Well, it seems there is big money to be made by certain attorneys who specialize in suing Lyme docs for falsely diagnosing and treating a "non-existent" disease. One such lawfirm has a website lymeattorneys.com.
I just sent the following email to them asking if they would represent me in suing all the so-called "mainstream" docs who misdiagnosed me for years. Others may want to do the same. ___________________________________________
I am a chronic Lyme patient finally recovering from this horrific illness after 2 1/2 years of hi-dose multiple oral antibiotics. I was misdiagnosed for decades by so called "mainstream" doctors. I even had a secondary Lyme rash that was misdiagnosed by a walk-in clinic as ringworm. These "mainstream" docs injected me multiple times with corticosteroids in joints that were riddled with spirochetes. Consequently, my joints became so ravaged that I have had multiple orthopedic surgeries including TWO TOTAL SHOULDER REPLACEMENTS. I also have nerve damage to my extremities which may be permanent.
BTW, my "mainstream" primary care doc, as well as my cardiologist, both now acknowledge that I have chronic Lyme disease, although they had to be dragged kicking and screaming to this conclusion.
Will you help me sue all the doctors who ruined my health?
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
This is great!!!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- These attorneys are likely paid - or at least encouraged and protected - by the IDSA and pharmaceutical companies (to keep patients on pain and psych drugs for a lifetime rather than abx that can solve the problem).
I doubt that they have the capacity, desire or skill to properly represent you.
These attorneys are in the business of eliminating LLMDs, not shining a light on their importance.
If you truly want to file a suit, good luck as the CDC diagnostics and the IDSA guidelines make that nearly impossible - but you would need a different kind of attorney altogether.
Now, if just for their education, the letter may help open their eyes - but I doubt it. These are dyed-in-the-wool IDSA representatives. Still - even if letters may not help - if we all sent a letter each week to these kinds of attorneys, with links and articles, they may see the truth -- someday.
I do know that there are many very good hearted and ethical attorneys in the world. And then there are some who are not.
You would never want an attorney who just manipulated things to help the IDSA and then to turn totally around to the "other side" and represent you.
You would want an attorney with a long-standing record of the highest ethical standards, sustained intelligence and determination. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Hard copy letters to specific individuals will have a better chance of being read. Email may or may get past their clerk.
Lyme Disease is real, but it is often diagnosed in individuals who do not have it.
This can lead to life-threatening complications from unnecessary and expensive treatment. Patients most in danger of receiving unnecessary and dangerous treatment are often diagnosed with �chronic lyme.�
The treatment for �Chronic Lyme� can consist of high-dose I.V. antibiotic treatment, blood thinners, and dozens of other unnecessary medications and supplements. These treatments can cause severe and permanent damage.
Any individual who has received a recommendation for this treatment should seek a second opinion and thoroughly investigate the recommended treatment protocol, means of diagnosis, and the physician recommending treatment.
Many individuals do not find out that they have been misdiagnosed with Lyme disease until after they have suffered the unnecessary treatments for �chronic lyme.�
While some unscrupulous physicians charge patients tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for unnecessary treatments, their patients and families are left physically and emotionally devastated.
Wright, Green & Baughman, LLC has experience in helping our clients recover for the pain, suffering, emotional toll, and medical expenses of being misdiagnosed with lyme disease. We have:
Investigated Lyme disease clinics that routinely prescribe I.V. antibiotics for �chronic lyme�
Investigated unscrupulous laboratory practices that diagnose virtually everyone with lyme disease
Obtained compensation for economic loss and pain and suffering for our clients
Obtained a verdict against a Florida laboratory (Bowen Research and Training Institute) in excess of 23 million dollars
Assisted Boards of Healing Arts in multiple states and the U.S. Attorneys� office in investigating lyme disease misdiagnosis and treatment
If you or a family member has been injured by the misdiagnosis of Lyme disease or chronic illness, call us at (816) 373-2755.
======================
Disclaimer: As a poster, Keebler in no way agrees with the above statements. The opinions presented above are dangerous to the health and well-being of someone who has lyme or other tick-borne or other stealth infection. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- They are very young - only been practicing for about ten years. I could not find a physical mailing address but they seem to be in Missouri / Kansas neighborhood. I am sure that both the Missouri and Kansas Bar Associations would have their mailing address. Dex Search would, too, of course.
My guess is that they may have been the attorneys for the recent case in Kansas City. (But I'm leaving this here.) There are some elements of that case that do not apply to most LLMDs, however.
It would not be about that case, necessarily, but their blanket view about LLMDs that is so very disturbing - and their scouting for clients.
Trial attorneys dedicated to helping the victims of medical and nursing home negligence
Our Firm
Since our founding in 1999 by Roger Wright, Ted Green & Lance Baughman, we have represented people who have experienced serious personal injury or the wrongful death of a family member from various medical misadventures.
Whether these injuries resulted from greedy pharmacists diluting cancer treatments, impaired physicians, chronically understaffed nursing homes, or untrained health care providers (as described in the cases below), our firm is dedicated to investigating until the truth is found and working until justice is served.
