HE BATTALION
--
killed
sduy, September 28, 2000
>, Greece (AP) — Greff
on Wednesday arrested!
cl four crew members off
struck a rocky o
a light beacon that a
yen miles. At least 62pe l
lied.
iirvivors said crew meit
’illions
of
.Ameri-
Ins are confi-
[nt they are
fceiving the
st, most ad-
nced health
/atching a soccer match? re ' 11 , l * ie
Tuesday night whenili!
ig more than 500 peopt
nd in a gale in the'Aegei
) miles from shore,
;d with my husbaii
iving the ship?
arid from
dr hospitals.
NICHOLAS
ROZNOVSKY
Although the United States may
ad the medical world in terms of
chnology and research, the nation
lagging far behind in the most
zbinski, a pre g na»lj:P , i;°'; ,I 'p ,area — conl P e,entmed -
om Seeheim, GenMl 3 , ' Lls '
In a report released by The
tiicago Tribune, at least 1,720 pa
nts have died in U.S. hospitals
ice 1995 due to mistakes made
overwhelmed or ill-prepared
gistered nurses.
This report, which also claims
at more than 9,500 patients have
en injured, follows a 1999 report
the institute of Medicine that re-
orted that anywhere from 44.000
98,000 Americans die in hospi-
1s every year due to mistakes
ade by hospitals, clinics and
armacies.
Clearly, the nation’s efforts in
iveling with her husl
insa pilot — and their-I
a.
lead prosecutor, Panat
>ulos, said he wouldsei
for the crew on nwrdci
plicable how the shipeoi
well-known rock that car
isible from a distance:
” said coast guard cliie:
igos. “You have tote
;ee it.”
described a scene of par
as passengers tried toslip
ig ship into the sweltaa , ...
a .L.fpmbatmg health ailments with
lonties said the death lot K, , , ■
11s and surgical techniques are
cause eight to 24 people
uinted for. Navy divers
rearch the vessel, whicl
15 minutes of the crash,
ear-old Express Sami
laily meandering route
Aegean with an assort'
assengers — foreijJ
mg for sun-soaked hoi-
inexplica-
)w the ship
ied with a
:nown rock
carries a
isible from
stance of
n miles.”
— Andreas Sirigos
Coast guard chief
asted if it cannot provide enough
ell-trained people to administer
|fe-saving skills.
The U.S. health care system has
arsaken quantity and quality in
mis of its ef-
fctiveness in
wing lives.
According to
e Tribune re
nt, the short-
e of capable
rrses is a re
lit of the fi-
mcial prob-
ms plaguing
liany of today’s
afespitals.
higiied with
vindling bud-
;t$, America’s hospitals have been
tempting to squeeze more pro-
ictivity from increasingly smaller
affs.
The result has been frequently
effective health care.
The Tribune’s researchers found
at many money-saving tech
niques being used by hospitals
were actually driving registered
lurses away.
1 Mandatory overtime shifts and
16-hour workdays at the University
oflllinois-Chicago Medical Center
lave reduced the nursing crew sig-
ificantly and overburdened the re
aming workers.
wake up every day, and hope
Although the United
States may lead the
medical world in terms
of technology and re
search, the nation is
lagging far behind in
the most important
area — competent
medical staffers.
dents heading home,
s returning to militat)
ves.
jar how many people
ad how many of them
s. At least 472 people
neluding two Ameri-
s said.
reportedly also pas-
Australia, Belgium, 1 don’t kill someone today,” said
, Germany, Italy, and p(athy Cloninger, a nurse at the UI-
hicago Medical Center since
>wn if any Americans 1993 "
le first 20 dead to be | “Every day I pray: God protect
di Hestnes Juul, a 51- |ie; let me make it out of there
h my patients alive.”
