February 12, 1997

Dear Editor,

Ongoing maladjustments in the provision of health care, and drastic misunderstanding both of its causes, and of the probable efficacy of proposed remedies, point to a role for Haverford, and for the Society of Friends.

Your excellent, balanced, and timely report could, and hopefully will, become the opening for such a project, which requires solid experience and mature thoughtfulness, and, just as important, minimal technical clutter and expense. A little common sense can yield benefits far in excess of the work involved. It would be gratifying to see Haverford as the point of origin of such an undertaking. It would be an excellent setting for the assembly of thoughtful, experienced professionals to initiate such an effort.

One, of many, objectives would be a clear and thoroughgoing presentation of the dynamics of present seeming dislocations, excessive haste in forwarding remedies, and disproportion between effects and causes.

This would be an important part of a mediation effort, a familiar role for Friends. This familiarity helps assure that, from the very outset, no one group or cast of thought is allowed to dominate the effort. This is an all important requirement.

It would be interesting to know how your survey participants would respond to such a suggestion.

Very truly yours,
John McLaughlin, `45, F.S.A.
Chicago, IL

Letters to the Editor can be sent either by mail or via email to mmcdonal@haverford.edu