ALSO- Due to the possibility of inclement weather ... please be sure to check www.LymeRights.org for updates. The details about parking, directions, food, etc were put on the site yesterday.
Don't head to the rally until you check the site please!
CONTACT: Rally/State: Maggie Shaw, Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force 203-470-5406 National: Pat Smith, Lyme Disease Association, Inc. 888-366-6611 [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE- For Immediate Release
Is the Connecticut DPH Helping Patients?
Hartford, CT February 12, 2010 −At a time when all eyes are focused on the economy, no one seems to be watching as the Department of Public Health (DPH) dwindles away tax payer's dollars attempting to persecute a pediatrician for making children better.
DPH investigations and legal actions, prompted by supporters of the guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), have forced Dr. Charles R. Jones of New Haven to defend himself against charges that have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition, there is a significant outstanding balance in his legal defense fund.
The complaints filed against Dr. Jones were not due to children being harmed, in fact, they all have improved significantly as a result of his treatment. Yet, the DPH continues to monitor Jones and gathers children's medical files from his office shelves to try to find evidence that will justify any charges that many say are designed to bankrupt him and force him into surrendering his medical license.
After almost 6 years as a target of the DPH, Jones is still licensed to treat, has a full patient load with a long waiting list, and works six days a week to help as many sick and disabled children as possible.
Dr. Jones, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport with over one hundred of his ``children'' in attendance, took an unprecedented stand against the flawed Infectious Diseases Society of America's (IDSA) Lyme disease treatment guidelines long before Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal launched an investigation which uncovered multiple undisclosed conflicts of interest by IDSA panelists who developed the guidelines.
For years, Jones has refused to allow the thousands of children with Lyme and tick-borne diseases, who have been coming to him from around the world for help, to suffer from lack of adequate treatment.
``We must send a clear message to health departments across the country that we will not be bullied, or allow our right to medical treatment to be trampled,'' stated Jones in a recent letter to patients and health care providers. His ``children'' and their parents are grateful that he helped so many of them return to a normal life after years of suffering.
Although the State has indicated the most recent charges are not about Lyme, it hired two Connecticut-based ``Lyme specialists'' to testify against him. Dr. L. Zemel, one of the ``experts,'' testimony was thrown out, with the panel characterizing him as clearly biased against physicians who treat chronic Lyme and against many of the labs that they use.
This characterization comes as no surprise to Lyme patients and their families who have been subject to the same type of bias by many IDSA guidelines' followers, leading to curtailed treatment, disabling disease, tremendous pain, and inability to function in society.
As Dr. Jones' legal fees continue to snowball, someone needs to investigate how much the State is spending to harass a good doctor who is saving lives and what other doctors, who pose real threats to patients, are slipping through the cracks while this spurious investigation is permitted to continue.
CT volunteer Lyme disease support groups are holding a rally for Dr. Jones prior to his next scheduled DPH hearing on February 16, 2010 at 11:00 AM in front of the DPH building on Capitol Avenue.
For more information and inclement weather advisories on the rally please visit www.LymeRights.orgPosts: 127 | From USA | Registered: Oct 2009
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
February 13th, 2010 Vol 3, Issue 1
Action Alert #2 from:
Lyme Disease Association and Connecticut Support Groups on behalf of LymeRights
Lyme Rights Rally Update
The weather forecast indicates we may have inclement weather.
A final determination on whether to hold the rally will be made by Lyme Rights based on the forecast and will be posted on Monday afternoon.
Please check www.LymeRights.org for updates before leaving for the rally and hearing. Your safety is our concern.
CONTACT: Rally/State: Maggie Shaw, Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force 203-470-5406 National: Pat Smith, Lyme Disease Association, Inc. 888-366-6611 [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE- For Immediate Release
Is the Connecticut DPH Helping Patients?
Hartford, CT February 12, 2010 −At a time when all eyes are focused on the economy, no one seems to be watching as the Department of Public Health (DPH) dwindles away tax payers' dollars attempting to persecute a pediatrician for making children better.
DPH investigations and legal actions, prompted by supporters of the guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), have forced Dr. Charles R. Jones of New Haven to defend himself against charges that have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition, there is a significant outstanding balance in his legal defense fund.
The complaints filed against Dr. Jones were not due to children being harmed, in fact, they all have improved significantly as a result of his treatment. Yet, the DPH continues to monitor Jones and gathers children's medical files from his office shelves to try to find evidence that will justify any charges that many say are designed to bankrupt him and force him into surrendering his medical license.