In Chicago, at least two hospi
Is pulled custodial crews away
e not required to be [from their duties to dispense med
oassenger list. A port dcine to patients. At other hospi
\ heart attack and died |ii S) part-time nurses from tempo
the sinking, the coast | ar y employment agencies were
king care of the patients.
gian woman. The rest j
lead were young chil-
Athens’ port of Pi-
lesday and headed for
In its study, the Tribune also
found that at least 119 patients
I six stopis that would died over the past five years under
it to the tiny Lipsisis- the care of unlicensed, unregulat-
irkish coast. led nurses’ aides. On average,
, the 345-foot, 4,407- lurses’ aides were working for
1 into the Fortes islet, [only $9 per hour,
crop two miles from | According to the American
arked on maritime lospital Association, nursing
lavigation light, Siri- taffs have been the first target for
utbacks at hospitals where profits
tnnon, 30, an artist avebeen squeezed by manage
Seattle, said she was
k at the time of the
hannonsaid. “Itwas
3 deck.... It wash
la of fishing boats
cene, followed by
vessels and British
Phey rescued dozens
e-force winds ham-
;aved by the British
t least 12 people, in-
>ns, who had been
They were taken to
r HMS Invincible,
d, shock and minor
i rescue operation
ithorities began in-
e of the crew in the
preliminary inves-
ae captain, Vassilis
on his bridge.
care programs and shrinking feder
al Medicaid reimbursements.
Like any other group operating
under a budget, hospitals act as if
cutting their staffs is a quick way
to minimize costs without drasti
cally impacting on their cus
tomers. But this time, they may
have cut too far.
The fault for this medical crisis
cannot be placed on the nurses and
other hospital workers themselves.
Indeed, for continuing to work un
der such harrowing and exhausting
conditions, they deserve praise and
gratitude.
For most of them, saving lives
is still the bottom line.
Those who see another bottom
line — money — are to blame. In
the interests of saving taxpayers mid
clients money, the government mid
private managed health care opera
tors have lead the American medical
system down its path of ruin.
The reluctance of Congress to
put more money into the Medicare
system means millions of Ameri
cans who depend on it for assis
tance can no longer afford the med
ical care they need.
Medical providers, such as hospi
tals and nursing homes that rely on
Medicare subsidies, are having to
make difficult choices too. Over the
past two years, five of the 10 Imgest
nursing home chains in the country
have filed for bankaiptcy.
How many more hospitals, clin
ics and nursing homes must close?
How many more
patients must go
without care or die
before it becomes
economically at
tractive to provide
funds for them?
Unlike other
professions in
which workdays
are regulated by
law, nurses and
doctors continue to
work around the
clock. If it is criti
cal to public safety to limit the
number of hours a trucker can dri
ve on America’s roads, why has
Congress not done the same for the
people who literally take lives into
their own hands?
It is not fair to patients nor to
medical workers that nurses and
doctors should work to the point of
physical and mental exhaustion.
Legislation limiting medical
workers’ hours is now before the
House of Representatives.
HRS 179, the Registered Nurses
and Patients Protection Act, is an
attempt to reduce medical workers’
workdays to a realistic time frame.
Under its provisions, nurses would
not be required to work more than
eight hours a day and 80 hours in a
two-week period.
Unfortunately, such legislation
may help nurses but it will not nec
essarily help the average patient.
If hospitals'are already using
janitors and part-time help to fill in
for nurses, what will happen when
they cannot force nurses to work
around the clock?
Unless hospitals receive more
funding to hire and keep more
nurses, the situation will get worse.
The Registered Nurses and Pa
tients Protection Act is a step in the
right direction, but it cannot be ef
fective without proper funding for
hospitals and clinics.
Ultimately, nothing will change
until the government and private
health care providers decide that
risking patients’ lives is bad business.
Nicholas Roznovsky is a junior
political science major.
Page 5B
THE BATTALION
tood Business, Bad Medicine
udgetary cutbacks lower quality of healthcare
A hard-earned title
Blinn College students are not Aggies, should not be inA&M activities
— t this
/I month’s
Faculty
Senate meet
ing, Texas
A&M Presi
dent Dr. Ray
M. Bowen dis
cussed the
idea of allow
ing Blinn College students who
are planning to transfer to Texas
A&M, to participate in Aggie stu
dent activities.
