Editor,

Having moved to a practice where a large portion of our volume is composed of vacationers, I recognize how important updated high-quality medical facilities can be to the local residents as well.

This is especially true on Whidbey Island where the majority of Whidbey General Hospital’s utilization is, in fact, by locals.

Insurance companies and our government can, and do, increase our rates without a vote.

Gas prices will go up 32.2 cents per gallon in a week, and we will pump away. When life-threatening minutes count, 32.2 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value is cheap insurance comparatively as is having an up-to-date life-saving facility close to home. Having basic services for convenience is also valuable.

I recall operating on a patient at Whidbey General who originally voted against the bond.

After surgery his wife stated that they now realize supporting new and improved facilities was not worth cents on the dollar in taxes, “It’s worth a million bucks when you need it.”

An astute majority of Whidbey Island residents recognized this on the last vote — I do hope it’s a supermajority this time around.

DR. FRU BAHIRAEI

Mammoth Lakes, Calif.