Received: from osf1.gmu.edu (osf1.gmu.edu [129.174.1.13]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.7.6/8.7.3/CNS-4.0p) with SMTP id MAA05465 for ; Tue, 11 Feb 1997 12:51:20 -0700 (MST) Received: from localhost by osf1.gmu.edu; (5.65v3.2/1.1.8.2/07Sep94-1001AM/GMUv3) id AA30966; Tue, 11 Feb 1997 14:51:19 -0500 Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 14:51:19 -0500 (EST) From: "Jeanne A.B. Calabro" To: MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY Subject: Re: help a child with cancer In-Reply-To: <677D261AC4@durkheim.uncg.edu> Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Hi! I had deleted this message as soon as I read it. I couldn't conceive of a 7-year-old knowing about chain letters, never mind requesting one as her dying wish. And if one of her desires was to let people know about her condition, this was a pretty lame attempt, as the stated diagnosis did not even name a specific condition, nor was anyone informed of any medical condition by this letter. However, I did call the American Cancer Society (whose e-mail address is NOT acs@aol.com) at their national headquarters (800/227-2345). I was told that this was one of two scams circulating on the internet, that this was not the way the American Cancer Society works (they would never be involved with chain letters, nor would other legitimate causes, in their opinion). They asked in the future that if there is any question that they should call to verify before participating in such a thing. This causes a nuisance for the organization rather than assisting it, tying up resources that could be spent serving those with cancer, disseminating information and services, responding to patients' needs and research proposals and results. As medical sociologists, we should ask ourselves whether it is necessary to close down our minds whenever we open up our hearts. It is imperative that we think and care at the same time. Jeanne A.B. Calabro 104 Norwood Place Sterling, Virginia 20164-8503 Home Phone: 703/450-5460 E-mail: jcalabro@osf1.gmu.edu "Sociology changes the world." Personal opinion