Nursing

REGARDING THE ARTICLE "Nurses are not usually associated with anti-government activities" (Nurses in the News, Downtime, May 2009): In our profession, people are always concerned with their licenses and their jobs, so to take on the government knowing you might bring down the eye of scrutiny upon yourself can be seen as being nuts. After this article appeared in RN, I received e-mails from readers telling me just that. So I ask to set a few things straight so that others might understand why I filed my lawsuit to stop the government bailout.

I feel very lucky to have become a nurse. It took long nights and long months to complete my education. I have served our country for 12 years as a combat medic and nurse. I have been married for 22 years and had four great daughters. On September 11, 2001, I drove to New York to work at Ground Zero. In 2005, I worked in Biloxi, MS, after Hurricane Katrina and in Lake Charles, LA, after Hurricane Rita. I have never been paid, nor did I want to be paid. I have always felt that in time of need our country's men and women should not have to find healthcare; we should find them.

On July 1, 2006, I found out how bad things can be. My county in Indiana had no paramedics, and on this day, my oldest daughter was in her car 1,200 feet from our drive when she was hit head on. I was there in minutes, but performing CPR and even placing an ET could not change the fact she would not make it. After that, I fought for better medical care for the rest of the county. I did not want another father's daughter not to have help.

I am blessed to work with many great people trying to do their best. I have served with heroes and I have seen the best and the worst life can be, but in the end I have learned one thing: We must all now become what we once were, and that is one country—one America.

Jerry R. Lucas, RN
Deputy, IN
Received via e-mail

EDITOR'S NOTE: Jerry Lucas' lawsuit was filed In U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, New Albany Division, in February 2009. It was later dismissed.

VACCINES

In response to "Vaccination: Compliance & Controversy" (May 2009): In the 1980s, by the age of six, a child would receive a maximum of 10 vaccines, with many receiving less. Today, the Centers for Disease Control's recommended schedule calls for 48 doses of 14 vaccines from birth to age six, including 25 by his or her first birthday. The United States gives more vaccines at an earlier age than any country in the world.

Children around the world are receiving more vaccines than ever before, and the prevalence of childhood autoimmune diseases is rising at alarming rates. While the evidence remains inconclusive to accept or reject a causal relationship between vaccines and autoimmune disorders, the hypothesis is plausible and warrants further investigation.

Jane Lukshis, MN, RN, CNS
Received via e-mail

INFORMATION, NOT OPINION

In reference to the May 2009 Digital Edition of RN, specifically "Red Cross: Healthcare workers involved in torture" (Professional Update, http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/rn_200905): Your mission should be to provide nurses with information that will allow us to provide patient care with the most updated and current medical information available. I am not interested in your political opinion.

Waterboarding is an enhanced interrogation technique. It is not torture; it is impossible to die or sustain injury from this technique. This technique has allowed us to circumvent several terrorist attacks. It is not a bad thing; it is a good thing.

Rhona Ferguson, RN
Received via e-mail

RN RESPONDS: To clarify, RN was not taking a position that healthcare workers were engaged in torture, nor that waterboarding is torture. The editor simply presented what The New York Times had reported was contained in a Red Cross report.