Topic: IMMEDIATE Press Release - Dr. Hoffmann Investigation
NP40
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6711
posted
Please disseminate to all internet BB's, groups and individuals. Thank you. {Busted up the paragraphs for neuro lymies} -Mike
-- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --
WI Lyme Doctor Under Fire During Governor-Proclaimed ``Lyme Disease Awareness Month''
Three Lakes, WI, May 13, 2007 - Wisconsin's ``Country Doc'' Gregory Hoffmann, M.D., is being investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing and (ultimately) the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board for alleged complaints that seem a pretext for attacking Dr. Hoffman's treatment of patients with Lyme Disease.
The investigation is all the more confounding when you consider that just weeks ago, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed a proclamation declaring the month of May, ``Lyme Disease Awareness Month'' for the state.
The prosecuting attorney in the case against Dr. Hoffmann is Arthur Thexton, known for prosecuting alternative medicine practitioners.
The pretext involves Hoffmann's decision to deny a former patient a prescription for controlled substances upon concluding that the patient was abusing narcotics.
Apparently the former patient through an attorney, contacted Thexton saying, ``We're going to get him.'' Either unaware or in spite of this motivation, Thexton decided to try and make a case out of the allegation.
Thexton began his investigation by demanding Hoffmann's patient records, including personal medical files of many of his Lyme patients. Thexton stated during a phone call to Hoffmann, ``It has come to my attention you have very many Lyme patients,'' alerting Hoffmann to the likely motivation behind the case.
``This case is really about treating Lyme patients, not the fact that I wouldn't give a patient narcotics,'' says Hoffmann.
Thexton's office appears to be rushing the Hoffmann case, delivering the doctor a demand to respond by Tuesday, May 15--just 6 days after Hoffmann received notice of the investigation.
Before any real fact finding in the case, (much less a hearing scheduled), Thexton already presented Hoffmann with a ``Final Decision and Order'' containing ``Findings of Fact'' that Thexton drafted. Hoffmann feels the stipulations offered by Thexton are more an effort to scare him into settling and have nothing to do with the sound practice of medicine.
For example, Thexton states Hoffman would be ordered to pay nearly $4,000.00 in ``fees'' for Thexton's investigation of allegations which are not clearly defined.
The doctor feels that prosecuting a physician for failing to prescribe narcotics to a patient who was evaluated and concluded as drug-seeking, and then to demand patient records and discipline for those practices, or for treating a select group of patients is ``astonishing,'' as he relayed in a recent interview.
``This investigation was about one issue, but now seems to be targeting my Lyme patients,'' said Hoffmann.
Word of the investigation traveled quickly as sympathetic patients contacted Lyme advocacy groups and key officials, overwhelming Thexton's office with their concerns.
The prosecutor responded to this activity in a letter dated May 11, addressed to Hoffmann. ``I have been barraged by communications, almost entirely from lay people outside Wisconsin, which allege that you are being investigated because you treat Lyme Disease, and are going to lose your license because of this,'' said Thexton's letter.
``I wish to make clear that this is not the reason for this investigation. This investigation was opened because of your prescribing of controlled substances. It had nothing to do with Lyme disease,'' wrote Thexton, contrary to Hoffmann's statements.
The issue, of course, is not what caused the investigation to be opened, but what is motivating Thexton to continue the case, given Thexton's own words to Dr. Hoffman about Lyme Disease treatment and treatment following a ``respectable school of thought.''
Hoffmann's patients are speculating as to what that ``respectable school of thought'' might be, as Thexton has previously been connected to ``Quackbuster'' Stephen Barrett, and Robert Baratz through DLR cases against Wisconsin Physicians Eleazor Kadile (Green Bay), Richard (Rick) Vander Heyden DDS (Green Bay).
Stephen Barrett operates the web site, Quackwatch.com, where Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) associate Edward McSweegan posts a Lyme disease web page criticizing [ILADS] Lyme treatment guidelines.
Hoffmann follows ILADS treatment recommendations, which are contrary to the IDSA treatment guidelines, with IDSA guidelines under investigation by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's office for possible anti-trust violations.
``The allegations of this investigation have no basis, and if these proceedings are allowed to continue, this will be the end of the private practice physician, and probably Lyme physicians,'' Hoffmann said when referencing the apparent trend by Thexton to attack small-town physicians like himself who have very limited means of mounting a legal defense.
Hoffmann's clinic is the last privately-owned and operated clinic in northern Wisconsin, and he is one of only a handful of ``Lyme-literate'' physicians in the state.
A legal defense fund is being established to help fight the allegations lobbied against doctor Hoffmann, who has tremendous support rallying behind him from patients, especially from the Lyme community.
Perhaps the Governor's proclamation has served to raise more than just awareness about Lyme disease--it also underscores to patients, the importance of fighting for the relatively few Lyme treating physicians who oppose guidelines that seem to define the disease out of existence.
[ 15. May 2007, 04:51 PM: Message edited by: NP40 ]
Posts: 1632 | From Northern Wisconsin | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged |
bettyg
Unregistered
posted
up, mike, i sent this to 80 people and 2 NEWSPAPERS....
