Declarations

Spitzer Sorry

“I can’t allow my private failings to disrupt the work. … The remorse I feel will always be with me.”

—Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, apologizing as he announced his resignation amid reports linking him to a prostitution ring as a client. Spitzer, who appeared with his wife at his side, apologized to the people of New York and his family, but never specified for what he was apologizing. He took no questions at his resignation, yet said he looks at his year in office with a “sense of what might have been.”

Spitzer’s political career was built largely on investigations involving some powerful Wall Street and insurance executives while he was state attorney general. His targets included Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, the former American International Group chairman; Jeffrey Greenberg, who resigned as CEO of Marsh & McLennan Companies; and Richard Grasso, CEO of the New York Stock Exchange.

Seatbelt Safety

“Airbags should be used in conjunction with seatbelts to minimize the risk of cervical spine fractures and spinal cord injuries associated with motor vehicle crashes.”

—Dr. William F. Donaldson III of University of Pittsburgh and colleagues, stating in a report that in motor vehicle crashes resulting in airbag deployment, drivers and passengers who are not wearing seatbelts are at higher risk of cervical spine (neck) fractures and other spinal cord injuries. Using a Pennsylvania trauma database, the researchers identified crashes resulting in injuries to drivers and front-seat passengers from 1990 to 2002. The study included approximately 12,700 patients with spinal injuries — 8,500 drivers and 4,200 passengers. Of those, 5,500 patients had fractures of the cervical spine. The report appeared in the March 15 issue of the publication Spine.