After almost 6 years as a target of the DPH, Jones is still licensed to treat, has a full patient load with a long waiting list, and works six days a week to help as many sick and disabled children as possible.
Dr. Jones, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport with over one hundred of his "children" in attendance, took an unprecedented stand against the flawed Infectious Diseases Society of America's (IDSA) Lyme disease treatment guidelines long before Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal launched an investigation which uncovered multiple undisclosed conflicts of interest by IDSA panelists who developed the guidelines.
For years, Jones has refused to allow the thousands of children with Lyme and tick-borne diseases, who have been coming to him from around the world for help, to suffer from lack of adequate treatment.
"We must send a clear message to health departments across the country that we will not be bullied, or allow our right to medical treatment to be trampled," stated Jones in a recent letter to patients and health care providers.
His "children" and their parents are grateful that he helped so many of them return to a normal life after years of suffering.
Although the State has indicated the most recent charges are not about Lyme, it hired two Connecticut-based "Lyme specialists" to testify against him.
Dr. L. Zemel, one of the "experts," testimony was thrown out, with the panel characterizing him as clearly biased against physicians who treat chronic Lyme and against many of the labs that they use.
This characterization comes as no surprise to Lyme patients and their families who have been subject to the same type of bias by many IDSA guidelines' followers, leading to curtailed treatment, disabling disease, tremendous pain, and inability to function in society.
As Dr. Jones' legal fees continue to snowball, someone needs to investigate how much the State is spending to harass a good doctor who is saving lives and what other doctors, who pose real threats to patients, are slipping through the cracks while this spurious investigation is permitted to continue.
CT volunteer Lyme disease support groups are holding a rally for Dr. Jones prior to his next scheduled DPH hearing on February 16, 2010 at 11:00 AM in front of the DPH building on Capitol Avenue. For more information and inclement weather advisories on the rally please visit www.LymeRights.org
For updates and more information visit Lyme Rights website at www.LymeRights.org
ATTEND THE RALLY IN SUPPORT OF DR. CHARLES R. JONES AND ATTEND THE CONNECTICUT MEDICAL BOARD HEARING
WHEN: RALLY- Tuesday, February 16 at 11:00 AM
HEARING- Following the Rally which is currently scheduled for 1:30 PM the same day*
WHERE: RALLY- Outside the CT Department of Public Health, 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06134
HEARING: Connecticut Department of Public Health, 470 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06134 (Room to be announced)
Note: The outdoor RALLY will be held at 11:00 AM, even if the DPH cancels or reschedules the hearing.
The Connecticut Medical Examining Board hearing is currently scheduled for 1:30 PM on February 16, 2010, the same day as the RALLY.
The DPH might change the hearing date/time BUT THE RALLY WILL STILL BE HELD. We will meet at 11:00 AM at the DPH Building for the rally.
If the hearing goes as scheduled, we will proceed to the hearing after the rally.
SCHEDULE
11:00 AM- RALLY begins at Department of Public Health
11:30 AM- Speaker- Pat Smith
11:45 AM- Speaker- Dr. Joseph Burrascano (barring personal commitments)
12:00 PM- Speaker- Bonnie Friedman, Office Manager for Dr. Charles Ray Jones
12:15 PM- Get warm, lunch break and proceed to hearing on your own
1:30 PM- Hearing scheduled to begin (Room to be determined)
**NOTE- In order to enter the DPH Building you must have a drivers license or suitable identification and you must sign in.
PLEASE PLAN ON PARKING IN PARKING LOT "C" WHICH HAS A FREE SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE.
Detailed directions, maps, suggestions and additional information can be found at www.LymeRights.org
PLEASE CHECK FOR UPDATES BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE RALLY & HEARING DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF INCLEMENT WEATHER AND A POSSIBLE NEED TO RESCHEDULE THE EVENT.
Although LDA supports this rally, it is sponsored, planned and carried out by LymeRights, at www.LymeRights.org . LDA is providing this Alert notice as a courtesy to LymeRights.
posted
Got myself fixed up with super warm ski parka, ski mitts, long underwear.
If you don't have any heavy duty cold/wet weather gear of your own, consider borrowing from friends or asking outdoor equipment store for loaner.
If the rally is to be canceled it would be enormously helpful to know by 6am Mon instead of midday for those traveling long distances.
-------------------- "Help Or Be Helpless" Please visit "Activism" board daily. See the threads regarding the IDSA Guidelines crisis and the threads about Dr. Charles Ray Jones and decide how best to help today! Posts: 1265 | From does not list | Registered: Jun 2004
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