Hospital reconsiders 'Cheat Death' slogan

GASTONIA, N.C., April 8 (UPI) -- The non-profit behind a North Carolina hospital and some medical offices is reconsidering its "Cheat Death" slogan.

Randall Kelley, the chief executive officer and president of CaroMont Health in Gastonia, which operates the city's hospital and medical offices in Gaston and Mecklenburg, sent an email to trustees Saturday night saying the company would re-evaluate the slogan, which was announced last week, The Charlotte Observer reported Monday.

"We will pause on the initiative long enough to consider a rallying cry that will unite us and put the attention where it needs to be -- providing every man, woman and child in Gaston County the opportunity to live longer and healthier lives," Kelley wrote.

Gaston County commissioner Jason Williams, a member of the board of trustees, said he was not surprised by the negative reaction to the slogan.

"Gaston County's a very conservative county. It didn't surprise me at all that it didn't go over well," he said. "I think CaroMont thought they could frame it in a way that it would be accepted. I think it was well intentioned."

"People in the community and people that worked at CaroMont were embarrassed by it," Williams said of the slogan. "It cheapened the mission."