MORE SCRUTINY NEEDED

It's unfortunate that Dr. Stephen Gleason relapsed into substance
abuse and surrendered his medical license ("Licensing Board Files
Charges Against Gleason," Feb.16).

However, it's also unfortunate that it took hitting rock bottom and
two years for his license to be surrendered.

Where were the state Medical Board and legal authorities? Gleason's
history (25 years) and behavior were clearly known to his colleagues,
pharmacists, peers -- even the governor's office.

The medical profession is a very tight "union" that believes it
should police itself. We (the public) don't know if a patient has
been maltreated or misdiagnosed. Because these situations are usually
handled by insurance companies, internal investigations and
out-of-court settlements, they are rarely publicized.

If there is a lesson to be learned, it's that professionals -- be
they doctors, lawyers and other people we hold in very high regard --
need to be highly scrutinized, thoroughly investigated by impartial
experts and, if guilty, severely punished.

- -- John Chambers

Des Moines