If you or someone you know has been injured by the medical profession, please do not hesitate to contact us at (816) 373-2755.
===================
Roger Wright - is admitted to practice in Missouri and Kansas and in the United States District Courts for the Western District of Missouri and Kansas.
Ted Green - is admitted to practice in Missouri and Kansas and in the United States District Courts for the Western District of Missouri and Kansas.
Lance Baughman - is admitted to practice in Missouri and Kansas and in the United States District Courts for the Western District of Missouri and Kansas.
Since 1999, when Lance started Wright, Green, and Baughman, LLC with Roger Wright and Ted Green, Lance has worked exclusively in the areas of wrongful death, serious personal injury, medical malpractice, and products liability.
=======================
Keebler's note: I will say that, on its face, "the areas of wrongful death, serious personal injury, medical malpractice, and products liability" is a very honorable practice.
They just seem to have boarded a different train regarding scouting for clients to run LLMDs off the globe. -
Posted by paulieinct (Member # 17514) on :
Keebler: You are correct, but you miss the sarcasm in my letter. I know very well these attorneys have no interest in representing patients like me or you or the others on this board.
I am sure the "expert witnesses" they use at trial are those docs we all know and love, the ones who subscribe to the Doctor Mengele School of Medicine.
However, if they get flooded with letters like mine, they might see a groundswell of interest by patients like us who may turn the tables on them.
There are certainly enough of us who have indisputable chronic Lyme that was misdiagnosed for decades. Remember, even CDC says (in very fine print), testing is for EPIDEMIOLOGICAL purposes, and should NOT be used to rule out a diagnosis of Lyme Disease. The doctors who relied on testing for diagnosis, ignoring the total clinical presentation, were NEGLIGENT.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Yeah, I figured the sarcasm but - just in case I misread it, or for others who might have - I tried to approach from both angles.
It'd be best if their physical mailing address or post office box were used for letters. Actual letters would make more of an impression. They'd have to keep a file.
Emails can be quickly dismissed by the law clerks as junk mail. But, if they get a lot of emails - and regularly - with links to learn more, it might help in their education. Or it could backfire. If the IDSA is propping up these guys, it's not pretty. -
Posted by paulieinct (Member # 17514) on :
Keebler: I will see if I can find actual mailing address for the firm.
Posted by dyna3495 (Member # 24126) on :
Step 1. Now lets get down to business
Posted by paulieinct (Member # 17514) on :
Well well well.....I got a quick response to my email from one of the attorneys. He asked for more info, including names of docs, which I sent him. Then he emailed back with this reply:
"Thank you for the response. Unfortunately, our firm will not be able to assist you in the case. There are a few reasons. First, we are not licensed in Connecticut. Second, given the time that has passed, you will need an attorney who knows every possible detail and angle to the statute of limitations laws in your state. Finally, failure to diagnose cases almost always come down to whether a physician did what a normal physician would do under the same circumstances. If there are over a dozen physicians who all did the same thing (even if wrong), it becomes hard to prove that the standard of care required something else. Hard, but obviously not impossible. And I don't have sufficient information to really tell you whether or not you have a case. What I can say with some confidence is that I would highly recommend that you consult with an attorney licensed in Connecticut who can provide you with a better assessment.
Sorry we couldn't assist. Good luck."
Posted by rks (Member # 24316) on :
Liked your letter; it definitely got a smile.
I hope they don't start looking at ways to go after the doctor's that you named though.
Posted by paulieinct (Member # 17514) on :
The docs I named were the ones who misdiagnosed me, so not to worry.
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
Good stuff. You definitely have to bite back sometimes.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
It seems that it was totally lost on them what you were trying to accomplish.
Posted by elizzza811 (Member # 24713) on :
I saw an attorney regarding my years of misdiagnosis, and his question was, "Well, which one of these doctors is responsible? And how are you going to narrow it down to one when so many missed it?"
So apparently if every doctor you saw missed your Lyme, nobody is responsible...?
If it were up to me, I'd divide my years of suffering among ALL of them, and make them each pay me for their 'portion' of my sufferings...
But apparently it doesn't work like that...he wouldn't take my case.
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
I have one doctor, my GP, who had the ticks tested and they were positive for lyme, but did nothting when my elisa was negative?
He had been my GP and friend for ten years. He doubted that I would get an answer from an LLMD but did say that he had no problem with me seeing one.
I was diagnosed neuro lyme by the llmd last month and now my GP treats me like a queen! Every letter or piece of information I need is given top treatment. I have already told him that I do not hold him responsible for what has happened to me. It is obvious that this is a world wide issue. Doctors just dont have the knowledge of what lyme can really do.
I told him that I just hope I was the case that has him question other patients since he is on long island which has sooo many cases of lyme from Dr B. I taught my own GP about igenex testing and LLMD's!
Posted by paulieinct (Member # 17514) on :
annier1071:
Good work educating your GP. If I were you, I would also tell him to write a letter to CDC and IDSA telling them that the Lyme guidelines are worthless, and look what happened to this one patient of mine.
That will be his penance. Along with a thousand Our Father's and a million Hail Mary's.
