Letters to the Editor - Feb. 21, 2011

Compensated organ donors have a right to their decisions

Regarding "Kidney exchange program makes 1st matches" (Article, Jan 10): While I share the enthusiasm for increasing kidney transplantation via the use of paired donations, the best way to increase the number of transplants is to end bans on compensating donors.

Bans on payment for organ donation are essentially based on the anti-American principle of citizens being the property of the state, for if people are truly sovereign over themselves they should be able to sell their kidneys (or other parts of their bodies).

--Amesh Adalja, MD, Butler, Pa.

Back to top

Don't trim education for primary care

Regarding "Medical students shun primary care for more reasons than pay" (Letters, Dec. 20, 2010): As a board-certified family practice doctor, I must say the idea, in the letter to the editor cited, to shorten the education requirements for primary care is terrible.

Sure, all doctors are aware that calculus and organic chemistry have little to do with practicing medicine (even for specialists), but if you eliminate the tough classes just to pump out primary care physicians more quickly, do you know what you are left with? Nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Length of training is the main thing that separates doctors from other medical professionals. If it didn't take a long time to become a doctor, primary care physician or specialist, then everyone would become one.

--Lee Morgentaler, DO, Blauvelt, N.Y.

The print version of this content appeared in the Feb. 28 issue of American Medical News.

Back to top