I have appreciated the many expressions of support being conveyed to me by so many of you, and want to keep you apprised of the latest developments regarding the charges brought against me by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Almost as soon as I had issued my previous update to you, the hearing panel assigned to my case released its "Proposed Memorandum of Decision.'' This decision, which is preliminary, recommends that many of the charges against me be upheld and outlines the following sanctions: a reprimand from the Connecticut Medical Examining Board, a total civil penalty in the amount of $10,000, and a two-year supervised probationary period, to be conducted by a physician who will review my patient records at my expense. My license, however, was neither suspended nor revoked, nor was it recommended that it should be.
I want you to understand the potential impact of these recommendations, if they are allowed to stand. For example, the proposed decision states that I have been charged with failing to reconsider my diagnosis of Lyme disease in light of the negative Western Blot tests in April, 2005. It also states that I have been charged with diagnosing a disease in very low risk patients, with non-specific medical histories, non-specific signs and symptoms, and negative laboratory tests. Bear in mind that the record indicates that these patients had traveled to other states, had camped in Oklahoma, and had a history of tick attachments. A panel of the Connecticut Medical Examining Board has determined that the Connecticut Department of Public Health has sustained its burden of proof with regard to these charges, meaning that I am guilty as charged.
As you can see, these recommendations fail to take into account the unreliability of laboratory testing for Lyme disease. If they are not overturned, they will seriously impede my freedom to diagnose and treat Lyme and other tick-borne diseases based on my clinical judgment and expertise, despite the fact that I will be allowed to retain my medical license. Furthermore, these findings will set a dangerous precedent for other physicians treating Lyme disease. That is why we must prevail and, if we are unable to reverse these recommended findings, continue to oppose them in court.
The full board will consider the hearing panel's recommendations and proposed penalties at a formal hearing scheduled for December 18, 2007 at 1:30 p.m., at the Legislative Office Building, Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT, in Conference Room 2C. Written responses, or legal briefs, must be submitted before December 13. At the hearing, both sides will present oral arguments. My legal team will challenge the preliminary findings and the proposed sanctions. It is possible to see movement from a panel's ``Proposed Memorandum of Decision'' to an approved final decision, after the full board hears the oral arguments and reads the briefs.
I extend a warm and hearty welcome and encourage your attendance at this hearing. It is important to convey to the full board that this is a matter of considerable importance to the surrounding community. They have reserved a big conference room for this purpose, indicating that they are anticipating a very large turnout. We wouldn't want to disappoint them! Please bear in mind, however, that this will be our first public encounter with the full medical board. It is critical that we do not distract them, or disrupt the proceedings in any way. The press also is likely to show strong interest in these proceedings, and it will be important for them, as well as the members of the board, to see the Lyme community for what it is: responsible, dignified and appropriately involved.
Once again, I want to emphasize that your caring and concern during this process has been invaluable to me. As you know, your financial support has been essential as well, and your generosity has touched me deeply. I hope that you will continue to make donations, to the extent that you are able, to the Charles Ray Jones, M.D. Legal Defense Fund (http://www.lymesite.com/drjones.htm).
I send very best wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jones
Posts: 488 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2004
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
fatigued, would you edit and just put a note at the top that i have broken up his letter for us neuro lymies to be able to read/comprehend, thanks!
breaking up for me/others w/neuro problems reading!
quote:Originally posted by fatigued15: CHARLES RAY JONES, M.D. Madison Towers 111 Park Street, 1st Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06511 Tel (203) 772-1123 Fax (203) 772-0682
December 5, 2007
Dear Friends,
I have appreciated the many expressions of support being conveyed to me by so many of you, and want to keep you apprised of the latest developments regarding the charges brought against me by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Almost as soon as I had issued my previous update to you, the hearing panel assigned to my case released its "Proposed Memorandum of Decision.''
This decision, which is preliminary, recommends that many of the charges against me be upheld and outlines the following sanctions: a reprimand from the Connecticut Medical Examining Board, a total civil penalty in the amount of $10,000, and a two-year supervised probationary period, to be conducted by a physician who will review my patient records at my expense.
