We can offer support in protecting future care for ourselves, others..the children.. (( NATIONWIDE!! )) This is beyond necessary.

Not just NYers..everyone absolutely needs to do this.

Right away.

Now you you run out and play

Thanks for the reminder;

As Mo said, this is for EVERYONE. This is not just a NY action alert.

Here's Ellen's message reposted; lets finally save our doctors, and protect our future care...there will never be a cure until it's really ok to treat!

FOR DISTRIBUTION;

Hi follks,
This is a truly urgent situation. The medical care
of ALL Lyme disease patients is in jeopardy, and we
must all write letters NOW to protect our care.

There are only about two weeks left before the New
York State legislature adjourns until January 2005.

If they adjourn without passing either S5221 or A7365a
to protect our doctors, there could be devastating
consequences for all Lyme disease patients - no matter
where they live.

At present, two major LLMDs in New York State are
under the gun. We could well lose these doctors by
next year, - unless, in the next two weeks, we
get the necessary legislation to protect them against
persecution.

As tragic as this loss might be in itself, though, the
repercussions for ALL Lyme patients could be
devastating.

The actions of the OPMC in the last few years has had
a chilling effect on the medical community THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY!

Many physicians across the country interested in
treating Lyme disease have withdrawn for fear of
losing their licenses. Although, the OPMC is a NYS
agency, it belongs to a national group comprised of
all state medical disciplinary boards.

Certainly many more of our doctors will drop out if
the OPMC destroys the careers of more New York
doctors.

Losing LLMDs means not only losing our medical care,
it also means that reporting of new cases of Lyme
disease will effectively cease. Few reported new
cases will mean that Lyme will be defined as a rare
illness - not in need of research or treatment.

I hate to stress people with this doomsday scenario,
but this is a true crisis , and we all need to act
now. All that is being asked is that each and every
one of you write a letter.

ACTION ALERT!!

We are asking only that EVERY LYME PATIENT IN THE
COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD WRITE TO GOVERNOR PATAKI
AND ASK HIM TO SUPPORT THE OPMC REFORM BILL S5221 AND
THE MAYERSOHN BILL A7365A.

If Governor Pataki gets THOUSANDS OF LETTERS IN THE
NEXT WEEK, there will be pressure on him to get behind
these bills. With his support, we will get them
through the Senate and signed into law.

To Write To The Governor:
Governor George E. Pataki
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

518-474-8390

To Email The Governor: http://161.11.3.75/

Please include your mailing address

THE MAIN THING TO GET ACROSS IS THAT YOU ARE ASKING
FOR HIM TO SUPPORT S5221 AND A7365a. THE OPMC has
targeted most of the doctors in NYS who treat chronic
Lyme disease, and this has been a great threat to your
well being. Both laws we are asking him to support
provide due process for doctors. Right now the
physicians do not really have much right to defend
themselves against unjust charges. Let the Governor
know how much your LLMD has helped. Tell him of your
concern of what would happen to you if you were to
lose your LLMD.

For those of you who don't live in NYS, please add
that you know that physcians across the country who
treat Lyme disease have watched what is happening in
NYS so that further harassment of Lyme docs in NYS
will mean less treatment for everyone across the
country.

PLEASE DON'T NAME ANY DOCTORS, (EXCEPT DR. BURRASCANO
WHOSE CASE HAS HAD A LOT OF PUBLICITY.) DO NOT BAD
MOUTH ANY LEGISLATORS. PLEASE KEEP A RESPECTFUL TONE
TO THE GOVERNER IN YOUR LETTER.

Almost four years ago, at the demonstration to support
Dr. Burrascano against OPMC persecution, we vowed
that: We won't lose our lives in silence; And we will
not go away. We have been fighting steadily since
then and are now finally on the verge of a victory.

