I want to tell you there are two paths that we can take, and the first is the path of confrontation. I'm a classic scholar. Some of you who may know me well enough know this. Because of the matricide, Electra had to die and Orestes went mad, and so it goes on. In a less classical tone, we could talk about the Hatfields and the McCoys.
Nobody remembers where it started.
It's all lost in the mists of history, but it determines where we are today. This path leads from whatever ancient mythic distrust started between UNOS and HHS, to regulations announced largely unilaterally, to outraged response, to counter response and wound up at a congressional hearing. A wiser head than mine observed those hearings, spoke with praise of Secretary Shalala's dignity in handling her side, and had nice things to say about the way UNOS handled its side. He concluded who won, no one won, neither side won, transplantation lost. That road is still open before us.