't need idiots like you in the valley.


    Fausto wrote on March 03, 2008 07:43 AM: "Had Mr. Hunt exercised one of the values of the Democratic Party -- inclusion -- he would have known that many people in the party and within these two campaigns wanted to attend the convention."

    Try and talk down Hunt while pumping up your party? The utopian "inclusion" or not, the FACT is still the facility was too small for even the people they knew were invited and more than likely were going to show up. Mr Hunt is showing a textbook value of the Democratic party...plan poorly and then when something goes wrong don't take personal responsibility.


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