At first, the idea seems like a
good on. However, there are many
problems that could be brought
about by its implementation.
Some proponents of Bowen’s
proposition argue that many Blinn
students will become Aggies
someday. Clearly, this argument is
flawed.
The bottom line it that they are
not Aggies yet. They do not walk
this campus and they do not pay
Student Service Fees.
The students who have made it
to A&M worked hard to earn the ti
tle of “Aggie.”
With that title comes certain
privileges that make being an Aggie
even more of an honor. Blinn stu
dents are not Aggies — period.
If Blinn students were admitted
to athletic events as students or
able to join in such time-honored
traditions as E-Walk, it would
make a mockery of everything the
students of Aggieland have
worked to gain.
In addition, Blinn students are
not held to the same academic stan
dards as A&M students.
Although Blinn students have to
maintain a 2.0 grade point ration
(GPR), they have three semesters to
reach the required GPR if they fall
behind.
At A&M, the student would
have one semester to raise his or
her GPR before fac
ing dismissal from
the University.
By allowing
these students to
join in. Aggies
might feel they can
go to Blinn Col
lege, where they
have longer to
bring up a GPR and
still be a part of the
12th Man.
It must also be
kept in mind that
Blinn students do
not have to meet the
same demanding en
trance requirements
that Aggies have to.
Another problem
with Bowen’s pro
posal is the fact that
Blinn already has
student activities
like A&M.
It is reasonable
to believe that, if
these students want
ed to get involved,
that Blinn College
could offer many
opportunities.
They already
have programs such
as the Buccaneer
Band, student gov
ernment and nu
merous profession
al organizations.
It makes no sense
for Blinn students to
be able to join in Aggie activities
when they have the opportunity to
do so at their own school.
To be fair, Bowen's idea is
commendable because many Ag
gie transfer students come from
Blinn College— but they are not
Aggies yet.
The administration should not
allow students who are not Aggies
participate in student activities and
be loosely considered a part of the
student body.
Although obvious, it must be
remembered that being an Aggie
requires being a student at
Texas A&M.
' Basically, A&M stdd'ent activ
ities are for those who have had
the honor of being accepted into
the University — not for those
that are in close proximity or for
those that “might” be an Aggie
one day.
Brieanne Porter is a sophomore
' chemical engineering major.
Keep your day job Celebrity views on politics amusing
I n the Sunday newspa
per’s comics section,
readers were treated to a
comic strip that was not
only funny, but closer to the
truth than people may think.
The cartoon “Mallard
Fillmore” was devoted to a
“commercial” made by a
supermodel who said she
would be supporting the more environment-
friendly candidate who would do something for
those “60 million leaves that die each
fall!”
Welcome to Hollywood, home
of million-dollar smiles and five-
cent minds.
Since this is an election year, the
entertainment industry's best and
brightest — with that term being used
very loosely — are more politically active
than usual.
While Hollywood might think it are doing
some kind of public service by speaking out on
major issues, it is difficult for other members of
society to take it seriously when the big stars just
talk and rarely follow through with action. ,
With inane comments and acts that reinforce
the widely held belief that big stars are big whin
ers, Hollywood’s credibility in the eyes of the
public borders on nil.
Yet, loyal to their cause, whatever it is, Holly
wood’s heroes keep trying.
Entertainer Elton John — who has as much riding
on this election as a Mongolian peasant—has pro
claimed that George W. Bush “and those that think
like him” will return America to “The Dark Ages.”
Director Robert Altman is apparently ready to
join John on the slow boat to Europe, saying he
will take his folding chair and go to.France if the
Bush wins.
