Hospitals should reveal more about infections

As a retired physician who lost his wife consequent to a hospital-acquired infection following cardiac surgery and as a physician who has written about hospital errors and as a patient who knows how to navigate hospital systems, I laud Paul O'Neill for his yeoman effort at pushing for greater transparency in the hospital system.

And I praise the Post-Gazette's staff writers for their whistle-blowing information on medical and hospital care ("Alarms Raised on Hospital Infections," July 13). My congratulations to them and to the PG.

MEYER SONIS, M.D.
Point Breeze

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Rise above pettiness

The Sunday Region section of the Post-Gazette was the perfect location for "A Look at City School Chief Finalists" (July 10) -- but not because the issue is of major regional interest. It was a perfect location because the attitudes of the three black board members perfectly illustrate the regionalism and provincialism so prevalent in Western Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh Public Schools in particular.

Mark Brentley and Alex Matthews are boycotting the selection process and "might boycott the final vote"? Fine.

But keep in mind that if they choose not to participate, then they forfeit their right to any public expression of their opinions.

Randall Taylor's nose is bent out of shape because the board majority, for whatever reason, rejected his brother's bid for the job and, thankfully, declined to translate the interim embarrassment of Andrew King into a permanent embarrassment.

If these public men cannot raise themselves above being part of an ongoing problem and cooperate in finding solutions, then they need to remove themselves altogether.

GEORGE MORRIS
Highland Park
Editor's note: The writer teaches visual arts at Rogers School for the Creative and Performing Arts in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

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Cheap shots

I have participated with various clergy-abuse advocacy groups over the last few years, including both SNAP and the Link-Up.

Sen. Rick Santorum's remarks turn the facts in these sad matters upside-down.

Placing blame on the culture of the victims, instead of on the hypocrisy and callousness of the criminals, degrades any opportunity for justice, accountability or healing.

Victims do not need such distortion, diminishment or denial of the cause of their suffering. And Pennsylvanians do not need such hateful, insensitive rhetoric from their elected officials.

I can't fathom an educated man such as Sen. Santorum deliberately spreading totally divisive and inaccurate, partisan cheap shots. An apology is surely in order. Perhaps a confession as well, and a bit of penance.

KEN SCHNEIDER
Waterford, Mich.
Editor's note: The writer was born and raised in Westwood.

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Catch the killers

Not once in the cynical, hyper-partisan editorial "The Iraq Mess: Bush's Nightmare Continues With No End in Sight" (July 18 ) does the Post-Gazette condemn the perpetrators of Iraqi violence: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al-Qaida butchers.

Nothing changes, does it? Just as the rudderless PG advocated abandoning South Vietnam 30 years ago, it prefers appeasement and retreat today.

In short, the PG prefers abetting murder.

DAVID L. VERES
Pleasant Hills

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Get the facts first

Once again, in "Dump Rove: The Investigation Moves Closer to the President" (July 15 editorial), the Post-Gazette has shown its bias. Unfortunately this time it has also displayed a lack of journalistic integrity. The PG couldn't wait for the facts about the Valerie Plame case to develop.

It claims there are several truths to keep in mind. Truths? Using the PG's numerology, here are some corrections to those truths:

1) It is irresponsible for the PG to assert, "There is every reason to believe that he [Pres. Bush] would have taken steps to make that true" [i.e. the leaker would never be found].

2) President Bush did not say he would fire anyone in the White House who discussed the Valerie Plame case with reporters.

3) There is no evidence that someone was nailed for what her spouse may have done.

4) Evidence is gradually emerging that Ms. Plame was not outed as an undercover CIA officer by this incident.

5) It is not at all clear that this is a matter of national security.

The PG thinks the president should fire Karl Rove before the facts are in -- that's terrible. Maybe the author of the editorial should be fired.

ROBERT G. McGRATH
Wilkins

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Yank his clearance

Regarding Karl Rove, I think that outing a CIA officer just to save your boss's sorry tush is reprehensible. If Bush's policies are good, then they should be able to stand on their own merit and not require underhanded techniques to support them in public opinion.

However, what really angers me is the fact that Rove still has his security clearance and that it is taking an act of Congress to pull it away from him.

Back in the old Cold War days when I was in the Army Security Agency, anyone who was suspected of being in a position to be compromised -- becoming a potential security risk -- had his/her clearance pulled until an investigation was completed. Rove seems to be a potential security risk.

Do an investigation to determine whether this is true, but in the meantime treat him like everyone else who holds a clearance -- get him away from classified information until the matter is cleared up. KP would be appropriate alternate duty.

ANNA GOLDMAN
Squirrel Hill

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Help the withdrawal

In the editorial "Moving Day" (July 14), the Post-Gazette states that, in relation to aid to Israel, "the U.S. contribution to the Palestinian side has been small. It amounted last year to $250 million." There are very good reasons for this.

First, the Palestinian Authority is corrupt. Much of our aid money goes to those in power and to their relatives and friends (as happens in many places throughout the world where we provide aid), rather than to help those in need.

Second, a lot of our aid money to the Palestinian Authority ends up in the hands of terrorist groups, such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. These terrorist groups hate America and the West. They, especially the suicide bombers and their collaborators, have little regard for life.

Third, since 1948, the oil-rich Arab states have given little to help their Palestinian brothers but millions to fund Hamas, Islamic Jihad, al-Qaida and other terrorist groups. Instead of funding terror, they should provide real help to their Palestinian brethren in furthering their social and economic development and in moving toward peace.

In its editorial, the PG stands against aiding Israel in its difficult and painful task of withdrawing from Gaza. Although much of its reasoning for withholding aid is sensible, I think it would be wise to help Israel, not in the painful withdrawal process per se, but in the resettlement of those forced from their homes in the area -- something that would not have the same potential consequences of the United States forcing the withdrawal rather than it being an Israeli decision. U.S. aid should be given for providing the displaced settlers with homes comparable to those they are being forced to abandon.

Aiding Israel in this would not only be the fair thing to do, but also would provide less reason for the displaced settlers, especially those who are not intransigent religious fanatics, to foment trouble after the resettlement. This would be in the United States' interest, Israel's interest and the interest of moving toward a real peace.

AL K. DeROY
Wilkins

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Flying Southwest may cost less, but plan on long lines

The arrival of Southwest Airlines in Pittsburgh has been a much-needed and welcome event in view of the US Airways debacle. But the first-come-first-served seating used by Southwest can best be described as disorderly, bordering on chaotic.

My wife and I recently flew Southwest for the first time. The flights were uneventful and on time, and the pilots and crews were professional, efficient and pleasant -- indeed entertaining -- but we had difficulty dealing with passengers who formed queues long before boarding was even announced. People of all ages stood, sat and lay on the floor, three deep.

The disruption caused by the queues was not addressed by airport security, a number of whom merely wended their way through the sprawl of passengers.

Apparently, Southwest's open-seating arrangement, like the discontinuation of on-board meals, saves money. But many of the passengers my wife and I spoke with during this trip expressed their dissatisfaction with that system.

My wife and I are senior citizens. Standing for long periods of time is difficult. Sitting, lying or sprawling on airport terminal floors is not only potentially dangerous, but also nearly impossible for us. Unless no other airlines departing from the Pittsburgh International Airport travel to our future destinations, and unless Southwest changes to an assigned-seat system, we do not plan to fly with Southwest again.

PETRO MAROPIS
Burgettstown