This letter is written in support of Mr. Danny Rock, VHS principal. Mary and I have known Danny for over 12 years. As we have followed his career we have always been impressed by his dedication and empathy for all his students.

We are more than happy to leave it to the medical experts to decide if parents should be consulted before, during or after (or ever) the prescription of potentially addictive and hazardous psychotropic drugs such as Xanax or Lexapro (see Beachcomber article related to countersuit, Feb 9th, 2017). While we respect the sanctity of patient confidentiality, it is not hard for us to understand the horror of a parent to discover their teen has been prescribed a hazardous psychotropic.

But what Mary and I are not happy about is to have it suggested that Danny Rock would:

(A)…File a lawsuit “asking an island physician to break the law”. Or:

(B)…File a lawsuit motivated by “retaliation or harassment”.

The countersuit, as we understand it, is entirely in keeping with the principles espoused by Danny throughout his career, namely, to support and protect his students. And we support Danny.

— Art and Mary Hodgins