The leader of the clueless crusaders would ap
pear to be Alec Baldwin. Baldwin, who has cre
ated his own supposedly impartial political ac
tion group, has said he will also leave the
country should Bush win. •
Baldwin’s comment was cause for laughter not
only because he portrayed himself as a spoiled
brat, but because he actually thought someone
would care.
His wife, actress Kim Basinger, made mat
ters worse by standing by her man.
“Alec is the most moral man I’ve
ever met,” she said.
It would appear that morality has
a different meaning in Holly
wood, as her husband is the same man who
advocated killing Rep. Henry Hyde (R-New
York) and his family for his role in the impeach
ment of President Clinton on Late Night With
Conan O’Brien.
“You’re kidding, right?” said O’Brien.
“I’m serious,” Baldwin replied, noting how
this was how the Romans dispensed with traitors.
While Baldwin’s stunt lacks gravitas, at
least he can take solace in the knowledge that
very few of his fellow actors can say they have
it, either.
Proclaiming oneself a supporter of a cause
and then not having the conviction to stick by
one’s beliefs in person and in practice is sheer
hypocrisy.
Baldwin and his wife make tens of millions of
dollars a year, then claim they are concerned
about the plight of America’s poor. The Bald-
Mail Call
wins have multi-million dollar homes on both
coasts and in Europe, and bemoan the homeless.
Instead of buying such unneeded luxuries, the
Baldwins could spend millions in a magnificent
case of philanthropy and actually do
something to help.
Instead, Baldwin goes to black-
tie fund-raisers and condemns Re
publicans for America’s woes.
Baldwin can find comfort in
the knowledge that he is not the
only one who has had his brain
cells destroyed by the Los Ange
les smog.
Academy Award-winning ac
tor Kevin Spacey is a passionate
defender of the National Endow
ment for the Arts (NEA) and has
stated before Congress that the
NEA must be preserved to help dis
advantaged children get out of bad
neighborhoods.
Poetry for the poor? How about
more funding for schools or in
creased pay for teachers as an incen
tive to teach in poorer areas?
No, says Spacey, it must be Shake
speare for the slums.
The pervasive cluelessness of Hollywood ruins
its credibility with society. Just because stars have
money does not mean they have minds, which
many seem intent on proving.
Abandoning a cause that is supposedly impor
tant, instead of standing fast for one’s beliefs, is
even more appalling.
Until big stars back their words with actions,
their political luster will be dulled.
But do not tell the stars; they are still intent on
changing the world, one word at a time. Just ask
Cher, who said at the Democratic National Con
vention that she will not rest “until every Ameri
can has the right to free speech.”
Indeed.
Mark Passzvaters is a senior electrical
engineering major.
Ring dunking
shows Aggie spirit
In response to Sept. 26 Mail Call.
I was disappointed to see Tues
day’s Mail Call concerning the
Sept. 19 front-page photo.
Those individuals dunking their
Aggie rings were, in fact, extreme
ly responsible.
They were all of legal age
and had someone to drive
them home.
As for the parents, they drove
in all the way from Mississippi to
be with their daughter on her spe
cial day..
This photograph was not
meant to “glorify ‘chugging’" or
other inappropriate methods of al
cohol consumption.
This photograph was put on
the front page of The Battalion to
show that the Aggie spirit lives on
through generations.
Rebecca Baron
Class of ‘03
The Battalion encourages letters to the editor. Letters must be 300 words or less and include
the author's name, class and phone number.
The opinion editor reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, and accuracy. Letters
may be submitted in person at 014 Reed McDonald with a valid student ID. Letters may also
be mailed to:
The Battalion - Mail Call
014 Reed McDonald
Texas A&M University
1111 TAM U
College Station, Texas 77843
Campus Mail: 1111
Fax: (979) 845-2647
E-mail: battletters@hotmail.com
Columns and letters appearing in The Battalion express the opinion of the authors only. They do
not necessarily reflect the opinion of other Battalion staff members, the Texas A&M student body,
regents, administrators, faculty or staff.