After almost two years, the appeals hearing for Dr. Jones was held today.
This was the culmination of many evidentiary hearings over the last 21 months, finally leading up to today's appeal.
The appeal was based on the issue of bias by one of the three panelists who made the recommendations in the Dr. Jones case by the Ct Medical Board.
As you may be aware, on the final hearing day of December 18, 2007, two parents who had never attended any of the previous hearings recognized one of the three panelists as a pediatrician who had been treating their child, and who had made numerous disparaging remarks about LLMDs, as well as asserting that Chronic Lyme Disease did not exist.
Based on this, Atty Elliott Pollack filed an appeal to have the entire decision by the Medical Board vacated (thrown out.) After many legal steps, today was the day of the final hearing.
The only witnesses at the hearing were the two parents and Dr. Senechal, the pediatrician who had expressed bias to these parents on numerous occasions.
The hearing today went exceptionally well! Elliott Pollack is confident that there is a "fighting chance" that the judge will vacate the order against Dr. Jones.
The two parents who testified today were myself and my husband Blake. The child whom Dr. Senechal was treating when he made the numerous derogatory comments was our son, Ryan.
I believe both Blake and I gave very strong testimony, were very credible witnesses, and that it went as well as it could possibly go.
Furthermore, much to our surprise, Dr. Senechal did not even attempt to deny any of our testimony. He freely admitted he does not believe in Chronic Lyme Disease and that he did in fact tell us that some of these labs and doctors were working together and that the labs were not recognized by mainstream doctors, among other things.
So, it went better than we could have ever expected!!! Blake and I had both breakfast and lunch with Elliott Pollack and we were all elated at the way things transpired today.
The judge appears to be very fair and reasonable and a decision is expected to come down within a month. This is huge!!!! Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that discrediting this panelist is enough to get the entire decision by the Medical Board thrown out!!!!
BTW, Dr. Jones did not attend today. He was busy seeing patients.
It feels good to finally be able to come out and tell our story openly! It's been tough being so close to the case but having to keep it quiet for almost two years!!!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
That's cool, Tracy!! I'm proud of your family!
Let's hope and pray that all goes well for Dr Jones.
Posted by Ocean (Member # 3496) on :
Awesome work Blake and Tracy!!
Please keep us updated. I hope that it all goes well for Dr. Jones. I am sure that he appreciates you guys SO much!!!!
Ocean
Posted by IckyTicky (Member # 21466) on :
HUGE thumbs up!!!
Posted by wiserforit2 (Member # 18286) on :
Thank you Tracy and Blake!
With deepest gratitude from the bottom of my heart and all around it too,
wiserforit2
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
I am just really grateful for all you just did.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
That's great news Tracy. Did this doctor have proof on paper of these docs / labs working together to back up that bold statement?
Posted by jamieL (Member # 16563) on :
Congrats on stepping out and telling the world your story and helping a good doctor in the process!
Posted by Maryland Mom (Member # 2043) on :
I too am very grateful to you and Blake, Tracy!! I don't know where our family would be today if it weren't for Dr. Jones. Thank you for standing up for him!!
Posted by Veromia (Member # 22031) on :
I know the light will shine through for him. hes such a sweet man.
thank god u hav bn able to help. that is amazing. enough is enough.
its unbelievable what has been done to the lyme community based on opinions ...
how far their opinions of us have taken them is unbelievable
Posted by Lou B (Member # 64) on :
Thanks Will & Tracy ... I'm certain everything will turn out OK for Dr J. It is unfortunate that such a vast sum of $$$ had to be spent to prove the truth!
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
It is awesome. I hope you got to tell the judge you now work for thousands of chronic lyme patients, educating them in roads to treatment, and earning only grace.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Thanks everyone!!!!! This is the most gratifying thing I have done in memory.....so blessed to have been a part of it.
Hoping desperately this works....and all the charges against him are dismissed!!!!
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
tracy and will,
god bless you both for stepping forward and informing the attorney what you heard your dr. say about dr. jones, chronic lyme, etc!!
it takes very SPECIAL PEOPLE to stand up to the plate and do this; then to SIT ON THIS FOR 2 YEARS NOT SAYING A WORD!!! uffda ... you can keep a secret!
thanks for the most informative post; keep us informed, and we pray the right decision will be made to THROW IT OUT!
you are a succinct writer; therefore, you would be as a speaker as well !! thanks for doing the right thing.
Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
Thank God for honest and willing people like you. Thank you for coming forward and standing up for Dr. Jones. Hope this will all be resolved in his favor very soon. -p
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Making history starts with all of us - congrats on your important part of it!
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
Yeah!! I can't wait to hear the results. I'm praying for a good outcome.
It must have been hard to be so quiet about it for so long! Dr. J is so overdue for a break on this madness.
Posted by liesandmorelies (Member # 15323) on :
TRACY WOOT WOOT WOOT!!!!!
You guys rock! Thank you so much for all your hard work. You guys are awesome. Wow, what a secret to have to keep.
I will say prayers daily that Dr. Jones has all his charges dismissed.
God bless you, Blake, and your whole family =)
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
I cannot thank you and Blake enough, Tracy!
Thinking of all the children he will continue to help after the charges are dismissed.
Posted by purplemom (Member # 21064) on :
Has he not been able to practice because of this?
I'm confused?
Posted by LisaS (Member # 10581) on :
Kudos Tracy and Blake! I'm so glad it went well and will deep my fingers crossed and say many prayers justice is done!
I bet it was hard to keep all this quiet! But it's nice now for us to put faces with the people standing up for Dr. Jones. It makes it even more real and personal.
Thanks for a job well done!
Posted by Allie (Member # 10778) on :
Thanks so much Tracy and Blake!!!!
If we all just do what we can when we can, this madness can end.
You guys are great!
Allie
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
Tracy & Blake:
You are both so amazing and did a great thing!
Please keep us posted on the outcome!
WE LOVE DR J!!!!!!!
xoxoxox Katie, Roy & Roy Jr
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
What happens in the end when the person "proves" their innocence? Do they still have to pay with their life savings and lose a great sum of credibility just because some scum bag had a chip on their shoulder?
Dr. Jones should be reimbursed for all he lost by the people who brought this BS charge against him. I hope they sue.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Not to mention, "we" spent a huge sum of money too as a community that we ourselves need for medical care.
He deserves to have not only his name cleared publicaly but officially in the newspapers and media. There should be a public apology when this is said and done.
Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
Agree with Metallic Blue (a big hello-by the way) I have read from mothers that Dr. J has a waiting list for children to see him. He is backed up until April 2010.
This is probably because of all the time he had to spend away from his practice. Imagine all the stress this has caused him as well.
This suit has badly effected Dr.Jones and his patients and children who are in need of their first appointment to get dx'd and started in treatment. Lot's of people paid the price for this reckless law suit. -peedie
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
I think it says a lot about Dr. Jones that he would not even take a day away from his practice to attend the hearing, as he was not needed to testify....although I'm sure it would have been very gratifying for him to be there.
The first time he saw our younger son, Cody, was the night of the Turn the Corner Foundation Gala where he was being honored. At 6 pm, as he was taking his time with our son on his lap, I asked him, "Why aren't you at the Gala?"
He replied simply, "Because then I wouldn't be here to see Cody. And Cody is more important."
I think that says it all.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Wow, he sounds like some doctor!
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tracy9:
.The first time he saw our younger son, Cody, was the night of the Turn the Corner Foundation Gala where he was being honored.
At 6 pm, as he was taking his time with our son on his lap, I asked him, "Why aren't you at the Gala?"
He replied simply, "Because then I wouldn't be here to see Cody. And Cody is more important." ********************************************
I think that says it all.
tracy, thanks for the powerful statement above! we're getting to know dr. jones thru all the many statements from his patient's parents; thx for sharing Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Wow - what an amazing person Dr J is! He honors the need for his services above all else.
Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
Jeez Tracy,
You just made me cry!!!!
I really hope that this makes the difference & the appeal is successful. Enough is enough already!!!
Why are people so selfish that they would do anything to get out of paying their children's medical expenses in a divorce, no matter HOW many people they hurt in the process?
That creep has no consideration for all of the children that Dr Jones is helping now or will help in the future, nor the children he would have been helping when he had to be taken away from practice for the other trials.
It's one thing when selfish, spiteful people living in their vindictiveness hurt other adults but C'MON don't do things that hurt sick, innocent children!!!
The evil in this world really frightens me sometimes!
You've done a wonderful, selfless thing, Tracy. May God bless you. Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
yes, when he is cleared, i feel THEY should repay back every $1 paid by him, us, and all he lost early on due to these bogus charges!!
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Any one of us would have done the same thing. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I'm fortunate we were given the gift of the chance to help such an amazing and deserving man.
