A Surgeon's letter to the editor

[IntruderCruiser]

This is a letter to the editor of the South Bend Tribune -- thought you might like to read it.

http://southbendtribune.com/apps/pbc.../CAT=Opinion04

[POE-BOY SAMICH]

Originally Posted by IntruderCruiser

This is a letter to the editor of the South Bend Tribune -- thought you might like to read it.

http://southbendtribune.com/apps/pbc.../CAT=Opinion04

I feel sorry for his patients. I wouldn't want that idiot within 20 feet of me or my loved ones. I don't know that a letter so drenched in ignorance even merits a response, but I'm sure the fine members of this forum can think of something.

Other than that, I'm speechless (just a kind way of saying "I'm too pissed off to comment")

[PENJO]

Protect yourself or pay the consequences

Common sense and personal responsibility are declining these days. In their place, blaming others for your misfortunes is pervasive. The Tribune is promoting this concept with headlines like "Son died because of phone" (Dec. 26).
A van driver illegally pulled out in front of a motorcyclist. The van driver was talking on a cell phone at the time. The cyclist was killed in the accident.
There is no question the van driver caused the accident, but the motorcycle rider is largely responsible for the severity of his injuries and subsequent death. Common sense should tell people that if they are going to share the streets with other vehicles weighing several thousand pounds, then they should have some sheet metal around them. An error by another driver is a constant threat whenever and whatever you drive. A smart person would protect himself with a similarly sized vehicle. People can't depend on the law to protect them; they must do it themselves or face the consequences.
Cell phones or not, accidents will still happen. Unfortunately, there are no fender benders with motorcycles.
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the victim's family over this tragedy, but please don't put all the blame for his death on the other driver or a cell phone. Unfortunately, I see this scenario all too often in my profession.

Dr. William Rozzi
Orthopedic and trauma surgeon
South Bend

It seems that this guy is not all that wrong. His words here might be a bit irritating but the fact is that we cannot see what the initial article said for him to say these things. If anything, what he is saying goes along points many of us have repeately pounded upon in these forums when it comes to wearing the best protection possible. I do not like his staments about wearing sheet metal (For that matter one better drive a car. Then what to say on Car Vs Truck or SUV?) His coments somewhat shift fault in greater part to the MC driver. Also I think one can deduct that he is somewhat defending cell phones or trying to occult their negative effect along with driving.
Again, I think there much more missing, possible reason why he is saying these things. I am not defending him. He presents himself here as an antiMC., well tough luck for him. The one thing to agree with, it's his opening premise about responsibility. In medicine, specially Critical Care, we see these horrific events, yes as frequent as to become the norm but that "Sheet metal" armor part seems like an overkill of his part. Because we see these things does not merits to ensue attack against MC. Then it should equally warrant attack against large or all SUVs and even further when combine with small drivers, or against doctors for failing to protect public health or well being from the danger of motor vehicles.
He might have gone a bit far but deserves a little credit in absence of what he is responding to.

Just my Dos Centavos
My 2 CENTS

[Clint]

What an ***. Negligence is no accident, and he called every one of us stupid. I just might write him.

Edit: I did a search and found some responses to his mouth-diarrhea:
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps...on04/601270434

[PENJO]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

What an ***. Negligence is no accident, and he called every one of us stupid. I just might write him.

I am still thinking about the letter and my latest conclusion is that this guy is one of those "Outlaw Everything In Life" type of person. Anything we may say to him he will change it in his favor and portrait us then as further evil and brainless. LOL . This is only pressuntive, he remains irritating however.

Clint I don't think he is worth a response.

[Clint]

After further consideration, I agree.

[Uncle Bob]

The good doctor is right, if the driver on the phone had sideswiped a car it would be no biggie, just a fender bender and maybe some hassle with insurance company.

Same innocent mistake but he takes the life of a motorcyclist and you want to hang him.

It's like I keep saying, if you ride you must think of yourself as invisible and wear as much gear as you can.

The letter doesn't state what the injuries that caused death were. What if it was a major brain injury and the rider wasn't wearing a helmet ? ( typical response from non helmet wearers " I know the consequences and accept the risks" ).

The rider accepts the risks yet we are so quick to blame others for the consequences of the risks we accept? The other driver was at fault and the rider was right, dead right to be exact.

Cage drivers on cell phones are normal risks we deal with on a daily basis, like pot holes and tar snakes. Deal with it!

[PENJO]

Not to blame

On Jan. 18 The Tribune published a Voice of the People letter written by Dr. William Rozzi of South Bend titled, "Protect yourself or pay the consequences." Rozzi's comments have not only upset me but also the victim's family.
On June 20, 2005, Justin Souza was riding his motorcycle. He was wearing his helmet and was clothed in protective riding gear. A woman failed to stop at a stop sign because she was talking on her cell phone and her irresponsibility killed an innocent man. She is the reason Justin is not here with us today.
Rozzi states that Justin is to blame for his own death. Rozzi writes, "... the motorcycle rider is largely responsible for the severity of his injuries and
subsequent death." Rozzi goes on to instruct Justin's family to not expect the woman who ran the stop sign to take responsibility for her actions
by saying, "... please don't put all the blame for his death on the other driver or a cell phone."
Who is to blame? Justin was not speeding and he was fully protected with riding gear, yet Rozzi thinks he is to blame? I disagree.
I am appalled at Rozzi's lack of compassion. I would like to think that being a doctor he would have more words of kindness for families facing death.

