LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
I WOULD like to make some comments about the letter I received recently from Monash University regarding the Hazelwood Mine Fire Health Study, which was originally set up to investigate the health of adults (later also children) who may have been adversely affected by smoke and so on.
I have no argument with that.
What I can’t understand is why Sale has “been selected as the most appropriate community to compare” with Morwell.
In a properly conducted scientific study, one would expect an accurate record to be obtained of health before the fire, ditto for after the fire and then compare the two.
In such a study, it would be quite reasonable for scientists to request access to earlier health records of Morwell residents.
So I am asking where is the connection to Sale, which it is assumed had not much adverse effect from the fire?
Why are (selected) Sale residents being asked for unlimited access to our medical records?
Not only for free access, but also for an unlimited time for such access?
It is my opinion that “a secure computer” is an oxymoron.
I would really like to know what other residents of Sale thought of the letter.
How many of these letters went straight to the recycling bin?
Is my use of the word “outrageous” going too far?
Is it nitpicking of me to consider the reference to the Scared Heart School (page 4) instead of Sacred Heart School, rather, well, um, careless?
Is there anyone else out there who expects a letter from a university to be spelt rite (sic).
