For my medical friends: You are so worth it!

I just sent this to the Duluth News Tribune:

I have been following the recent news articles on synthetic Marijuana and now Bath Salts for some time, and find the potential for physical abuse or government meddling to be interesting. Serving as a Chaplain in both local hospitals, and speaking only for myself, I am forced to say that the side effects I have seen both in my workplace and on the streets are heartbreaking.

It was with much disdain I read the following comments from Mr Jim Larson, owner of THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH in the Duluth News Tribune this week: " he has a concern for people’s health, but he wasn’t sympathetic to the emergency room doctor’s complaint.
“My advice to them is that they should hire some more help,” he said. “We’re supposed to be a free country. ... The bottom line is everybody likes to do different things.”
Several years ago local news reported on a story where an Emergency Room staff member was held against her will by an unstable patient who held a knife to her neck. If that were Mr Larson’s daughter in that situation, I believe he would have a different story to tell.

I have seen friends and coworkers assaulted, had knives pulled on them and threatened infection with HIV by out of control patients. Though I don’t believe he would endorse use of controlled substances, I have seen the deadly effect of First Time use on young adults. Even when those events don’t result in fatality, they do clog the medical facilities ability to treat those who are not suffering from self ingested poison.

That is part of the price which is paid by those suffering bad experiences from legal and illegal products. Medical staff at our local hospitals, as well as Paramedics and EMT's in the field are left to face the abuse and then deal with the emotions of having an otherwise normal individual die a death too early.

So, while Mr Larson does have a right to sell his products, I do wish he could see the effects misuse of them has on others. Oh, and by the way don’t blame the ER staffs when they are over worked. I ask him to consider leaving his wife and daughters to face those threats and attacks. Will you then be so quick to allow others to be placed in that harm?

Robert Saunders