It’s hard to deny the obvious

Published 8:15 pm Monday, July 13, 2009

Sometimes, things are exactly as they seem:

— The private suburban swim club in Philadelphia that turned away 65 black and Hispanic day-camp children, and broke its contract by returning the camp’s $1,950 check, suddenly saw the light over the weekend and invited the campers back. The decision had nothing to do with the discrimination lawsuit filed on behalf of the children on Friday.

Valley Club president John Duesler told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday that club members had voted to re-invite the day camp students.

“We realized it was the right thing to do,” Duesler said. No apologies for the belated insight. Duesler told the Inquirer that the worldwide publicity had compelled the reconsideration, but repeatedly said the club’s intentions were misunderstood. Of course.

Originally, the club’s Web site said the children were turned away because they overwhelmed the 110,000-gallon pool (which later changed to “safety concerns”), and not because of racism. Duesler feels misunderstood because he told a TV reporter: “There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club.” Sometimes a Freudian slip is just a Freudian slip.

We trust the Valley Club re-invitation came without a renewed $1,950 bill.

— Government researchers recently reported that more than 47,000 elderly Americans end up in emergency rooms each year from falls involving walkers and canes. That’s 3 percent of all falls among people 65 and older, the Associated Press reported. Researchers came up with the estimate by looking at six years of emergency room medical records. Nearly 9 out of 10 of the injuries involved walkers, rather than canes.

It’s all so dizzying. If 3 percent of falls involve canes and walkers, 97 percent don’t involve them. Isn’t that a good indication about canes and walkers, rather than an indictment? Are they saying walkers cause injuries? Aren’t people using walkers probably less stable to begin with than someone using a cane? Elderly (and disabled) people fall down. Apparently less so if they use canes or walkers. If they get hurt, they go the ER.

But CDC officials concluded the study shows: “Doctors should take more time to better fit patients with walking aids and to teach how to use them safely.” That’s darn wobbly. Doctors don’t “fit patients with walking aids.” They can recommend them, but other resources exist for fitting, and teaching the correct use of walkers.

Next CDC study: Bandying about the phrase “Doctors should take more time…” around busy doctors could be harmful to your health.