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Regarding “Catholic Archdiocese of S.F. says bankruptcy filing ‘very likely’ over abuse suits” (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, Aug. 4): There are 500 abuse lawsuits filed against the San Francisco Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church, among thousands filed in California. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone assures us that the abuse is “mostly” from the past — thus admitting it has taken decades to come to light.
Cordileone claims the bankruptcy filing will enable the archdiocese to settle these claims easily and fairly. More accurately, as with the Diocese of Oakland bankruptcy filing, it will enable the church to protect hundreds of millions in assets. It is beyond irony or sarcasm that Cordileone’s announcement appears on a church website page entitled “Protecting Children.”
For years, Cordileone has been vocal in attacking gay people on moral grounds. The only immorality worth underlining is centuries of sexual abuse by Catholic priests, and the only bankruptcy worth noting is the moral bankruptcy of ignoring and covering up the abuse and placing the safety of the church’s assets over the well-being of its victims.
Ben Janken, Oakland
Doctors need bias training
Regarding “Doctors sue California medical board to halt implicit bias training mandate” (Health, SFChronicle.com, Aug. 1): We all internalize negative stereotypes and implicit bias training helps us become aware and thus become better physicians.
When medical trainees were surveyed, about half believed Black patients had thicker skin and therefore felt less pain. African American patients are undertreated with pain medications when compared to white patients. Imagine bringing your child to the emergency room with a broken arm and having them receive inadequate pain medication due to their ethnicity.
Implicit bias may play a role in death during pregnancy; Black women die at a rate of 3 to 4 times greater than white women. Black patients with heart disease are not referred as often as white patients for advanced cardiovascular procedures. If physicians received implicit bias training, could we improve these deplorable outcomes?
Racial, ethnic and gender differences in medical outcomes remain after adjusting for insurance status, socioeconomics and other factors that influence health care access, suggesting that physician behavior plays a role.
I hope the lawsuit will not go forward — it is not in the best interests of patients.
Dr. Jeff Ritterman, board of directors member, San Francisco Bay Physicians for Social Responsibility, Richmond
Get local input
Regarding “Farmers’ market feeling squeezed out by S.F.’s plans for skate space at U.N. Plaza” (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, Aug. 6): Matt Yan well-captured merchant concerns over the proposed move to a smaller parking lot where fewer vendors could be accommodated in a space in proximity to drug dealing and diminished parking that may deter patrons.
The proposed move also ignores the role the Heart of the City Farmers’ Market plays in serving the area’s thousands of low-income residents. The planned skate park with tables for chess and ping-pong, and an exercise station is also unlikely to serve many locals.
As Supervisor Dean Preston suggests, the Department of Recreation and Parks should consult with market vendors before this plan goes further and, I would add, local residents also must be part of the conversation.
Meredith Minkler, Kensington
Lost bag sent home
Regarding “This San Francisco woman has an apartment full of stolen stuff. She’s on a mission to find the owners” (Crime, SFChronicle.com, Aug. 3): The article about sleuthing out the owners of abandoned stolen property resonated with me.
In June, I found an open suitcase across the street from my home. Taking it with me, I was disappointed to find no clue to the owner except a name on an airline tag. The police told me they would come to pick it up, but after several days I gave up on that and searched further into the pockets of the bag.
I found a brochure for a sailing company in Santa Cruz, and learned that the suitcase owner had sailed recently. A few phone calls later, and I was talking with the owner, now home in Atlanta. His brother came to pick up the bag and planned to ship it home. A very satisfying experience!
Ellen McKey, Oakland
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