Letter to the Editor – Posts About Humane Society Are Not True!

I would just like to know where I. Richardson got this information that you posted on your blog, because I know for a fact that most (if not all) is untrue.

First of all, the HS tried to keep all the files confidential about their friend but the HS was ordered by the court to give the information to that specific woman. Therefore it is not the HS fault, are they supposed to go against the courts?

Also, she was mistreating animals and vets agreed! How can you say they were healthy? Did you see them because I did and they were most definitely not healthy and I wish she got punished more for what she did.

Secondly, why bring up something that happened ten years ago? The HS has new people and new ways of caring for animals and do all they can to help them now. I know for a fact that they send as many animals as they can to rescues and have decreased their amounts of euthanasia.

They only euthanize if a dog is so mean they can't help it or if it is sick beyond help and it would be more humane to euthanize them then. Why should the animals suffer in cages if the more humane thing to do is euthanize them?

I for one think they need to "clean house" and get the people that are accusing the HS of these untrue things out instead of making up false accusations.

I know you probably will not post my email because it goes against your views but I would like to get a response from you on where you get the information you post on your blog. I have been reading it and continually I see things that don't add up.

I see what goes on at the HS and what you say in your blog does not match what they actually do there. If they upset you in someway that's fine, be mad at them, but don't make up stories to try and get people to think poorly of this shelter for just trying to save animals.

People have been threatening the workers, harassing them, and they could lose their jobs over the things you post. How is that fair to anyone of them? If you have a problem, talk to them so they can address the issue and hopefully fix it.

If it's to do with the animals and you see something they don't, if you tell them they might change it. But by posting these awful things and putting people in harms way just for your ego, no one wins here.

Everyone loses and you just look bad. I know this is very much not what you want to hear from someone reading your blog but I just would like a response on some of these issues that I brought up. Not an attacking email, just one verifying where you get your facts from.

(NAME WITHHELD @ Author’s Request)

We received this letter last week when we were asking for letters that supported the Wicomico County Humane Society as well as from those that questioned the Humane Society’s actions. We have just posted it because we did not have the author’s name and phone number until this afternoon. – Ed.

Letter to the Editor – Did Media Cover Up PRMC’s Role in Stent Scandal?

The trial against Dr. John McLean alleging that the cardiologist had performed a vast number of unnecessary cardiac catheterizations and stent placement surgeries is now underway. What many do not know is that there is an ongoing associated lawsuit for negligence and civil conspiracy against Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) resulting from the same allegations of unnecessary procedures, though it is moving on a different timeline. The article in the July 14 the Daily Times entitled “Stent Doc’s trial underway” does not even make mention of the lawsuit against PRMC at all and obscures the role of the hospital. I recognize it is not often that you can find a comment critical to PRMC in the “Daily Times”.

The plaintiffs in this lawsuit (Baublitz vs. Peninsula Regional Medical Center) are thirteen patients who have joined together against the medical center. The Complaint asserts as to each patient that PRMC directly and by and through its agents and employees, was negligent in the following ways: by allowing McLean to perform the medically unnecessary procedures; by failing to revoke or suspend his privileges or stopping him from using the Catheterization Lab prior to the patient's procedures; by assisting in the performance of the unnecessary procedures; and by failing to adequately monitor and supervise McLean as part of the hospital's ongoing privileges, credentialing and oversight processes. The plaintiffs also allege that the PRMC credentialing committee did not stop McLean but rather continued to extend privileges and reward him with large blocks of favorable scheduling time.

PRMC has filed a motion to dismiss this suit. One of their legal arguments was whether a nurse or technician who allegedly assisted Dr. McLean in the performance of an unnecessary procedure on another patient (not a Plaintiff) owed a duty to future, unidentified and as yet unknown patients of Dr. McLean.

In other words does a nurse or technician who participates in unnecessary stent procedures currently have the responsibility to speak up to protect future patients? This is quite ironic because I personally believe PRMC currently has a culture where staff members are reluctant to speak up about bad medical care, poor or insensitive treatment of patients or inappropriate behavior at the hospital because of a fear of intimidation or retribution. If this case moves forward to trial and the verdict is for the plaintiffs this will be quite a costly lesson for the hospital to learn. No one should ever be fearful to speak up and do the right thing.