My license, however, was neither suspended nor revoked, nor was it recommended that it should be. **********************************************
I want you to understand the potential impact of these recommendations, if they are allowed to stand.
For example, the proposed decision states that I have been charged with failing to reconsider my diagnosis of Lyme disease in light of the negative Western Blot tests in April, 2005.
It also states that I have been charged with diagnosing a disease in very low risk patients, with non-specific medical histories, non-specific signs and symptoms, and negative laboratory tests.
Bear in mind that the record indicates that these patients had traveled to other states, had camped in Oklahoma, and had a history of tick attachments.
A panel of the Connecticut Medical Examining Board has determined that the Connecticut Department of Public Health has sustained its burden of proof with regard to these charges, meaning that I am guilty as charged .
As you can see, these recommendations fail to take into account the unreliability of laboratory testing for Lyme disease.
If they are not overturned, they will seriously impede my freedom to diagnose and treat Lyme and other tick-borne diseases based on my clinical judgment and expertise, despite the fact that I will be allowed to retain my medical license.
Furthermore, these findings will set a dangerous precedent for other physicians treating Lyme disease .
That is why we must prevail and, if we are unable to reverse these recommended findings, continue to oppose them in court. ****************************
The full board will consider the hearing panel's recommendations and proposed penalties at a formal hearing scheduled for December 18, 2007 at 1:30 p.m., at the Legislative Office Building, Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT, in Conference Room 2C.
Written responses, or legal briefs, must be submitted before December 13. At the hearing, both sides will present oral arguments. My legal team will challenge the preliminary findings and the proposed sanctions.
It is possible to see movement from a panel's ``Proposed Memorandum of Decision'' to an approved final decision, after the full board hears the oral arguments and reads the briefs.
I extend a warm and hearty welcome and encourage your attendance at this hearing . It is important to convey to the full board that this is a matter of considerable importance to the surrounding community.
They have reserved a big conference room for this purpose, indicating that they are anticipating a very large turnout. We wouldn't want to disappoint them !
Please bear in mind, however, that this will be our first public encounter with the full medical board. It is critical that we do not distract them, or disrupt the proceedings in any way.
The press also is likely to show strong interest in these proceedings, and it will be important for them, as well as the members of the board, to see the Lyme community for what it is: responsible, dignified and appropriately involved .
Once again, I want to emphasize that your caring and concern during this process has been invaluable to me.
As you know, your financial support has been essential as well, and your generosity has touched me deeply. I hope that you will continue to make donations, to the extent that you are able, to the Charles Ray Jones, M.D. Legal Defense Fund
(http://www.lymesite.com/drjones.htm).
I send very best wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jones
Charles, great letter, and thanks for informing us of everything you know at this time!
can anyone give us the names of the FULL BOARD MEMBERS? THANKS!
I'm NOT able to attend from Iowa, but you/counsel/other lymies attending will be in my thoughts and prayers that day and before then.
Wishing you as a good of a Christmas as you can get until after the 12-18 decision!
bettyg, iowa lyme activist! contributor
TO ALL NEWBIES! Please help Dr. Jones; he's our no. 1 KIDS LYME DR. NATIONWIDE; 1 of 12 or so treating KIDS !
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pmerv
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1504
posted
Your attendance is needed in Connecticut on December 18
for both Dr. Jones' hearing and the Lyme Disease Prevention Forum
For distribution:
Dear All,
New instructions for letters of support to the CT Board:
1. Send letters to the full board (Connecticut Medical Examining Board), c/o Dennis O'Neill;
2. Please send your letters via snail mail, however these letters may get held up in security (in Sacramento they irradiate all incoming mail) so it is important also to send an email copy to [email protected] so your letter is in their hands before the hearing.
3. Address the letter to Dr. O'Neill and Board members so the person who gets the webmaster emails knows where to forward it.
4. Please remember to be respectful - we need the medical examining board's help!
5. Address:
Connecticut Medical Examining Board
c/o Dr. Dennis G. O'Neill, Chairman 410 Capitol Avenue, MS #13 PHO P. O. Box 340308 Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Please do this asap - due to security clearance issues, letters may be delayed. Send them, even if you are concerned that they may arrive late.
