The NY Magazine- very prestigious thing I've heard- has taken it upon themselves to somehow list 4 doctors that were associated with the IDSA Lyme disease guidelines on their list of Top Doctors.
Gary Wormser, NY Medical College
Paul Auwaeter, Johns Hopkins
Eugene Shapiro, New Haven Hospital
Robert Nadelman, NY Medical College
These doctors were involved in the investigation by the Attorney General into illegal practices. Auwaeter was the Editor of the dreaded IDSA guidelines, Wormser was the leader and Shapiro and Nadelman were both authors.
I wrote a letter before I knew they had more than one IDiot on there.
If you want to comment, please do. My letter is here.. and I will find the links and post them in the next section below.
It was brought to my attention that your list of top doctors included someone who many couldn't believe had been chosen for this distinguished honor.
Dr. Gary Wormser is possibly the most despised doctor in the field of infectious diseases. At least that is the consensus amongst countless patients who feel, justifiably, they are suffering because of his involvement with nearly every aspect of infectious tick borne diseases.
According to numerous chronically ill and disabled Lyme disease patients and their families, Dr. Wormser is not only one of the most loathed doctors in the state of New York, he is detested by patients across the country and around the globe.
If you can imagine people traveling from as far away as Florida, California and Texas to reach the Westchester Medical Center in New York (NY Medical College) to protest Wormser, you will get an idea of the gravity of the situation. Their battle cry? ``Wormser Lies, Patients Die!''
If you ignore the patients opinions and aversions, it is still hard to believe anyone under investigation for illegal practices, who has since been found guilty of corruption by the Attorney General's office for the atrocious process they used to develop medical guidelines, would be included as a top doctor on anyone's list.
In case you weren't aware, Wormser and his handpicked colleagues have all been booted off the Infectious Diseases Society of America's panel for their role in the fraudulent Lyme disease guideline development process. Panel members, with Wormser in charge, were found to have multiple conflicts of interest (pharmaceutical, insurance, patents, etc).
They were also exposed for trying to pass off guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) as ``independent''.
The AG's office determined Wormser and other infectious disease guideline panel members sat on both panels and developed copy-cat guidelines, which were used to stop the progress of a Congressional bill that would have benefited patients and health care professionals, as well as, provided for more research funding and advances in science.
It's too late now, but I hope that before you consider Wormser for any future honors, you will consider opinions from those who's lives he has negatively affected and at the least, do a search to determine if he is involved in any more scandals or illegal practices which would disqualify him, at least in my mind, as someone to be honored as a top professional.
i'll come later today when it's NOT lightening to work on a reply letter too!! Posted by njlymemom (Member # 15088) on :
Tincup, i don't get this magazine...
but last year saw a copy in a dr.'s waiting
room ....i guess this is something they do
everyyear???? Is this a current isssue?
if so I can't believe they are listing these
names again. I remember Shapiros name last
year and wanted to
I will repsond to them as soon as I can.
unbelievable!!
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
This is what I got so far today on this matter: The NY Magazine got the list of doctors from the reference book, "Best Doctors Book", a list of doctors for the NY Metro area.
This book is published by Castle Connolly. The person I spoke with there says doctors submit what they specialize in, are voted on by their peers, and then are included in the book.
The doctor at the publishing company who oversees this selection process is an internist, Dr Jean Morgan. The phone number is: 212-367-8400. She will be in on Friday, June 13.
Posted by Angelica (Member # 15601) on :
If I did not just take my Buhner's herbs I think I would go puke but do not want to waste costly tinctures on the likes of this Worm.
Posted by njgirl14 (Member # 14174) on :
Based on the AG investigation and findings they should print a retraction or atleast a follow up article explaining this.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Thanks for the additional information.
Robin said.. "The doctor at the publishing company who oversees this selection process is an internist, Dr Jean Morgan. The phone number is: 212-367-8400. She will be in on Friday, June 13."
Guess Friday the 13th won't be her lucky day?
Posted by hcconn22 (Member # 5263) on :
Great letter;
Here's Mine;
I Just finished reading Pam Weintraub's new book "Cure Unknown". Pam is the former Editor in chief at OMNI, and now Senior Editor at Discovery Health. One of you a writer (medical/science), and real New Yorker.
This book details many very questionable, and disturbing facts about some of the very doctors you promote in your paper as being the best.
In addition only six weeks ago... four of the ten doctors-- 40% were named in a legal settlement by your neighboring State CT Attorney General as being involved in a very systematic, and intentional fleecing of the public when they developed treatment guidelines for Lyme Disease.
These guidelines then allow insurance companies to deny care if you done meet the fab four's definition.
This is very disturbing as there are many individuals and families devastated by Lyme Disease in the Great State of NY, as well as it's commuting neighbors in CT.
The source of your data is questionable. It comes from a book publisher that surveys, produces and sells books-- of the "best whatever".
