Most of the jury award came in the form of punitive damages, designed not just to punish the defendant but to deter others from similar behavior. Congratulations to Alioto and attorneys Paul Justi and Waukeen McCoy, who held a big corporation accountable. But Department of Public Heath director Mitchell Katz has insisted that no service reductions are in the offing. Now even Katz's own senior staff are contradicting that position. As Bruce Mirken reports on page 12, two top doctors at S.F. General testified last week that the proposed budget will cripple health care at the city's main public hospital.
Preventive care costs far, far less than emergency treatment.
S.F. General is suffering from cuts in federal spending. But this is a rich city, awash in surplus cash. The supervisors should reject Mayor Brown's proposed cuts and make adequate funding for S.F. General a top priority.