5. Send copies to CT Gov Jodie Rell and to the Hartford Courant, as well as to Dr. Jones' attorneys:
To send copies to Gov. Rell:
Governor Jodi Rell E-mail: [email protected] Office of the Governor State Capitol 210 Capitol Avenue Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Elliott Pollack, Esquire Christine Collyer, Esquire PULLMAN & COMLEY, LLC ATTORNEYS AT LAW 90 State House Square Hartford, CT 06103-3702 [email protected]
SAMPLE LETTERS:
1. LETTER to SUPPORT DR. JONES
by Judy Merritt:
Charles Ray Jones is a very compassionate man and Doctor who has chosen to devote all of his time, energy and expertise to helping very sick children regain their lives. These are children who can't get help anywhere else, who have been affected by the plague of Lyme Disease, and whose lives, health, happiness and future have been restored to them by Dr. Jones. He is a man who understands that it is a life's work to give what one is able for the betterment of others. He is a selfless individual - a person whose values and caring set a shining example for us all. He is a person to be commended, not chastised, for his good deeds.
I have great hope that the medical board will understand what is really going on here. It is vitally important for us all.
Judy Merritt Lyme patient
2. Letter from the Lyme Disease Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc.
Dr. Dennis G. O'Neill, Chairman, CT Medical Examining Board 410 Capitol Avenue, MS #13 PHO P. O. Box 340308 Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Dear Dr. O'Neill and Board members:
We are an organization of Lyme disease patients and caregivers located in Southeastern Pennsylvania. We are writing in support of Dr Charles Ray Jones and his enlightened and compassionate treatment of children with persistent Lyme and other tick borne diseases. His license to practice should not be compromised by this egregious involvement in a bitter child custody case, which, at its root, has nothing to do with the child's illness.
Lyme disease is very prevalent in children in many parts of the country, and these kids suffer terribly with a wide variety of symptoms. Often, they are abandoned by the medical establishment after the cookbook approach fails to identify their disease.
Pioneers like Dr Charles Ray Jones have made a huge difference in the lives of many children, including a significant number of them from our area who make the long journey to Connecticut for treatment. Under his care, they get their lives back. One or two successful outcomes would be anecdotal; dozens from our area attest to the value of Dr Jones' skills.
We urge the Board to recognize the cutting-edge nature of Dr Jones' approach to Lyme disease and exonerate him from any wrongdoing. His compassion for the patient is what medicine should be about. Becoming a pawn in a custody battle is a terrible insult to this man, and the Board should see through that and do the right thing.
Douglas W. Fearn President Lyme Disease Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc. www.lymepa.org P.O. Box 181 Pocopson, PA 19366 610-388-7333 [email protected]
3. Sample letter from parent of child who is a Dr. Jones patient
Dr. Dennis G. O'Neill, Chairman, CT Medical Examining Board 410 Capitol Avenue, MS #13 PHO P. O. Box 340308 Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Dear Dr. O'Neill and Board members:
My child, Danny, was chronically ill for many years with unexplained rashes, fevers, aches and pains. He missed many, many days of school. No doctor offered any effective solution until we found Dr. Jones. Under Dr. Jones' expert care, Danny has become healthy, exuberant, happy, and thriving - everything a parent would want for her child.
Dr. Jones spent hours with Danny examining him and doing all sorts of tests. Finally he diagnosed him with several tick-borne diseases. Treatment has been ongoing for many months and improvement was gradual at first, but Danny got a new lease on life thanks to Dr. Jones. I can't say enough in appreciation for all he has done for our family.
In Dr. Jones' tiny waiting room we met terribly ill children from all over the U.S. who had been from doctor to doctor until they found Dr. Jones, and now were on the road to recovery. Sometimes Dr. Jones sees children on Sundays, to make it easier for them to come such long distances.
Please recognize the good work of this extraordinary doctor at your hearing on Dec. 18 and do not punish him for being a modern-day saint.
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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