Common... what physicians take the time in their busy lives to fill out a survey from a book publisher telling others how great other doctors are? All physicians know THEY ARE THE BEST, or we should hope so.
I know you guys are capable of doing better research on your own. There are many fine physicians doing incredible things in NY-- but these are not them.
If you or your readers want to understand why Gary Wormser, Paul Auwaeter, Eugene Shapiro, and Robert Nadelman should be on your WORST DOCTORS LIST, Please refer your readers to get more facts and read Pam's book Cure Unknown, Inside the Lyme Epidemic.
Thank you,
Signed
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Excellent job there!
New way to look at it to. Good for you!!!!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
-
They should have their names recalled, just as if a Miss America messes up - but this is so much worse.
-
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Amiss America...
Posted by Larkspur (Member # 5131) on :
OMG - I just read this! Horrible!
I live outside of Philadelphia and I've heard many times that Philadelphia Magazine's yearly "Top Doc" issue include just the docs that paid the most for the "honor"
I wonder if this is a similiar situation....
Posted by Larkspur (Member # 5131) on :
Here's my letter:
Dear New York Magazine,
It has come to my attention that some of the doctors you have identified on your "best doctors" list:
Gary Wormser, NY Medical College, Paul Auwaeter, Johns Hopkins, Eugene Shapiro, New Haven Hospital, and Robert Nadelman, NY Medical College
were all involved in a recent investigation by the Attorney General of Connecticut.
This investigation focused on illegal practices surrounding these "Top Doctors" participation in creating IDSA guidelines for the treatment of Lyme disease
that were found to violate anti-trust laws as well as turn up findings re:deliberate conlict of interest issues.
The fact that you would choose to include these individuals as "Top Doctors" is a slap in the face to all who have suffered or have loved ones who suffer from Lyme disease.
I am simply appalled that these individuals were included in your list, if only for the fact that they have been under investigation for above said practices.
While I live out of state, my father spent his career working for the City of New York and I highly doubt he will ever purchase your magazine again.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
larkspur,
BRAVO !!! Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Woo hoo is right!
Good one Larkspur!
I will hope after your letter they will think twice before adding those names again!!!
Thank you for taking time to write. I know it isn't easy... but you sure made it look like it is with your right on target wording.
Posted by Larkspur (Member # 5131) on :
Awww - thanks guys!
They should be ashamed of themselves!
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
HA!
You are just so cute!
You said.. "They should be ashamed of themselves!"
Actually they should be tarred and feathered and made to stand on their head in a pile of oyster shells for 49 days....
But I guess we have to settle for being ashamed.
Posted by Larkspur (Member # 5131) on :
Yes, I have been told I am quite cute
I was referring to the mag. vs the "top docs" in the "ashamed of themselves" comment
Let's see - hmmm -
A good "retraction" of these Top Docs by NY Mag
thinking.....
OK - how about a well publiczed parade of said 4 "top" docs through NYC wearing large dunce caps? To start of course...
They did this kind of thing quite a bit in China under Mao (I just finished a book about the Chinese "Cultural Revolution" in the 60's and 70's) Dunce caps were quite popular!
Posted by Karl J. (Member # 15880) on :
Very interesting. In early January I came down with Lyme symptoms, which changed my life completely. I live in the DC metro area and our magazine "The Washingtonian" listed the top 50 doctors in the DC metro area.
I saw one of those doctors that made the list back in February. I told him my symptoms so he tested me for Lyme. At our next visit, he said that since my Lyme test came back "negative", there is no way I can have Lyme disease. He also said that "You will hear many rumors that a negative lyme test doesn't mean you don't have Lyme disease and that more detailed tests should be conducted. I'm here to tell you right now that if it shows up negative on my test, you absolutely don't have Lyme disease." He also added "I'm stumped, go back to your gastrologist."
And Whaddayknow- I finally went outside my insurance and saw an LLMD in April, was diagnosed with Lyme, began taking antibiotics, and felt much better a week later. Still having my good days and bad days, but at least I know what I am dealing with. And to think that this doctor is on Washingtonian's "top 50" list of doctors. Give me a break. If you are in the DC area and think you my have Lyme, pm me and let me know the doctor you are seeing so you don't have the same experience I did!
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Nice first post, Karl, and welcome!
Feel free to contact the NY Magazine/publishing house listed above with your opinions.
Even the CDC recognizes a negative test result is for surveillance purposes only and that the disease is clinical. You could call up the Wash DC doc and let him know that.
I contacted all medical people I had seen previously to let them know about the Lyme diagnosis I came in with.
Pamela Weintraub's new book, "Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic" is excellent in explaining what's been going on politically re Lyme.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
KARL, **** THAT'S AS GOOD AS IT GETS!!! please send it to the magazine for feedback!! way to go karl!! xox betty
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