Islanders should hesitate to attack organization saving our clinic | Letter to the Editor

At the meeting at McMurray on Wednesday night with a representative of the Franciscan Health System, I left the meeting worried that Vashon Islanders had lost sight of the big picture. Without the deep pockets of the FHS, it is only a matter of time before the clinic closes. Based on my professional experience, the FHS brings to Vashon access to exemplary medical and hospital services that cover the entire body from head to toe — not only the reproductive system. Looking around the room at McMurray, it occurred to me that the occupants of that room are much more likely to need cardiac care than reproductive counseling.

April 30, 2013 3:36 pm

At the meeting at McMurray on Wednesday night with a representative of the Franciscan Health System, I left the meeting worried that Vashon Islanders had lost sight of the big picture. Without the deep pockets of the FHS, it is only a matter of time before the clinic closes. Based on my professional experience, the FHS brings to Vashon access to exemplary medical and hospital services that cover the entire body from head to toe — not only the reproductive system. Looking around the room at McMurray, it occurred to me that the occupants of that room are much more likely to need cardiac care than reproductive counseling.

Reflect on the McMurray meeting and then compare the clinic to a fishing boat sinking far out at sea. Suddenly, the crew hears the welcoming thwopity-thwopity-thwopity of a Coast Guard rescue helicopter that plucks everyone from peril. On the flight back, should the rescued crew take that opportunity to harangue the helicopter crew about Coast Guard policies they did not like?

We should be very glad that the FHS is willing to take us on.

— Christopher Davis, MD