|
|
|
| ||
 |
|
|
|
Reader reactions to this series
Originally published Sunday, March 8, 1998 Biased report contains little examination of the key issues
There are two statements attributed to me in a Feb. 24 article. One of them is inaccurate. I was never contacted for verification. The public deserves better. You accuse CPS of exploiting and failing to protect children. According to your story, Earl Marcellus took in a young child he knew to be a runaway, kept her overnight without notifying her guardians and allowed her to be questioned and interviewed for television by people involved in ongoing litigation. He is presented as a persecuted hero. Is this a double standard? You have devoted tremendous space to the stories. Certainly there could have been room for some basic theoretical information from both sides. What about an interview with Lucy Berliner and Elizabeth Loftus regarding memory and child interviewing techniques or with Rebecca Roe or Paul Sterns, nationally recognized prosecutors of child abuse cases? What about some remarks from Harborview physicians on obtaining and interpreting medical evidence? What about a story on proper police procedure from King County's Sexual Assault Unit? Many professionals would love to join the public discussion of those matters. We often have information that would clarify the situation and our actions. We are prevented from doing so not only by the laws governing confidentiality and our ethics but because information, even theoretical, provided to reporters is frequently distorted, taken out of context or simply gotten wrong.
Lynn A. Madsen
If you have comments or feedback concerning this series, please send them to editpage@seattle-pi.com. INSIDE SEATTLEPI.COM
 · P-I publisher suggests more information on sale rumor coming
· The Independent: What creationists really hate is that we emerged by accident · Hundreds march in Seattle to protest Israeli attacks on Gaza · Nickels aside, Seattle's mayoral race is wide open · Mayor Nickels, thanks for the reality check  moreOUR AFFILIATES
Home Delivery: (206) 464-2121 or (800) 542-0820 Send comments to newmedia@seattlepi.com
| ||||||||||||
The events surrounding the investigation of the sexual abuse allegations in Wenatchee are certainly in need of a thorough, objective, factual examination. Sad to say, the P-I squandered a tremendous amount of work and a great opportunity to serve the public by presenting a very biased report containing many factual errors and damn little objective examination of the issues.
