LETTERS: HEART-SURGERY PATIENTS HAVE A CHOICE

To the editor:

Thank you for your Oct. 15 editorial regarding the excellent open-heart surgery programs at both hospitals in Cape Girardeau. With all of the newspaper and television advertising campaigns recently, often patients and their families can become misled about where to have their care provided. Rather than reacting to all of the hype, patients should be asking specific questions about their proposed treatment. They need to have a high level of trust in their care-givers. If this is lacking, they need to realize that they have a choice in where and by whom they will be treated. If health care is a service, then patients are the customers. And the customer is always right.

EDWARD M. BENDER, M.D.Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Cape Girardeau