Has Issues with Author’s Opinion

To The Editor:
There’s a problem with a free press and the availability of a Letter to the Editor section. And from me, who writes many letters to the Herald, that’s really saying something. The problem as I see it is that writers write their opinions about a huge range of topics, sometimes passionately, sometimes stupidly, and many readers see these opinions as the truth.
A case in point is the letter penned by Charles M. Leusner titled “Is Cape May Regional Medical Center doomed?” What earthly reason would a citizen of our community have to feel the necessity of writing such a fearful, diatribe against our community hospital?
If any part of his letter was true, it would scare the (you know what) out of us. So how many readers will read Leusner’s comments and assume he knows what he’s talking about? It contains not one element of truth.
And then the voice of reason. The president and CEO of our hospital, Joanne Carrocino responded with a fact-filled letter listing everything from the addition of specialists to urgent care centers opening throughout the county to the state-of-the-art cancer center, the PT locations, the soon-to-be opened diabetes center and much more. Cape Regional Medical Center is committed to providing the highest quality healthcare and continues to grow and expand to serve the healthcare needs of our community.
My personal experiences for over 20 years have been positive and that goes for many friends and acquaintances. I have the privilege of knowing many health care providers who are part of CRMC and I would trust my life to them. So who you going to listen to? The CEO who has successfully created a medical center which continues to meet or exceed A-level ratings, or a citizen?
Thanks to the Herald’s editorial board for allowing Carrocino’s response to be printed along with Leusner’s comments. Hope the wise members of our community will see the obvious difference.