To The Editor:

    Cancer patients and other chronically ill persons, take note.  DO NOT give your physician or a hospital, upon your admittance, a copy of or knowledge of your Living Will or Advanced Directives.  Rather, provide them with the name of your legally designated medical representative who is to be contacted in case of questions in your treatment if you are unable to speak for yourself.
    It is my experience that your physician can order you put on "comfort care" and "do not resuscitate" orders without you or your family's knowledge or permission - simply because your Living Will is on file. This is especially pertinent if you are in disagreement with your physician about your prognosis and have sought advice elsewhere in a second or third opinion.
    The hospital where my husband went for help and where he was allowed to die unsupported for hydration and nutrition even though he was conscious and requesting it, has refused to release to me it's policy on the use of the Living Will.  I have to ask "Why would anyone surrender this document to an institution which refuses to tell you how they will handle it and treat you?"  BEWARE!
    The statute in Indiana requires that various steps be followed in the use of the Living Will, but critically ill patients and their families are in no position to police whether the law is being followed.
    There must be real medical malpractice reform in the State of Indiana.  Unethical doctors and hospitals MUST be held accountable for the maiming and murder of patients.  Contact your Indiana State Representative and Senator TODAY.

Rebecca J. Shank (Mrs. Dennis G.)

Could our lawmakers and government officials truly be satisfied that the current laws are in the best interest of the people?  Have none of them lost a family member, or had one permanently injured by their trusted health care provider?  What would they think if they were told a story that didn't matter to them until that doctor maims or kills their parent or child?  What will they say when they find that very doctor has had multiple complaints but no findings of medical malpractice from the review boards?  I suppose I have no answers today, only more questions.
Joanne Pyle

CRONIE PROTECTION
Marjorie Berkholz - Indianapolis
Three cheers for Ray Mc Eachern's Jan. 7 letter ("Malpractice Laws That Favor Physicians"). I couldn't have said it better.  However, I would like to add my two cents worth. I don't believe most victims of medical malpractice are interested in money; they have no other recourse but to sue.  This is the only way to expose the doctor so other people won't become victims. Unfit doctors should be ousted. The way things are they are protected by their cronies and by lawyers with their hands out for a payoff.

JUSTICE DENIED IN INDIANA

    The Victim's Justice Center  works daily with medical malpractice victims. These people  have been brutalized by doctors and then again by the Indiana laws that protect the doctors. Many of these victims will see no justice. We watched the Michael Taylor case, the I.P.D. "brawl" and now, the arrest of I.P.D. officer Myron Powell. It is hard not to notice some common themes that run through the State of Indiana.

    We believe that Indiana should  have changed the slogan on our license plates sooner. I can't recall the last time I saw "Amber Waves of Grain" in Indiana but, Justice Denied seems to be a habit.  As law enforcement literally runs amuck in the streets of Indianapolis some doctors are doing the same in our hospitals. And the state of Indiana turns it's head.  With power running unchecked and unchallenged in our state we should have changed the slogan on our license plates from "Amber Waves of Grain " to "Justice Denied in Indiana."

    But seriously, I'm sure no one wants to advertise that Indiana denies justice as a matter of habit. So, another option would have been to focus on how some cops, doctors and other miscellaneous bad boys cover up for and protect each other. If you don't like the slogan  "Justice Denied in Indiana" maybe "Home of the Good Ol' Boy" would be more palatable - and accurate.

Debra  Dixon