FAMILY DOCTOR: Lyme disease a problem in Midwest Friday, April 28, 2006 PETER GOTT
Q: I was informed by the Lyme Association of Greater Kansas City, an organization of which I am a member, that you wrote in one of your columns that Lyme disease is not a problem in the Midwest. I would ask that you please stop spreading this myth.
My father, a Kansas farmer, got Lyme disease over six years ago. He never traveled out of state, so we know he was infected in Kansas.
Unfortunately, he remained undiagnosed for three years because many doctors believe Lyme is not in Kansas. After enduring four years of terrible pain that caused him to stop farming, he committed suicide. Since his death, my mission is to prevent this tragedy from happening to other families.
It is my firm belief that if he had gotten the proper treatment early on, he would still be with us today.
Again, I ask you to please reconsider your statement. Many people in the Midwest are suffering needlessly as a result of improper treatment because of the lie that Lyme is not a significant problem in the Midwest.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Thanks for posting; if this letter doesn't get to you, nothing will.
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Is this a letter being sent to the column, or was it actually printed?
Posted by painted turtle (Member # 7801) on :
I did a google news search on "lyme disease" yesterday and found it:
Thanks, turtle. I found it at your link, and here is Gott's answer:
"A: Thank you for contributing to my ongoing medical education. I was not aware that Lyme disease has become an undiagnosed threat in the Midwest.
This is all the more tragic because most Lyme sufferers can usually be diagnosed easily with a simple blood test. If an infection is present, it almost always can be eradicated with antibiotic therapy, providing treatment is begun early in the course of the disease.
Again, thanks for writing. Perhaps my answer to your father's tragedy will act as a wake-up call to physicians in Kansas and surrounding states. "
(By simple blood test, he probably means an ELISA! And I seem to recall that he was sued by a lyme patient once. Hope I am not confused on this. Anyone know?)
Posted by painted turtle (Member # 7801) on :
Yes, it brings more awareness to the devastation caused in people who have no support or validation for this debilitating condition...but at the same time, the answer is still fraught with ignorance.
Baby steps....the more we speak, it will be known.
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Nope, not wrong on this lawsuit, but I have no idea how it turned out:
From the Waterbury, CT, Republican-American Friday March 5, 1999 By Gale Courey Toensing
SALISBURY- A Salisbury woman has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Dr. Peter Gott, claiming she suffered severe and debilitating injuries because he failed to provide a prompt diagnosis of her Lyme disease.
Jennifer Zwicky, of (address) filed a civil action against Gott in Litchfield Superior Court earlier this week, claiming his failure to diagnose and treat her Lyme disease in a timely manner resulted in the progressive deterioration of her condition and caused her to suffer "great emotional trauma."
Gott declined to comment Thursday. "I'm not commenting until we get into the courtroom," Gott said.
According to the complaint, a tick bit Zwicky on her right hip on June 29, 1997. The tick was removed that same day.
A week or so later, Zwicky consulted Gott about a swollen rash and pain in her hip, where the tick had bitten her.
Zwicky said she returned to Gott on July 11, 1997, and two more times during that month, reporting flu-like symptoms, including joint pain. Gott diagnosed Zwicky as suffering from a condition known as zoster, or shingles, and prescribed pain medication and two doses of a medication called Famvir.
Zwicky's lawsuit said her symptoms worsened and she returned to Gott on Aug. 11, 1997, reporting a swollen jaw and an inability to chew.
Gott did not order a blood test between July and October, nor did her treat Zwicky for Lyme disease during that period, according to the complaint.
A blood test for Lyme disease was performed in November and resulted in a positive reading. At that point, Gott diagnosed Zwicky with Lyme disease and began antibiotic treatment. But Zwicky says the diagnosis came too late.
The delay "constituted a deviation from the applicable standards of care," which resulted in Zwicky suffering severe, painful and debilitating injuries, the complaint said.
Zwicky, who may be unable to pursue her usual activities, including employment, has incurred debts for medical care and treatment, diagnostic studies, home care and medicines, "and will be obligated for further such sums in the future," the complaint said.
Zwicky could not be reached Thursday. She is represented by Kathryn Calihey of Ricassi & Davis in Hartford. A spokesman at the law firm said Thursday Zwicky is claiming damages of more than $15,000. Claims must be more than $15,000 to be filed in Superior Court, the spokesman said.
In Connecticut, plaintiffs do not ask for a specific amount of money in damages, instead, the court decides the amount of damages to be awarded, the spokesman said.
Posted by klutzo (Member # 5701) on :
Holy cowabunga! I know hundreds of people who could sue on this basis, including me.
It took 3 misdiagnoses and 17 years to get dx'd with Lyme,and I had to do all the research myself and go to a holistic doc and pay for him and for the test, out of pocket.
If she wins this, and the rest of us with chronic Lyme sue also, it could bankrupt the country.
I thought about this before, but didn't know where to start suing....so many ducks, so little time!
Klutzo
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Wish we knew how this case turned out. I gave up on the lawsuit business when I learned that it had a mixed record and took a lot of energy that I didn't have.
My personal opinion is that we are probably not going to change federal policy on lyme disease by suing individual doctors, one case at a time. Would really love to see a class action suit against the govt. Don't know if this is totally unrealistic idea.
Posted by humanbeing (Member # 8572) on :
I wonder if you need to live in an endemic area to win a suit (wouldn't that be mean since lyme is everywhere)?
Also, could you sue over the fact that the doc didn't treat in the face of symptoms but neg blood test as the CDC states?
