The promise — and hope — of Medicare has always been that older Americans and the disabled would have high-quality, affordable health-care coverage. But, that promise is quickly eroding for Medicare patients.

To the Editor:

Ethical standards are a very important aspect of the medical profession: They help to ensure the trust and safety of our patients and society at large. The American Medical Association's Code of Medical Ethics has, for a long time, prohibited the participation of physicians in capital punishment.

Physicians struggle daily with the shortcomings of our health care system, and we agree that much more can be done to build a better, stronger health care system ("World's Best Medical Care?," editorial, Aug. 12). To accomplish this, all Americans will need to work together.