Compare and contrast

In the March 22 issue, a letter by Ann Marie Robinson got trimmed for space, and the word “WAR” was changed to “Iraq” to correspond exactly with the cover story that prompted her to write ("the dead"). She voiced displeasure at the editing her letter received.

Published letter
Every life is precious. I understand and appreciate why news media of all types (newsprint, radio, TV) give us a daily tally of American lives lost in the Iraq war. What I don’t understand is the absolute avoidance in the media of something far more dangerous than fighting in a war.

During this same four-year period when 3,200 American soldiers died in Iraq, 360,000 Americans died of infections they acquired while in American hospitals. Look at the odds: It is definitely safer fighting in Iraq than going to the hospital.

When will people wake up and start paying attention to the dangers in their local community? Safer hospitals should be everyone’s concern. You never know when you, or a loved one, will become the next victim.

Original letter (as received by e-mail)
Every life is precious. I understand and appreciate why news media of all types (newsprint, radio, TV) give us a daily tally of American lives lost in the Iraq war. In fact we are constantly bombarded with the fact that during 4 years of WAR 3200 of our finest have died. What I don’t understand is the absolute avoidance in the media of something far more dangerous than fighting in a war.

During this same 4 year period when 3200 Americans died in WAR, 360,000 Americans died of infections they acquired while in american hospitals. Please tell me why the News and Review doesn’t bombard us with this number on a daily basis. On a daily basis that is about 2 people a day dying in WAR and 246 people a day dying from infections they pick-up in hospitals. Now let’s see, hmmmm, 2:246, look at the odds. It is definitely safer fighting in Iraq than going to the hospital.

When will people wake up and start paying attention to the dangers in their local community. Not until the news media find it profitable to print the information. And to all you readers out there, yes YOU, you are personally at greater risk of being one of those 90,000 Americans who die each year from a trip to the hospital than you are of dying in Iraq. Change and safer hospitals should be everyone’s concern. You never know when you, or a loved one, will become the next victim.

For more information check with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or go to www.StopHospitalinfections.com