
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 16, 1995                   TAG: 9503160031
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DON'T LEAVE CONSUMERS OUT OF REFORMS

THE RECENT spate of GOP-backed legal-reform bills (March 8 Associated Press story, ``Bill to cut lawsuits approved''), including those limiting punitive damages and embracing the ``loser pays'' concept, may appear well-founded and designed to address gross misuse of a legal system designed to protect consumers.

I believe ``reforms'' are a well-timed effort to have in place a ceiling limit on suits for damages before the ball gets rolling on suits brought by consumers affected by negligent practices of health-management organizations and other health-insurance companies. Persons having medical procedures deemed necessary by their physicians and turned down by their insurance company may have to sue for damages. The more insurers block access to medical treatment, and the more frequently their decisions are made by persons with business degrees rather than medical licenses, the greater the need for consumer protection.

The possible threat of lawsuit helps keep insurers in line. If a bill can be passed that will intimidate the newly outraged and injured from suing, the insurance industry is home free.

I realize this places a worst-construction slant on the issue, and that there are health-maintenance organizations and insurance companies that practice responsibly and ethically. I want legal reforms to take into account protection of consumers trapped in systems ruled by the almighty profit margin.

ANN E. HALE

ROANOKE

Hiding behind the Constitution

REGARDING the balanced-budget amendment:

Sen. Robert Dole should be the one asked to ``resign.'' But before that, he should recommend that Sen. Mark Hatfield receive the Citizen's Medal of Honor.

How this group of erudite individuals can abrogate their responsibility by trying to throw the issue over the back fence for someone else to clean up is beyond my comprehension. They were elected to make those hard choices - not to hide behind the Constitution, but instead, to enforce its intent.

DEANE N. ABOUDARA

ROANOKE

`Staying out of it' sanctions abuse

THE MARCH 8 article (``Toddler severely beaten'') concerning the beaten toddler was very upsetting to me. How can a neighbor know that a child is being beaten and not report it to the police department? How can a person not want to get involved when it may save another person's life?

People in our society must change their attitudes about women and children being abused. How much longer will people elect to protect the abuser by not reporting the abuse? When neighbors decide to ``stay out of it,'' they're indeed protecting the abuser and hurting abused women and children. Isn't it time that women and children no longer have to suffer from abuse, and can live without living in fear?

I believe it's apparent that domestic violence is a much bigger problem than we ever thought it could be.

WANDA G. LONG

ROANOKE

Falwell is praised for speaking out

REGARDING ``The Back Pew'' column of Feb. 26 by Cody Lowe, ``Brother Falwell ought to admit he's wrong on this one'':

I approve of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, and of his firm stand on family values and moral standards in this country. His ministry is one of building, not tearing down, and of speaking out as few do on the Bible and its author, Almighty God.

I doubt that Falwell is guilty of lies that were put on tapes for sale. All ministers and all Christians need to emphasize the truth always.

He has certainly exposed some events that were not very moral or responsible, events that were condoned by our president. I don't believe the prestige of this high office should be brought down so low. It's dead wrong for Clinton to condone some people's unholy and ungodly behavior. What is he saying to the American people and our children? Our country's moral and spiritual level is going down. Do we want America to stand for something or not?

Today, we're being bombed with the words ``alternate lifestyle,'' seemingly to promote the idea that people can live in defiance of God and his law, and that it is OK. The devil is working overtime. Nothing pleases him more than to demoralize us. When you say something is right when fully knowing it's dead wrong, this is the philosophy of the devil who is a liar and the father of lies. We need to wake up and set our house in order.

C. GLEN STINNETTE JR.

BEDFORD

by CNB