After reading William R. Brody's column regarding medical malpratice I think the public should know the real story from a victim, a prespective that is rarely considered and often misrepresented.

For the past 26 years I have lived with Cerebral Palsy because my mother's obstetrician knew I was a breech delivery and didn't perform a caesarian section, which then, as today was the proper medical protocol. Instead, he allowed labor to progress and I was born feet first, causing the umbilical cord to compresss against my mother's cervix, thereby restricting oxygen and blood to my brain.

A mistake that happened in seconds resulted in me living with a lifelong disability that has caused both physical and emotional damage only someone in a similar situation can fully comprehend.

Most folks with Cerebral Palsy don't have the mental capacity to understand why they are suffering; the only thing they know is the pain they face on a daily basis.

I was born in 1978 and filed a suit almost 19 years later, just before the statue of limitations expired. The doctor settled the suit for aroun $500,000, the average cost of a home in Bergen County. Would Mr. Brody call this "jackpot justice"?

Bad doctors are the real cause of the premium hikes, not lawsuits. The medical profession as a whole has totally ignored this side of the issue. Perhaps less time should be focused on trying to squelch victims' rights and more time trying to promote safer medical care.

In response to candidate's letter--Pascack Press

After reading Alfred Murphy's letter published in the April 2 edition of the Pascack Press I feel I must correct his math. He says four respective local school budgets are increasing their combined taxes 5 percent while the regional high school taxes are raisin 14.3 percent.

Mr. Murphy' fails to explain the 14.3 percent is divided among the four towns which roughly equals a 3.5% increase per town. He also combines two fiscal, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 while one using one years' increase on the local budget.

Maybe I'm wrong but his lack of explanation leads me to believ he is trying to convince the towns they will pay an additional 35% each.

His letter then continues by saying the board wants to make improvements to both high schools, but accuses th em of hiding the costs

From past meetings I know the board hasproposed suggestions and hastabled them for later discussions. They have alwyas welcomed comments from the audience and I have gotten answers to any questions I have regarding thebudget or oth=er issues just by going to the Pascack Valley Regional High School District's website and downloaded the minutes for the meetings. I have never felt the board was hiding anything or slipping increases in the budget without an explanation.

At the end of his letter, Mr. Murphy says, and I quote, "With approximately 10 people rasing questions and talking back and forth with the board, the meeting did not end until almost 10 o'clock....." How can he accuse the board of being secretive in one sentence and then complain too many people were raising questions a few lines later?

Murphy says the board gets an "F" for establishing effective communication. However, if you read his letter carefully, you will find a contradiction, He complained the meeting ran so late he missed another meeting in Hillsdale. It seems to me he felt compelled to stay at the meeting, although it escapes me why he would want to stay at a meeting where in his opinion he wouldn't get his questions answered. His opening statement leads me to believe the Hillsdale and the Pascack Valley Regional Schools Boards "conspired" to hold their meetings at the same time so members of the community would have to choose between the two.

I understand he has concerns with the school budget and applaud him for voicing his opinions on these matters. He brings a unique perspective to these issues and constructive criticism is crucial. However, accuing the sitting members of the school board of doing things in secret is not the way to win votes.

Letters the the Editor-- Bergen Record (Northjersey.com)

I am shocked and outraged that the peopl who so passinately demonstrate against our troop presence in Iraq have taken to the streets again to demand President Bush send our armed forces into Darfur -- without UN approval I might add. Aren't these the same people who insisted the United Nations was capable of controlling Saddam Hussein when Bush correctly said the former Iraqi dictator was a threat tha needed to be dealt with by more than useless U.N. resolutions?

The protesters say our president is standing by idly while millions are suffering a genocide similar to the Holocaust. They say Bush should take the lead and stop the abuses in Africa. They they expect the United States to come to the rescue, and chastise us when we don't respond fast enough.

Other countries call our diplomacy arrogant and reckless, excpet when they need our help. The genocide in Darfur could have been avoided if the other majorworld governments showed a little backbone. The blood is on their hands.

Whatever happended to the United Nations? I agree that the United States has had numerous foreign policy miscalculations.But the U.N.'s inactions in Darfur simply do not add up. Maybe it's timeto stop callinng our country's the world's bully and start appreciating the good deed the United States does on a daily basis.

I read Christopher Haffler's letter and to be honest I agree with 90 percent of what he said about teachers deserving their pay. The teachers in this area are among the best in the country; we need to pay the competitive wages

However I won't continue this debate because there's a less obvious, but more disturbing statement in hisletter. The last sentence in Mr. Haffler's letter reads, "I also think that the Pascack Press would benefit if they no longer published letters by 'pioneers' such as John Tourian."

A more critical eye would see last paragraph is a call for the Pascack Press to censor John Tourian's view. Certainly one of Mr. Haffler's duties ad a teacherr should be to educate his students about the importance of freedom of the press.

To me as a reader and contributor of the Pascack Press I feel this is an unwarrented swipe at the very medium that gave Mr. Haffler a platform to voice his opposition to Mr. Tourian's letter. The editors review the letters to make sure they aren't attacking individuals on a personal level. They cheeck for typographical errors,not for content,which is the responsibility of the writer.

A good paper like the Pascack Press would never be pressured into printing or not printing a letter based on the wishes of one reader. As a teacher and someone who isn't afraid to speak out of causes he belives in, I would think Mr. Haffler would be applauding the Pascack Press for printing letters supporting both sides ofan issue. The lastthing he should do is to critize it for printining a well-written letter that he doesn't support. Justin Mattes
Woodcliff Lake

Howley has done much for the community--Pascack Press

Howley case becoming a witch hunt--Pascack Press