We often hear about “press bias” and the lack of journalism integrity. Evidently journalism integrity has bypassed the Seattle Times. A case in point is the great investigative reporting of Scott North and Chuck Taylor regarding the UW Medicine false information to the media right after the tragedy at MPHS.
Certainly the Times did not do “due diligence” after being spoon-fed false information from Jonese Spisso, Harborview Chief Health System Officer, and Dr. Eileen Bulger, Chief of Trauma. Also adding fuel to the fire was Dr. Mary King of Harborview who called the decision to send the MPHS victims to Providence Regional Medical Center an “epic failure.” As a state agency, UW Medicine is led by Dr. Paul Ramsey. He, too, holds responsibility for the misleading information.
A further issue is why did it take a state agency so long to reply to a “Freedom of Information” request from the Herald? Was it possibly because Harborview officials knew the information would prove that they were lying to the press last October?
And as a state agency, now proven to have tried to obstruct true information to the citizens of the community, shouldn’t there be some type of legislative investigation? And should not those publicly giving out this false information be either terminated or put on unpaid leave for a period of time?
Our first responders did a tremendous job for the citizens at MPHS and also the first responders at Oso were remarkable. What we don’t need is those people from King County, with their own personal agenda, to downplay the efforts of our public safety officials.
Don Wlazlak
Marysville
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