Posted by Kathy622 (Member # 14077) on :
Tracy,
You and your husband performed an incredible service on behalf of Dr. Jones, his young patients and all of us parents. Thank you so much.
You say that anyone of us would have done the same thing, and maybe you are right. But any family dealing with lyme and co realizes how very difficult this must have been for you and your family with the health problems you've all had.
Testifying when there are no health issues is hard enough.
You put the "act" in activism. Thank you.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Still cheering!!! Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
Indeed, cheering. Tracy and Blake you did a great service for us all and Dr. J.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
If it works, we'll commission a statue of each of you, or at least a bust, to be placed on either side of Dr J's front door - the protectors of these premises.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
OK, well on the way back from the five hour trial, in horrible pain, I saw this HUGE billboard that said:
"Lavender Fields Day Spa"
I have no idea what or where it was, but if this works, maybe you could all send me there for a day!!!!
xoxoxoxo
Posted by Maryland Mom (Member # 2043) on :
Tracy, Thank you for sharing what happened at Cody's first appointment with Dr. J. His willingness to be there helping you instead of being present at a gala in his honor speaks volumes about what kind of doctor--and what kind of man--Dr. J is.
Four of my kids have been patients of his for several years now, and I have witnessed this kind of selflessness myself over and over. He is not only the foremost--or should I say only--Lyme literate pediatrician in the world. He is someone who has devoted his life to saving our children from the clutches of Lyme.
He has stayed late into the evening to see my kids, scheduled appts for Sundays, and even phoned and faxed orders for IV treatment when my daughter's health suddenly declined, to save us a trip to CT, without charging us--this was, of course, before those lawyers effectively tied his hands behind his back because of these charges he has been fighting.
A few years ago, I attended a conference on Lyme in Virginia that Dr. Jones had travelled to (along with many other LLMDs) to speak about Lyme. I stopped at his table to say hi, and he greeted me with a fatherly hug and a kiss on the cheek, then he asked about each of my children BY NAME, though he has thousands of patients.
When I gave him an update on their conditions, he took the time to give me medical advice on what regimens he wanted to change for them--something I did not ask for, or expect--while hundreds of people sat waiting to hear his presentation.
That is the kind of man Dr. J is. God broke the mold when he made him. I can't say enough good things about him.
God bless Dr. Jones, and God bless you, Tracy, for standing up for him when he needed you!!
Posted by Chicagolyme (Member # 20765) on :
This was the best post!! Thank you so much for sharing. Our Lyme family is also praying for Dr. J. to be cleared.
Our LLMD's are special people and Dr. J is incredibly special!!!
Thank you Tracy and God Bless you and your family.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Has anyone ever written a book about Dr Jones? These stories are amazing.
Posted by Melodymaker (Member # 16434) on :
Thanks to both of you Tracy and Blake! Keeping your family and Dr. J in prayer!!
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
maryland mom, that was the most touching story i've read.
robin, i agree fully; someone needs to write a book and ask for patient's input stories for it like PJ LANGHOFF did in her 2nd of 3 books or pam weintraub .....
both very talented writers ... *********************************
edited; just sent this link to pj for her info and consideration.... Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Maryland Mom,
What an absolutely amazing story; thank you so much for sharing it. It just solidifies even more what a saint Dr. Jones really is.
He is saving my children, and I hope we somehow, by some miracle, helped to save him!
Posted by hurtingramma (Member # 7770) on :
Thank you Tracy and Blake. These awesome stories must be shared. He is a great man and deserves to have all charges dropped and PUBLIC apologies made all around.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
We are really touched also to have personally heard from two TOP LLMDs, one by email and one by telephone, thanking us for stepping forward and exposing the biased panelist.
They have indicated it has good implications for beginning to crack the facade that the IDSA has put forward, and may be a first step in exposing them for what their motives really are.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
tracy; way to go girl ... glad you heard from 2 llmds at the top!!! YOU 2 made quite an impression that no one will forget. hugs
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
tracy,
You and Blake have done a very noble thing.
In a world where we usually feel that our lyme voices are not heard at all, you have shouted from the rooftop and have been heard!
Thank you so much on behalf of all parents and children!
What in the world would people do without Dr J?
I've often wondered if he is training any pediatricians to follow in his footsteps?
I doubt that anyone has the guts to do what Dr J does.
Thank you again.
Will be waiting to hear an update.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
yes, dr. jones has been training other kids llmds
lucky for us for him to share his wealth of info that he has perfected over the years treating over 15,000 kids!
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