Letters
CHP got facts wrong in death of student
On behalf of the students at Saratoga High School, and friends and family of both Jordan Gill and Jeff Swanberg, I would like to say that I am appalled and offended of the way that police officials and the media have handled this obvious tragedy. Many of the facts put into the newspapers around the Bay Area have been untrue, and overly exaggerated.
Jeff, a very close friend of mine, has been talked about as such a wonderful and extraordinary young man, which he most definitely was. Never once has any of the articles talked about what a smart, caring, loyal, understanding, compassionate friend and human being that Jordan Gill was, not only to Jeff, but how he was, and still is to all of his many friends.
Jordan and Jeff have been extremely close friends for as long as I have known both of them, and I know that he would never do anything that he thought would put the life of his best friend in danger.
After losing his best friend, and feeling like a prisoner to his own home, the last thing that he wants to read about is how the CHP assumed that he was being irresponsible and reckless and cost another life in our sheltered community. Also, the paper reported that the accident had occurred on Sunday morning at 5:40 a.m. If this were true, then I and many other of Jeff's close friends would have had a whole extra day to spend with him.
Unfortunately, the accident occurred on Saturday morning at around 5:30ish. The paper also forgot to add that Jordan, who had suffered minor injuries, ripped off the door of his fairly new mustang, ran over to Jeff's side, pulled him out of the car, took off his own shirt in freezing cold weather and wrapped it around Jeff's bleeding head. Because no one would stop for help, Jordan was left to take off his shoes and throw them at cars to get their attention.
Finally, after a half an hour or so, a highway patrol officer showed up at the scene. Another piece of false information that was printed said that Jeff was put into an ambulance and driven to San Jose Medical Center. If Jeff were driven from King City to San Jose that would have taken about two and a half, to three hours to get there.
Luckily for Jeff and his family, he was flown by helicopter to San Jose. In addition, Jeff did not die at 6:30 p.m. Sunday night, he died around 8:30 p.m. Saturday night. I am writing this letter, not only because the facts were miscommunicated to reporters by the CHP, but, more importantly, because I know that Jeff would have wanted the community to know that his dear friend did everything he could have humanly done to save Jeff.
I miss Jeff more than anything in the world as do many of his friends, classmates and family. If there was any lesson I could have taken from Jeff, it was to voice my opinion, and let people know how I feel. So this letter is for you, Jeff, and thank you for touching so many of us in as many ways as you did. You will be missed greatly, and we will never forget you. Rest in peace, Jeffrey Tyler.
Kami Kroll
Atrium Drive
Students should be included in conserving energy talks
In the Jan. 17 issue of the Saratoga News, there was an article about the city and school districts finding ways to cut back on electricity usage. The school district was going to form a committee. This is a teachable moment.
Wouldn't it be the perfect use of brainstorming, to get every class involved in thinking of ways to cut back, to conserve? This ties in with science, social studies, math, community and cooperation. And with everyone involved, surely much money and resources would be saved. And imagine if every organization, company and family did the same!
This is the time for us all to get involved with helping to save the planet ... and at the same time demanding that the Federal Energy Regulation Commission) rescinds the approval of divorcing the PG&E parent corporation from the PG&E that is going bankrupt and wants us to pay for its bailout, again ... remember Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant?
Barby Ulmer
Paseo Presada
Doctor story didn't exaggerate the problem
I read with great interest your articles on "Code Blue" in the Jan. l7 edition of The Los Gatos Weekly-Times. Everything that you reported is true. I have been in practice for 36 years and love what I do, but it is getting harder to stay in practice.
Rent and malpractice insurance and fees that no longer cover the cost of care keep new physicians from coming and at the same time drive older physicians out.
There is another view that has not been covered: A successful physician generally works 70 to 80 hours a week. When paid a reasonable fee for his services he can usually afford a more expensive automobile and home and send his children to a private school.
Many of the public and the press have accused physicians of being profiteers in disease and berate them for having a nice home. There seemed to be a universal thrill that the "rich" physicians were being brought down a notch or two. This same public wants their physician to be available through the night and day, and wants the quality of care that they are used to, but only want to pay him $8 per head per month.
I don't know how to practice cheap medicine. I try to give each patient what I think is needed. When I have to call a phone number to get a referral or a prescription filled, my office staff or I have to listen to the computer first, then I may be required to create a fax, never knowing if I will be successful for the patient or not.
I am not paid for this time, or for the letter writing nor any other effort on behalf of the patient. Still there are patients who feel that physicians should make the insurance carrier fulfill all their needs and take good care of them and their families, but should not make enough money to take care of their employees or themselves. The public has gotten what it asked for, bringing physicians to their collective knees. Now the question is, who won?
Ernest M. Thomas Jr., M.D.
Los Gatos
Correction:
The Taste column in the Jan. 31 issue of the Saratoga News incorrectly stated the price of a baker's dozen at Saratoga Bagels. The actual cost is $6.50.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
