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Lou Bank's Letter:

May 02, 1997

Ivy Nelson
OHSU
3181 SW Jackson Park Road, Mail UHS-21
Portland OR 97201-3908

Ms. Nelson:

My letter to Ron Wyden includes specific criticisms of Doernbecher—your reply of April 10, on the other hand, is ambiguous, and skirts the issues presented. I believe that Doernbecher fails to do everything it could to protect its patients, and you believe I'm wrong. Then, please, answer the following questions:

  • What are the "initial criteria" that potential volunteers must meet?

  • As your protocol states, the 30 - 60 minute interview helps to determine a volunteer's skill levels. At what point do you interview potential volunteers with an eye toward eliminating child molesters? Do you have personnel that are skilled in such areas, and can detect potential predators?

  • What type of Criminal Background Check do you conduct? Do you key off of name or Social Security number? If so, how do you confirm that information is correct, that you've not been given false information?

  • You write about "required training and orientation"; what does this consist of, specifically for someone volunteering for the Child Life Program? What form does the training take?

    I was not trained for my position; you have not run a valid criminal background check on me. Your protocol does not adequately protect children. That you and Thonna are "surprised by [my] assertions and critical comments" given that I was "excited about beginning [my] volunteer assignment" strikes me as peculiar. I was, and continue to be, excited by the prospect of helping children. That's why I volunteer, and that's why I wrote my letter—to help children. Nothing surprising about that.

    Thanks for the opportunity to clarify my stance—I look forward to your reply.

    Sincerely,

    Lou Bank

    cc: Ron Wyden
    Peter Kohler
    Ron Vinyard
    Thonna Vela


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