Like many islanders, I am greatly troubled by the limitations in Peace Island Medical Center’s services that stem directly from its Catholic heritage. In the upcoming election, we have an opportunity to put three individuals on the Public Hospital Board – Barbara Sharp, Bill Williams and Monica Harrington – who have the integrity to work assertively with Peace Island to enact changes that are necessary to make it more responsive to the health care needs of ALL islanders.
There are many good and important things Peace Island is doing for our community. But several important health care issues are not being adequately addressed.
Women’s reproductive services – Peace Island says that its physicians will dispense birth control only “when medically indicated.” What about when a woman or man just doesn’t want to have a child? And how unreasonable is it for them to say that they don’t offer “maternity services,” when except for routine labor and delivery services, of course they do!
Death with dignity – Washington state has a law (which islanders overwhelmingly voted to approve) giving individuals the right to take their own lives when they have less than six months to live and have met other requirements of the law. Peace Island certainly has the legal right to “opt out” of participating in the law’s provisions, but it is simply being obstructionist when it refuses to allow its physicians to refer patients to Compassion and Choices, the well-respected organization that has all the necessary information and resources.
Peace Island’s communications about its service restrictions have been muddy and inconsistent. There appear to be major discrepancies between what the official policies are and the extent to which these policies are actually carried out by the physicians.
I urge you to vote for Bill, Barbara, and Monica – all of whom seek communication, collaboration and pragmatic reasoning, NOT litigation. I am confident that they are committed to bringing about the changes in policy and practice that are critical to the long-term success of Peace Island in our community.
Lori Stokes
San Juan Island
