Since the Hi-Line Sletten Cancer Center opened in Havre, the quality of care to Hi-Line residents has increased substantially.

A proposed federal regulation endangers at least some of that care, and the proposal should be rejected out of hand.

Under the proposal being studied by a Department of Health and Human Services panel, a radiation oncologist will have to be present every time radiation treatment is administered.

At Sletten's Havre clinic, an oncologist sets up the radiation program and administers the first round. After that, the staff at Sletten in Havre administers the treatmen...