On October 7, 2020, Chester County Hospital CEO, Michael Duncan, held a Town Hall meeting, and most of the content was around the current COVID situation. Dr. Karen Pinsky, Chief Medical Officer, spent 30 minutes reviewing data that showed that COVID is consistent in terms of fatality and infection rates with a bad flu season.
On October 21, 2020, Dr. Pinsky gave expert testimony at the West Chester Borough Council meeting that led to the Council approving an ordinance that fines citizens for not wearing masks and also limits the number of guests that a private citizen may have in their house at any time. Mr. Duncan shared in his presentation that these issues should not be political, however, Dr. Pinsky’s testimony in support of the Mayor’s initial State of Emergency Declaration and the subsequent ordinance seem to suggest otherwise. None of the data that Dr. Pinsky shared on October 7, 2020, warranted a State of Emergency; yet her testimony helped the Mayor to convince Council to approve it narrowly.
Additionally, Dr. Pinsky failed to share other important information regarding mortality rates in our County. For example, in the month of September in Chester County, 11 people died from COVID, 2 people committed suicide, 20 people died of accidents (including overdoses, car accidents, falls, drowning, and choking), and 84 people died of natural causes. Upon review of this data and in my opinion, COVID is not the emergent public health emergency, instead it appears that the mental health and substance abuse crises are a far greater risk to our community. Additionally, domestic violence and child abuse are on the rise.
My reaction to Dr. Pinsky’s testimony at the Borough Council meeting was first, disagreement with her conclusions, and second, a large question as to why she was involving herself in a highly politicized situation. I do not think that the Hospital’s staff should testify on behalf of a political figure, particularly one who is running for a higher office in a highly contentious race. I was concerned that Jeanne Casner from the Chester County Department of Health was going to testify at the meeting and was informed from the County Commissioners that she would not be testifying. I personally think that was a correct decision.
We should be able to trust our doctors with our physical health and well-being, and if we can’t, then we need to find a new doctor. Equally as important, we need to trust our physicians with upholding our constitutional rights as well as our mental health. Dr. Pinsky as the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital has a responsibility to focus on the public health issues faced by all community members, and her testimony should never advocate for a restriction of our individual freedoms.
As the death rate from the virus continues to decline, despite an increase in the number of cases, our doctors and health care administrators have a responsibility to uphold the constitution that governs our behavior. And while they may recommend to their patients a certain course of action that may include quarantine or avoiding crowded places, they have no business testifying at a government meeting with the same advice that subsequently becomes law. I personally will reconsider using Chester County Hospital or other Penn Medicine locations as a result of their irresponsible actions.