Sarah Wise
Elkhart


Hummmm......

Much BETTER BETTER

[jackM50black]

The good doctor means well, I assume, but is the victim of prejudice against motorcyclists. He says that, essentially, motorcyclists have to simply accept accidents, injury, even death because the cycle rider should have known better than to do something other than operate a steel cage on dangerous highways. This is a classic case of "Blame the Victim", where he simply supports the idea that anyone who is not in a car, is a fool. In accordance with the Good Doctor's belief system, pedestrians and bicyclists also are fools and by inference, deserve what they get. The guy is a jerk, who by the way has supposedly taken an oath to protect and preserve human life. I guess he is doing that technically, but has he considered the 'spirit' behind the oath?

[blackie1491]

I hope the good Doc. does not meet a Large semi, while incased in his sheet metal, who happens to be driven by a driver on his cell phone, who fails to stop.
Then it would be his fault for not choosing a Tank.

Sometimes peoples brains don't function too well. But I wonder, does the good Doc. answer his cell phone during an operation.

[BillyBumbler]

Well if the cell phone was in the hand of a trucker, and the victim was driving a a compact, what does the good doctor have to say then? Should we all commute in an M1 Abrams tank?

[Clint]

Originally Posted by blackie1491

I hope the good Doc. does not meet a Large semi, while incased in his sheet metal, who happens to be driven by a driver on his cell phone, who fails to stop.
Then it would be his fault for not choosing a Tank.

I like that!

[inspiron]

That's why talking on a mobile phone while driving is illegal in most of Europe. In Spain, it's even illegal to talk using a hands-free kit. Either you are talking on the phone or you are driving your vehicle - not both.

Studies have shown that someone talking on a phone is just as likely to have an accident as someone DWI. Drunk driving is illegal ... so why isn't driving while on the phone?

[stp1971]

Well riding bikes have their risks. Everyone of us realizes it (I hope) everytime we decide to lift the bike off of its kickstand. Is it an acceptable risk???? I think so. Everytime someone flies, rapels, rock climbs, skydives, scuba dives, spelunks(cave exploring), drag races, or plays any type of sport or physical activity we assume a risk.

Getting out of bed, taking a shower, and driving to work in our car we are accepting a risk. If we hold the advice of the doctor as Gospel then none of us should ever do anything physical. If we do nothing physical then we will never get hurt. If we never get hurt then we will not need his skills to rebuild us.

Doctor,,,shut the trap and collect your money from our insurance and our checkbooks for assuming the risks.

Life is about choices and risks. I choose to ride and I choose to ride smartly. Riding smartly is taking a training course, wearing appropriate gear, wearing a helmet, not riding under the influence or tired, paying attention, practicing emergency maneuvers, being cautious, and maintaining my bike.

Accidents happen but just because you wrap yourself in Armor doesn't mean you won't get hurt.

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

What an ***. Negligence is no accident, and he called every one of us stupid. I just might write him.

I guess we just need to be responsible for our own actions and trade in our motorcycles for armored personnel carriers. Any idiot driving a mere car that gets in our way - well, that's their fault....

Pedestrians? Holy crap - they are all suicidal.

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by inspiron

Studies have shown that someone talking on a phone is just as likely to have an accident as someone DWI. Drunk driving is illegal ... so why isn't driving while on the phone?

I think anybody who injures somebody in traffic due to their negligence should be jailed. If you kill me with a car it doesn't really matter to me if you were drunk, talking on the phone, slapping your brat in the backseat, having sex, changing the radio settings, whatever. If you are driving any vehicle, it is your job to be in control of that vehicle - other crap can wait until you pull your vehicle out of traffic and stop.

People drive like crap.

[Clint]

Originally Posted by tlwisner

People drive like crap.

Mmm-hmm.

[Louis]

If I apply his reasoning, then an innocent bystander that gets killed from a drive-by shooting his at fault for being there in the place? All the people who died in the 911 are responsible for their own because they showed up for work or did their work?

Come on? Who's this doctor anyway? Some ******* in need of publicity??? Someone shoot him, and blame him for not dodging the bullet.

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by Louis

Someone shoot him, and blame him for not dodging the bullet.

If the dumbass isn't wearing body armor, he's pretty much at fault for being shot. Yep. Why do I think that standards for Ph.D. degrees are fairly low?

[stp1971]

Well they just announced on the radio that a motorcycle police officer was hit by a truck today when it ran a red light. The police officer is in the hospital and they say he will recover. But he is injured severly.


Oh yeah,, the driver of the truck is cited for failure to obey a traffic device and failure to yield right of way.

Just thought I'd contribute that since this thread is going on.