Your letters: Please use paracetamol sparingly

Child health Specialist/Paediatrician

It was tragic to read of the death of a small child from paracetamol poisoning and liver failure. I was grateful to a young mother for highlighting her tragedy as a message to all families to ensure that we all use paracetamol sparingly.

As a child specialist I worry a lot about children receiving too much paracetamol and spend more time stopping its use than starting it. It's critical that it's given at a correct dose and frequency as is written on the bottle or prescribing information. It is used to control mild to moderate pain and only very occasionally to manage fever.

If it is needed for more than 48 hours parents should discuss the dosage and whether they continue using it with their doctor. Children under 3-6 months are best given no medication unless recommended by a doctor. If a parent is concerned about their child, they should see a doctor.

Thanks all for reading this. It would be best if we could avoid such tragedies.

- Dr Johan Morreau, Child health Specialist/Paediatrician

Doing best for kids

As Minister of Social Development I want to see all children thrive and prosper and I'm concerned that children of teen parents are often particularly vulnerable.

The best way I can support these children is by caring for their mums and because they're teenage mums, they deserve more than a welfare system that simply hands them hundreds of dollars a week without any support or expectations. The Government will pay their rent/board and power directly and the rest will go on a card with a small amount of pocket money. Young people can use the card at 17 places in Rotorua including supermarkets and the Mad Butcher.

Teenagers don't always like adults' rules. But I'm not here to be liked, I'm in this job to do what I think is best for them and their children. That means ensuring they get budgeting assistance, parenting advice and an education.

- Paula Bennett, Minister of Social Development

Wonderful hospital

On two occasions this year I have had to spend time in the Rotorua Public Hospital.

I would like to place on the record that the staff and doctors in my opinion are second to none. What amazed me the most that the staff were made up of all sorts of nationalities and it didn't matter.

If only the rest of society could follow the examples of cooperation and understanding that these folk demonstrated what a wonderful place New Zealand would be.

- Derek Packham, Lake Tarawera

Appalling opinion

I wish to convey my absolute disgust that Garth George's Opinion piece "Same sex question remains: Why?" was published.

I have followed many opinion pieces on this issue and have found most writers to have interesting opinions and justifications for sitting either side of the debate.

How have you possibly allowed a comment like "The original meaning of gay was light-hearted and carefree, yet no homosexual I've ever met could be so described" to be published?

This is simply appalling.

As a secondary teacher of media studies, I understand that there is licence around what can be written under the proviso of opinion.

However, this surely does not extend to publishing bigotry.

- Jerome Cargill, Wellington

Nuclear families

With regard to the issue of homosexual marriage, the New Zealand Conservative Party is totally in tune with the vast majority of citizens who regard a "fully functioning nuclear family with one male and one female parent as the best possible environment in which to raise children".

This premise has been confirmed by various in-depth international studies on many occasions in modern times.

The NZ Conservative Party is definitely not a Christian or church-based organisation.

Rather it is the last /best hope for a chance at real democracy in NZ as it is the ONLY party seeking to have Binding Citizens Initiated Referenda (a la Switzerland) introduced as a matter of priority.

- Lance Donald, Christchurch

Centenary reminder

A reminder that August 31 is the closing date for registrations for St Mary's Kaikorai Dunedin Centenary of Church and School, Labour Weekend, October 19-21, 2012.

Please register at St.MarysKaikorai@xtra.co.nz, ph 03 4877853, or write to 36 Middleton Rd, Dunedin, 9012.

- Colleen Linnell, Secretary, St Mary's Centennial Organising Committee