I was in to see a friend at the local hospital in Federal Way. She was very ill and unable to feed and drink on her own.

On her tray was a large bottle of orange drink unopened, and also an opened bottle of Ensure. Also on the tray were two bottles of Ensure that also were unopened. Ensure is not cheap.

While visiting with my friend, a person brought in another unopened bottle of Ensure, making four bottles. I questioned why they brought some more of the drink and was told it was hospital policy. I asked what kind of policy was that, which she couldn’t answer. So I said, “can you take these back?” And I was told no.

Next question was, “what are you going to do with them?” And I was told, “we just throw them away.”

At this point, my blood went to boil. Here is an ill person with all the costly drinks going in the trash, but being put on her bill. What a sin. No wonder our hospital and insurance bills are so high. I should have checked to see how many toothbrushes and toothpaste she was having to pay for.

JoAnn Bernovich, Federal Way