In addition PRMC in their motion to dismiss argued that the medical center could not be held liable for credentialing decisions because of state statute granting partial immunity from civil liability to those who participate in medical review committees. PRMC reasons that, if the individuals that serve on the credentialing committee cannot be held liable, then neither can the hospital for which those individuals made the credentialing decision. In my simple mind the motion to dismiss does not appear to be based on any fact that PRMC was not involved directly in bad things but rather they appear to be simple legal maneuvering.

On August 12, 2010 William M. Nickerson (Senior United States District Judge Court for the District of Maryland) rejected the motion to dismiss. The court also rejected PRMC’s suggestion that the claims against it be severed from the claims against McLean as “premature”. This effectively clears the path for the lawsuit against PRMC to move forward. Obviously this is a very important case for the hospital. Legal experts are following this case because there are aspects of it that may set legal precedent in Maryland. The community should follow this case closely so we can be properly informed as to the true role of our local hospital in what is alleged to be some very bad activity.

Steven Rumney
Salisbury, MD

The author disclosed to '”Salisbury News “that a family member had an unsatisfactory experience with PRMC and that the author had written a letter regarding that experience to the “Daily Times”.  That letter was never published. – Ed.

Letter to the Editor – More Complaints About the Wicomico Humane Society

I'm writing again concerning the Wicomico County Humane Society. It has been brought to my attention that this past week while still under scrutiny from the public that they still refuse to do their jobs or have any compassion for the animals in the county.

It seems they got a call about a dog in bad shape from the Sheriff’s Department. They said they would take care of it. Funny thing is the Sheriff’s Department, thinking this was done got another call that they went on. The dog had died in the yard. From info I have received no one had gone out to this animal’s aid.

Another incident happened in the Town of Delmar last week. The town has a very part-time dog control officer. He was not on duty. The Delmar Police Department came upon an animal cruelty case and called the Humane Society to come take this puppy to a vet and hold as evidence for prosecution of the guilty party. The police were told they would not come. Since when is Delmar not part of the county?

It seems to me that this is not just not doing their jobs but a blatant uncaring attitude about animals in danger. I hope the people of Wicomico County do not find this acceptable behavior. Seems like the humane society people in charge pick and choose what they will do and what animals will be rescued.

Yet they have time to act in childish retaliation against me for posting out to other rescues a dog that needed help. Last week my landlord received many anonymous calls trying to have me evicted from my home. I can't prove but assume where these calls were generated from. I am at this time in talks with an attorney about filing a harassment suit against the Humane Society and the board of directors for my continued harassment by Sandy Hudson the shelter manager which has gone on for the last year and a half.

Sherry Dillon.

New Humane Society Post at 8PM

We have received a special letter to the editor regarding the Wicomico County Humane Society. It is scheduled to run at 8PM this evening.

Letter to the Editor – Audit the Wicomico Co. Humane Society

In recent days there has been a lot of commotion surrounding this facility. From a dog being destroyed that had rescue and all the lies told surrounding that to where the money goes. Well even if county residents don't care what happened to one dog they should care where their hard earned tax dollars go. This shelter has claimed they have an annual budget of $635,000. The bulk of this is paid to them by the county. Salisbury Animal Control also pays them. Shouldn't this mean that people in the city of Salisbury are paying twice. The town of Delmar has to pay for each dog turned in. They cannot prosecute cruelty cases because of boarding fees to the county humane society. Seems to me that is making Delmar residents pay twice too.

The town of Fruitland has almost non existent services. Since when did all of these places become not part of Wicomico county. This shelter has had many issues concerning corruption on the inside and bad treatment of animals and citizens. They are rude and nasty and state they don't have to be accountable to anyone for the money they receive. Don't you all think it's time to stand up and find out where your money is going. I'm urging all county residents to call for an audit of this shelter. You all may be surprised at what is found. They should be held accountable for all money and intake and records on all animals that have come through there. Also don't you think as a law enforcement entity that animal control should be done from a law enforcement agency such as the sheriffs dept. Give them the $200,000 a year to do this and I bet a lot more would get done. The city of Salisbury animal control is done through the city police department and it works very well. The city does much more then the county does now. People need to stand up now before this box of worms closes again for years. I would think all would want to know where their money is being spent.

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