*********************************************

DearXXX,

I know that you have been aware of my problems with
Lyme disease, and I really need your help in
protecting my medical care. Most of the doctors in
NYS who will treat people with my condition have been
harassed by the State Office of Professional Medical
Conduct.

Many complaints against doctors actually come from
insurance companies. The problem has been that there
is little due process protection for doctors once they
are charged.

Two bills currently in the state legislature would
stop this harassment of Lyme and other doctors by
giving doctors some due process in protecting
themselves.

Could you please write to Governor Pataki this week
and ask him to support bills S5221 and A7365a . Let
him know that your motivation is to protect the
medical treatment of Lyme patients.

To Write To The Governor:
Governor George E. Pataki
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

518-474-8390

To Email The Governor: http://161.11.3.75/

Please include your mailing address

********************************************

Some ideas for the letter itself:

As Ellen says..they don't want to see form letters..

So our best bet is to just go over Ellen's initial alert above, and hit a few points.

1. Who you are (patient..patients family..concerned citizen..)

2. What you want him to do (do all he can to SUPPORT THE OPMC REFORM BILL S5221 AND THE MAYERSOHN BILL A7365A.)

3. Write a LITTLE bit about your plight, or your families..

4. Your CONCERNS about the effect it will have on Doctors in NY, patients of those Docs, and the ripple effect throughout the country if medical review boards are not bound by due process.

5. These bills bring due process, such as some disclosure during the proceedings and giving Docs the right to present medical evidence in their defense.

THEY IN NO WAY JEOPARDIZE the OPMC's
ability to target "bad" Docs.

SOME IDEAS, you don't need to hit all of these points, maybe just pick two:

If the process is made just, then we can feel more secure in knowing we will be protected as far as our quality of care.
**In reguard to both good and bad doctors.

A significant number of children in endemic areas suffer great morbidity in the lack of proper diagnosis and treatment in the midst of a growing epidemic as a result of licensing pressures.

This kind of intimidation also precludes most doctors from treating illnesses outside of a cookbook, "one size fits all" approach. The effects of current policy allowing the OPMC to inject itself into a medical debate ultimately leaves many patients without protection against complicated, progressive infection.

A precedent set in NY will undoubtedly have considerable impact on what will evolve across the country regarding fair practice by medical review boards, and in turn have an impact on well intentioned physicians' inclination to study and utilize effective treatments in order to care for their patients.

**As Ellen said, it does not have to be a literary masterpiece..and it only has to hit a few main ponts.

***It's more important that we write, and get as ((MANY OTHERS)) to write as we can

Mo

[This message has been edited by Mo (edited 06 June 2004).]

It helps to think of doing this with intent.

Our intention is to toss a stone in the pond that sends a ripple effect, turns the tides.

With intent to get this done.

With that, contact groups, churches, friends and family.

I know they may tire of being asked to help, or understand..but this is so important. This is for non-Lyme cases, as well as those stricken.

I also find that communicating the specifics of this calamity re: review boards and the persecution of good Docs brings a clearer sense of awareness to the table. People "get" it when they are made aware of what's going on with OPMC and our LL Docs.

So, in asking that folks write, it also raises awareness a notch.

'Tis a good thing all around.

What's our intention?

To bring necessary change.

If ever there was a time to pester..now is the time! This is as much for anyone as it is for ourselves..

Everyone else..

Remember, if you have friends who will not likely write on their own, but will give you permnission to sign their name (and address)
you can have a short letter to do that with as well.

Mo

This is so very important. Each letter brings us closer..

Please evryone know that your letter, and those from your family..may be the one(s) that push this over the top for the legistlators.

When the RI bill was passed..one Senator remarked he had NEVER seen so many e-mails and calls over an issue.

We've GOT to do the same thing right now.

That means we all have to do this..and get those you know to send, or agree to have you send in their name and address on a letter.

Mo

Mostly, I am posting in order to bring this to the top today.

I know I saw the post a few days ago, but wasn't functioning well enough to deal with it.