Dr. Charles Ray Jones, the 80-year old Connecticut pediatrician featured in UNDER OUR SKIN, has treated more than 10,000 children with Lyme disease over the course of his career.
In addition to seeing patients six days a week, Dr. Jones has spent the last four years and hundreds of thousands of dollars defending himself against state medical board charges of ``inappropriate'' treatment of children with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
This is despite the fact that the Connecticut House of Representatives just unanimously passed a bill that reassures doctors that they will not face retaliation if they choose to diagnose chronic Lyme disease and treat it with long-term antibiotics.
[To read details of this legal battle, click here.]
Is this justice, or politics-as-usual in Hartford, CT, the ``Insurance Capital of the World``?
With Connecticut Lyme cases skyrocketing up 118% from 2006 to 2008 and the state desperately needing every Lyme specialist it can get, why is Dr. Charles Ray Jones still being dragged through the courts? Today his defense fund is depleted, and he needs $8,000 immediately, or his attorney will be forced to resign. This will deal a devastating blow to Dr. Jones and all the children he treats, and it will set a dangerous precedent for other Lyme physicians.
You can watch an interview of Dr. Jones here.
To help, please donate whatever you can by clicking below.
Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
Tincup I'm glad you didn't get admonished for bring this to medical. Very important.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
up for sunday members info ....
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
i thought this case was getting thrown out of court due to a technicality? I recall Tracy updated us all on it a few weeks back.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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sizzled
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1357
posted
Sent what I can to Dr. Jones Defense Fund.
Help him help our kids.
Ct. Med. Board should be ....#$$$$**)&*&&^&^$#%@@@!!
Posts: 4258 | From over there | Registered: Jul 2001
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Shosty
Unregistered
posted
I don't think that Dr. Jones' legal troubles stem merely from treating patients with long-term antibiotics. As I remember, this case was originally about him treating patients over the phone, without first seeing them in person.
There were other irregularities in Dr. Jones' practice, which I have detailed in the past.
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posted
In this case I believe, it was a woman's crazy ex-husband who didn't and doesn't want to pay for 1/2 his children's health care --
despite the great & obvious improvement in his kids' health-- he was the one who created the situation. What a gem.
Lyme isn't the only thing that is epidemic in this country--mental disorders of that caliber are also.
Posts: 571 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2008
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Shosty
Unregistered
posted
The husband, I believe, complained that his kids has been treated without being seen. This is reasonable, not pathological. It is against medical ethics to treat by phone.
That is entirely separate from whether or not the kids benefited from the antibiotics, or even whether they should have been treated.
Divorces are causing a lot of these problems, but the divorces themselves were often a result of disagreement over the children's health issues, so it is predictable that post-marital discord might take this form.
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
S said... "As I remember, this case was originally about him treating patients over the phone, without first seeing them in person."
Actually, Dr. Jones didn't treat a child over the phone for Lyme disease.
He refilled a prescription for a child because the duck seeing him wouldn't help the child because of pressure and threats from the father....
And the school wouldn't let the child back in until the child was treated.
It wasn't for Lyme disease.
Also note- the child had an appointment to see Dr. Jones... and was to be evaluated for tick borne diseases. Dr. J has a long waiting list and this family, like many others, was coming from a LONG way away.
To note-
The father didn't want to pay 1/2 the medical expenses so he went after all of the kids doctors who were treating them for anything.
The mother is a nurse, by the way.
AND.. this case isn't about that specific incident.
Dr. J keeps getting charges against him... one after the other. It is pure insanity this is happening.
The CT DOH will continue to fuel the fire and be behind this nightmare they are causing him till they run Dr. J in the ground.
Dr. J is fighting this battle so ALL kids and all of us will have a chance to be treated.
And because all of our LLMD's need to be able to treat.
Please share this information and do all you can to help him.
And a BIG hug to Siz for once again going the extra mile!
posted
Is there any interest in a fundraiser again for this? I can start up the Lyme awareness bracelets with all the proceeds going to Dr. Jones legal fund like we did last time with Lyme Aid4Kids. Let me know!
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sizzled
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1357
posted
Yes, Wild Condor!!! Yes! Yes! Yes!
Posts: 4258 | From over there | Registered: Jul 2001
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canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
How does / will the CT Lyme bill effect Dr. J.?
Are these ongoing investigations all pre-bill and have to run their course?
If so, after they do, will Dr. J. be protected to practice? Is he currently?
Best wishes,
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Can...
Good to see you asking lots of questions!
Thanks for that.
Unfortunately, I do not have all the answers... but I do know those questions are being asked and addressed as we speak.
I expect to hear more news in a couple of weeks as things progress... and will share as soon as I know more.
canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
Thanks, T.C.!
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
We just saw Dr J. end of Sept. I asked him if the new Lyme bill for Conn. protecting him now? He reported that the bill's wording can still be twisted in a way that can harm LLMD's still. He did not go into great detail but said that his ongoing case is a bit different then what the new bill protects.
The new bill in his words just gives Dr's. the option to inform patients based on either ILADS or IDSA guidelines.
Posts: 476 | From Columbus, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2007
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thx for your support and prayers for dr. jones ....
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