Death and Denial

In publishing Matthew Heller’s excellent article on the tragic death of Herbalife founder Mark Hughes (“Death and Denial at Herbalife,” Feb. 18), the public has received a valuable education about denial and chemical addiction. Yet how astonishing to learn that those around Hughes shared his denial. If his pseudo-clean image had been appropriately confronted by compassionate peers, there might never have been a need for the story. With support he might have reached accurate assessment and treatment for presumptive alcohol/drug abuse or dependency. Instead, the conspiracy of silence by design secured a false edifice of profitability at the ultimate expense of human life.

Marc D. Skelton

Laguna Niguel