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NO '60 MINUTES'

Cyril Tuohy and Matthew Brodsky's "point-counterpoint" debate over the relative merits of brokers over or under 40 years of age provided two well-thought and stylishly presented arguments. Although, I have to admit I was hoping for a higher epithetic level akin to James J. Kilpatrick and Shana Alexander on old "60 Minutes" shows. I clearly line up with the ancients with my 40+ years in journalism and public relations. But I also admit that the boldest breakthroughs of my career occurred on the underside of 40, when I didn't understand why something couldn't be done. Thanks for the stimulation.

DAVE KIRBY

Baltimore

TRUE FACE MISSING

Dear Editor,

The best answer is to stop illegal employment and shut down businesses who obviously hire illegals. Deport illegals and make them come in legally if they want to work here. They are like drugs. You have to stop both supply and demand to stop the problem. Your article (Peter Rousmaniere's article in Risk & InsuranceŽ, June 2006, p. 24) appears to stay politically neutral but does not succeed in showing the true face of the problem we see in the Southwest. Sorry, try again.

SCOTT J. RISSER, PE

CHEMICAL ENGINEER

NEEDS ANSWERS

Dear Editor,

Interesting article in the April 15, 2006, issue of Risk & InsuranceŽon killer flu and its impact on the life insurance industry. My questions: Would policies be rewritten to exclude deaths caused by pandemic flu? Would this exclusion apply to both direct and reinsurance policies? I'm thinking this would be similar to excluding life coverage for acts of war or terror.

MARJORIE SEIFERHELD

BT/PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

PREPAREDNESS PLANNER

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

Town of East Hartford, Conn.

STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION

Dear Editor,

Mr. Rousmaniere's article on carpal tunnel ("Mary's Mystery," Risk & InsuranceŽ, July 2006, p. 18) was a good start into a problem that employers have probably been unfairly paying for many years. Typing has consistently not been shown to be a significant risk factor that causes carpal tunnel. You hit on one of the most significant risk factors, and that is being overweight. The higher the (body mass index), the greater the risk of carpal tunnel. This has been confirmed by a number of studies.

Mr. Rousmaniere's article also left off one of the other significant risk factors. Why is it that pregnant woman develop carpal tunnel? It is thought to be related to increased fluid retention, but also may be related to hormonal changes.

There is no question that some work-related wrist activities can, let's say, aggravate a carpal tunnel condition. The issue is what is causing the underlying condition?

More studies are needed, but it is good to see that insurance adjusters are now questioning the providers who automatically equate carpal tunnel and keyboarding as the smoking gun.

BRUCE E. CUNHA, RN, MS, COHN-S

MANAGER, EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND SAFETY

MARSHFIELD CLINIC

Marshfield, Wis.

September 1, 2006

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