ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 15, 1996 TAG: 9603150015
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
THE RECENT events surrounding two deaths in Michigan, which were apparently "committed" by Dr. Jack Kevorkian, are disturbing. And only a few years ago, they would have been unfathomable.
During Kevorkian's trial, I was quite embarrassed that little, if any, attention was given to the at-large medical community's opinion on such "physician-assisted suicides.'' I understand end-of-life issues are complex, and I don't want to belittle the suffering and pain many patients endure. Nonetheless, Dr. Kevorkian's attitude was unethical, unhistorical, and it needs to be exposed for its ugly future implications.
Many modern-day medical graduates don't take the Hippocratic oath, but do take a modified version. However, I suspect that Dr. Kevorkian's medical generation did take this part of the oath: "I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect."
If we physicians and our patients are to change this holy oath, then let me ask one question: By what new ethical standard or fresh virtuous decree, oath or anything else do we base our change of venue upon?
Further, many in the public don't fully understand that Dr. Kevorkian is a pathologist - a physician highly trained in autopsies, microscope work, etc. To my knowledge, he has never been a clinician - a physician who sees living, breathing, feeling, growing patients. He has no experience in the realm of "live patients.''
I hope we can learn that there's a huge difference between a physician attending to a dying individual who is receiving pain-relieving medications, prayer and compassion, and the physician who is actively administering death to another human being.
DAVID B. ALLIGOOD, M.D.
Family Practice physician
ROANOKE
Nixon stamp sends the wrong message
STAMPS of the U.S. Postal Service are our nation's most obvious governmental symbols here and abroad. That service is now advertising a stamp commemorating Richard M. Nixon. If you were in Siberia 24 years ago or otherwise failed to notice, he was this country's only president forced to resign under indictment of impeachment. Any accomplishments of his in other areas pale in comparison with the devastation wrought by his obstruction of justice and related assaults on the American system of government.
In the wake of his exploitation of the presidential office, he left behind a saddened and embarrassed nation, and a mass of human wreckage tainted by direct association with him: his advisers, lawyers, Watergate burglars, money launderers, perjurers, his attorneys general, special counsels, and the wives and families of them all. This remorseless man didn't hesitate to sacrifice those around him to preserve his own facade of innocence. This is clear from the adulterated tape recordings, mountains of shredded documents, the swarm of executive-privilege claims, bogus national security threats, and protestations of his innocence right up to the end.
So, what message is the Postal Service sending the world? In keeping with this new direction, may I suggest to stamp artists that they poise their pens over portraits of Benedict Arnold or maybe Aaron Burr for the next commemorative issue?
H.F. GARNER
FOREST
Assessments are out of bounds
I ADD my voice to the rising chorus here in the valley concerning Roanoke County's unrelenting barrage of real-estate tax assessments. I, as did Betty C. East (Feb. 20 letter to the editor, ``County's seniors need a tax break''), am having considerable difficulty understanding the rationale behind the assessment onslaught.
During the past seven years, my assessments have increased at an average rate of 5.8 percent, with a crushing new assessment-rate increase of 9.7 percent. According to the county's head assessor, tax assessments are expected to increase again next year at an average of 6.64 percent. A possible rate increase from $1.13 to $1.15 per $100 has recently, at least for the moment, been deferred.
In the information that I've read, real-estate values on average have, at best, kept pace with the cost of living, and this rate has been 3 percent or less for several years. It would appear that tax assessments have far outstripped the growth in property values.
I don't mind paying my fair share in taxes. But it would appear that ``fair'' has taken on new meaning for the county. I, like East, am retired and living on a fixed income, with diminishing needs for county services. I think it's time for some financial responsibility on the part of the county to justify the basis for its continued tax escalation.
GLEN ROSENDAHL
SALEM
Make punishment fit the crime
CONCERNING Roanoke County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge Philip Trompeter's decision not to try the young man accused of murdering Bonnie Kitts as an adult: What surprises me is the persistent belief that juveniles should be tried differently because of their age. Call me naive, but I think the severity of the offense, not the age of the offender, should be of paramount importance in deciding the severity of the punishment.
Maybe this young man was, at one time, facing a very bright future. He may be very well-liked, a gifted athlete or a member of the National Honor Society. But what difference does any of this make?
I can't possibly believe Gary Kitts' family sleeps better at night knowing his wife was run down by an intelligent, well-liked young athlete rather than some out-of-work, 35-year-old pedophile who just skipped town on his parole officer in another state. That Judge Trompeter felt it justifiable to rely on any of this information in making his decision shows he's more concerned with giving this boy a chance to cover up this monstrous behavior than he is with administering justice in favor of the Kitts family.
This young man believed himself mature enough to down 17 shots of vodka before taking someone's life. Why then does he not similarly believe that he's mature enough to accept the consequences of his behavior? I have to believe that if this young man took the life of one Mrs. Philip Trompeter instead of Bonnie Kitts, he most certainly would be tried as an adult.
CHRISTOPHER STUMP
SALEM
Tenants' charges often are a ruse
IN RESPONSE to Sandra Manetta's March 6 letter to the editor (``How can careless landlords sleep?'') regarding the rental-inspection program:
I never stated that I was against the program. Her comments are untrue. I stated that negligible tenants are using this type of thing to not pay their rent.
For example, we had a tenant who hadn't paid her rent for three months. When we sent her a court notice, she promptly called for the building inspector to come out, saying she didn't have any heat and that was why she hadn't paid her rent. Nothing was paid to the court to hold due to substandard living conditions. When we received the building inspector's report, nothing was mentioned about a faulty heating system. The tenant had never reported any maintenance problems to the office.
Another example: In a house of five apartments, none of the tenants had paid rent in four months. None had ever called in a maintenance request, yet when their eviction notices came, the first thing they did was call the health department. This is the type of thing a landlord puts up with.
I definitely favor the rental-inspection program, and we strive to keep our rental properties up to code. But I feel tenants must do their part to maintain safe occupancy of their own apartments by reporting any maintenance problems in a timely manner. They should not use this program as a means to escape paying their rent. Many of the problems in rental properties stem from the tenants themselves.
Landlords, building inspectors and tenants must work together. Roanoke is behind on providing rental inspection, as other cities have had similar plans in track for years.
By the way, all of my apartments have smoke detectors and the wiring has been upgraded. Safety is No. 1.
R. ``SPANKY'' MACHER
ROANOKE
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