Posted by deerose (Member # 27484) on :
I totally enjoyed the intent of this letter.
Justice eludes but someday...someday... I believe this is going to turn and when it does...watch out.
the force backed up behind this suffering and injustice will be mighty...like water behind a dam.
. Of course he will give such an answer in such language.
Never underestimate the impact...even if a tiny seed planted..
consider how great an impact a tiny black speck can bring...
And he may need this info if he or his family is bitten.
Hopefully the force will be waters of life and not destruction.
In any case I share your staisfaction that it was written and sent.
Posted by Camp Other (Member # 29797) on :
paulieinct,
Thank you for posting this! It made my day. I think it's great that you contacted these lawyers and stated your case. Even if they won't take it, it does sound like his response was from a lawyer's point of view and thoughtful of the general legal issues.
Keebler,
You said, "If you truly want to file a suit, good luck as the CDC diagnostics and the IDSA guidelines make that nearly impossible - but you would need a different kind of attorney altogether. "
One question: What kind of attorney would you hire for that kind of case?
Metallic Blue,
I don't think the response was off-base for a lawyer. He pretty much laid it out how he could in his line of work. All of those points are pretty much on the mark - you have to be aware of your state laws, statutes of limitation, and get a lawyer who is licensed to practice there to work with you.
annier1071,
So awesome that your GP is supportive of your LLMD! Go you. My primary care doc trusts my LLMD's decisions, too. I wish more doctors would talk to one another about cases like ours and report how treatment is helping us.
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
I agree the lawyers response was correct. The problem we face is that the IDSA guidelines are what establishes the standard of care, even with the insurance companies. In fact, they are the standard of care.
I discussed this a long time ago with an attorney, when I found out I was misdiagnosed. How can an attorney prove a doctor misdiagnosed you if that doctor claims he followed the standard of care per the IDSA guidelines. It's very difficult, mostly impossible except in exceptional cases.
As we know, not only are the treatment recommendations inadequate but so are the diagnoses criteria.
Posted by Camp Other (Member # 29797) on :
Why not create a professional group of academic scientists who have proven persistence and continue to do work on Borrelia and tickborne diseases? This would have a different goal and purpose than ILADS and give a voice to the research that the IDSA is not discussing in the media or their past panel review response.
Posted by paulieinct (Member # 17514) on :
camp: Did you know about the Lyme Research project at Columbia University headed by Dr. Brian Fallon? Link:
Not sure they would hold any weight against the IDSA in court. This is what we are all up against every day just in terms of getting treatment and a dx., let alone a judgment against a duck.
We had our day in court, so to speak, when Blumenthal challenged the IDSA and the guidelines were ultimately rubber stamped despite testimony and scientific and clinical evidence to the contrary.
That's not to say we should not continue the fight, as one day the tables will turn but I don't think we are there yet but we're getting closer all the time!!
Posted by Camp Other (Member # 29797) on :
paulieinct,
Yes, I've known about the Lyme Research project. I've known people who have been there.
Abxnomore,
I know about the Blumenthal challenge of the IDSA. I'm trying to find out how it was that they could rubberstamp it without making changes under certain settlement terms. Does anyone know what the actual contractual agreement terms were?
Regarding having weight against the IDSA in court... that isn't the first step in the process here. The first step is getting equal credibility to the IDSA in the eyes of the medical profession and others. What you're talking about comes later on.
One thing that confuses me is how it is the IDSA sets guidelines for other jurisdictions. People in Europe with Lyme are upset that the IDSA has set guidelines their health agencies follow, when their problems are somewhat different from Lyme patients in the US.
I think it would be good to know how it is the IDSA's influence has taken hold in many places and not just the US.
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
Straight and simple: The IDSA is a huge organization with tremendous international and national clout that holds a lot of weight and influence. Going up against it is no easy task. That's why the guidelines were rubber-stamped and that's why all these years later their guidelines, as flawed as they are, remain.
The fact that the guidelines were challenged was a monumental task, in and of itself, even thou no changes were made. Despite the failure to effect any change, the process is still a sign of progress.
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
"Regarding having weight against the IDSA in court... that isn't the first step in the process here. The first step is getting equal credibility to the IDSA in the eyes of the medical profession and others. What you're talking about comes later on."
I believe this is what the original poster was talking about. But it cannot happen until the stronghold of the IDSA is weakened.
Posted by Camp Other (Member # 29797) on :
Abxnomore,
That doesn't answer my question:
How did it get that way?
Posted by WIZARD (Member # 4597) on :
Hey Camp -
The answer to your question is
The IDSA just kept saying it over and over until they convinced everyone they were RIGHT!
And it worked. I don't know why, but it has.
And they are in bed with big pharma.
Anyone know how to change that and we would be on our way to improving our plight...
Posted by paulieinct (Member # 17514) on :
I cannot believe that Blumenthal is done with the IDSA. As a senator now, I predict he will be a powerful ally in our fight against the IDSA scumbags. I could be wrong, but I try to think positive.
BTW, I believe at least one European country, Germany I believe, no longer uses the IDSA guidelines.
Posted by dyna3495 (Member # 24126) on :