We could all sue. I think the suit should go up higher to the CDC and NIH for their inadequate guidelines.
Posted by LostCityAgent (Member # 9050) on :
Humanbeing, I am so sorry for your loss and I can relate in a particular way. I went thru the period of suicidal thoughts when I thought that I had MS which has a horrid outline. LD has a better one if it is treated. Before LD I did not want to live anymore of the suffering.
Love, Jmcc.
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
Thanks for posting this article.
it would be nice if we could sue. Like the fact that Quest only ran part of the western blot for me...and non of the ducks picked up on this...i didnt know about lyme at the time and trusted the test :-( plus i live in an endemic area and was not clinically diagnosed until i found my llmd.
A class action suit would be nice.
Posted by painted turtle (Member # 7801) on :
Yes, I would love to sue.
I have a record of one of those lyme blood tests that came back negative from the early 1990's when much of the physical vertigo, migraine, vomitting bile, shooting pains was really bad. On the test it said "if early lyme is suspected, repeat in two weeks"
Do you think it was repeated????? Whether it was "early lyme" suspected or not...NO it was NOT repeated and at that time I didn't have a clue about lyme disease.
It would be quite a movement if we all began to gather our evidence for a class action suit!!
Posted by humanbeing (Member # 8572) on :
Just to be clear, this was not my personal story. I picked up a copy of the article at my lld appt the other day then found it online to post.
The family of this poor man should have a heck of a lawsuit (at the state level).
Are there any lawyers here on lymenet--or does anyone know one who had lyme and could contact them? We have some very smart people who would do all the work if an official attorney would volunteer.
Fairfield CT has a ton of lyme disease and lots of professional people...
Posted by gael1111 (Member # 8816) on :
I have pursued the law suit thing, and I was informed because the diagnosis came 18 yrs late (1999)I would have to sue every doctor and hospital that saw me during that period.
Way to complicated. The woman mentioned in the article had a pretty clear cut case. One doctor, and an easy pattern of malpractice to follow with that doctor.
The attorneys that I contacted were a group from New Jersy, specialing in lyme cases, they said that they were looking for clear cut cases. Okay don't kill me, but I can't remember their name.
I am sure we can find them if we did a search. That is the bad news. The good news is the attorney who handled the class action suit for the lyme vaccine victims is right here in Philly.
I have to look up the info. I was just commenting to a friend, that the government is probably responsible for making us sick, and I am sick of struggling financially and otherwise.
Why should we be hit with all of this burden, while they are enjoying their lives, on us! It's all pretty ludicrous when you really think about it.
A class action suit could bring a lot of press also. Food for thought. Maybe if we put our together we can come up with something realistic.
Peace,
Gael
Posted by caat (Member # 2321) on :
Unfortunately..
I think suing individual doctors for non-treatment would definitely have a positive impact on the way lyme is diagnosed and treated.
They DO talk about lawsuits amoungst themselves. That's one of the problems we are up against...
...anybody has a clear cut case and a jerk negligent doctor and enough money and energy- GO FOR IT !! You'll help ALL of us!
Get lyme friendly media involved while you're at it. It will help define guidelines in our favor later on. For sure.
Posted by Bothrops (Member # 7393) on :
How did they find out that the man had lyme? Did they figure it out before he died or after in an autopsy?
If they found the Bb in him after his death that should go a long way to helping us. On the other hand if they never found Bb and just assumed it or was clinically diagnosed that may hurt our fight.
Posted by Bluetick (Member # 8467) on :
My fiance is an attorney and I would love to sue someone about the rotten turn my life has taken (had a bullseye rash in 1996, treated with 10 days of doxy, Oy!) but ironically, he works for a pharmaceutical company. Boo!
Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :
Years ago state attorney generals got together and did the class action against tobacco companies. Remember that?
I think we should all contact our state attorney generals and request they do the same regarding lyme disease testing and misdiagnosis. It seems to be epidemic. We need to have them join the AG from Conn.
After my daughter was given a second blood test by our PCP (we BEGGED him after a year of bouncing around "specialists" and her condition worsening), it showed the igG and igM were both positive, and her ANA was 1:640. He had just told her in that last visit that nothing was wrong with her, it was all psyche issues.
I loved this doctor, and he really betrayed us. It's not just him that I'm disappointed with, it's the IDS the Rheumatologists, the allergist, the neurologist, the Gastro specialist...etc., etc., the ER....
I am going to write the AZ Attorney General who challenged RJ Reynolds.
You just lit the candle under my butt.
Posted by jmill2977 (Member # 10513) on :
I honestly believe the only thing that will result in people receiving appropriate treatment - eg long term abx - and appropriate insurance coverage will be a successful malpractice lawsuit.
Class actions are tough, but the notion of getting additional DAs to follow Connecticut's lead may also be very helpful.
Posted by hshbmom (Member # 9478) on :
Lawyer with LD
I was told there is a lawyer in a neighboring town that contracted LD recently. The lawyer is reported to have had IV antibiotics.
The diagnosis was "environmental toxicity"...possibly so insurance would cover the treatment.
I talked to the receptionist several times and left several messages.
This lawyer may have associates with LD.
I will try again.
Nancy
Posted by Melanie Reber (Member # 3707) on :
Does anyone happen to know the name or contact information for the original man who committed suiside due to Lyme?
If so, please email me privately.
Thank you so much in advance, Melanie
Posted by humanbeing (Member # 8572) on :
![[dizzy]](graemlins/dizzy.gif)
![[hi]](graemlins/hi.gif)
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
together we can come up with something realistic.