IP: Logged |
NP40
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6711
posted
Betty, sorry. Could you please re-send ? I had to do some editing but it's complete now. Thanks. -Mike
Posts: 1632 | From Northern Wisconsin | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged |
bettyg
Unregistered
posted
5-14-07 CORRECTIONS PER THEIR ATTORNEY'S REQUEST ON POSTING.....
mike, on resending....do you mean what i got from pj first?
here it is BROKEN UP more and the 2 local nmikeewspapers i sent it to in IOWA.
5-14-07 version CORRECTED per your request 999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
Story City Herald and Ames Trbune newspapers, there was a minor error in what I sent you yesterday. Please run the CORRECTED version below; thank you. Bettyg, IOWA
INFO at SEWILL wrote: Betty,
Due to some rewording by our attorney, our press release had an error in it yesterday that didn't get caught---darn!
Please re-distribute the correction version if not too much trouble?
Thanks, you're a peach. Also, can you cc me response level? PJ
-- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --
WISC. Lyme Doctor Under Fire During Governor-Proclaimed ``Lyme Disease Awareness Month''
Three Lakes, WI, May 13, 2007 -
Wisconsin's ``Country Doc'' Gregory Hoffmann, M.D., is being investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing and (ultimately) the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board for alleged complaints that seem a pretext for attacking Dr. Hoffman's treatment of patients with Lyme Disease.
The investigation is all the more confounding when you consider that just weeks ago, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed a proclamation declaring the month of May, ``Lyme Disease Awareness Month'' for the state.
The prosecuting attorney in the case against Dr. Hoffmann is Arthur Thexton, known for prosecuting alternative medicine practitioners.
The pretext involves Hoffmann's decision to deny a former patient a prescription for controlled substances upon concluding that the patient was abusing narcotics.
Apparently the former patient through an attorney, contacted Thexton saying, ``We're going to get him.'' Either unaware or in spite of this motivation, Thexton decided to try and make a case out of the allegation.
Thexton began his investigation by demanding Hoffmann's patient records, including personal medical files of many of his Lyme patients.
Thexton stated during a phone call to Hoffmann, ``It has come to my attention you have very many Lyme patients,'' alerting Hoffmann to the likely motivation behind the case. ``This case is really about treating Lyme patients, not the fact that I wouldn't give a patient narcotics,'' says Hoffmann.
Thexton's office appears to be rushing the Hoffmann case, delivering the doctor a demand to respond by Tuesday, May 15--just 6 days after Hoffmann received notice of the investigation.
Before any real fact finding in the case, (much less a hearing scheduled), Thexton already presented Hoffmann with a ``Final Decision and Order'' containing ``Findings of Fact'' that Thexton drafted.
Hoffmann feels the stipulations offered by Thexton are more an effort to scare him into settling and have nothing to do with the sound practice of medicine.
For example, Thexton states Hoffman would be ordered to pay nearly $4,000 in ``fees'' for Thexton's investigation of allegations which are NOT clearly defined.
The doctor feels that prosecuting a physician for failing to prescribe narcotics to a patient who was evaluated and concluded as drug-seeking, and then to demand patient records and discipline for those practices, or for treating a select group of patients is ``astonishing,'' as he relayed in a recent interview.
``This investigation was about one issue, but now seems to be targeting my Lyme patients,'' said Hoffmann.
Word of the investigation traveled quickly as sympathetic patients contacted Lyme advocacy groups and key officials, overwhelming Thexton's office with their concerns.
The prosecutor responded to this activity in a letter dated May 11, addressed to Hoffmann. ``I have been barraged by communications, almost entirely from lay people outside Wisconsin, which allege that you are being investigated because you treat Lyme Disease, and are going to lose your license because of this,'' said Thexton's letter.
``I wish to make clear that this is not the reason for this investigation. This investigation was opened because of your prescribing of controlled substances. It had nothing to do with Lyme disease,'' wrote Thexton, contrary to Hoffmann's statements.
The issue, of course, is not what caused the investigation to be opened, but what is motivating Thexton to continue the case, given Thexton's own words to Dr. Hoffman about Lyme Disease treatment and treatment following a ``respectable school of thought.''
Hoffmann's patients are speculating as to what that ``respectable school of thought'' might be, as Thexton has previously been connected to ``Quackbuster'' Stephen Barrett, and Robert Baratz through DLR cases against:
Wisconsin Physicians Eleazor Kadile (Green Bay), Richard (Rick) Vander Heyden DDS (Green Bay) and Stuart Suster, MD (Milwaukee). Stephen Barrett operates the web site, Quackwatch.com, where Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) associate Edward McSweegan posts a Lyme disease web page criticizing [ILADS] Lyme treatment guidelines.
Hoffmann follows ILADS treatment recommendations, which are contrary to the IDSA treatment guidelines under investigation by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's office for possible anti-trust violations.
``The allegations of this investigation have no basis, and if these proceedings are allowed to continue, this will be the end of the private practice physician, and probably Lyme physicians,'' Hoffmann said when referencing the apparent trend by Thexton to attack small-town physicians like himself who have very limited means of mounting a legal defense.
Hoffmann's clinic is the last privately-owned and operated clinic in northern Wisconsin, and he is one of only a handful of ``Lyme-literate'' physicians in the state.
A legal defense fund is being established to help fight the allegations lobbied against doctor Hoffmann, who has tremendous support rallying behind him from patients, especially from the Lyme community.
Perhaps the Governor's proclamation has served to raise more than just awareness about Lyme disease--it also underscores to patients, the importance of fighting for the relatively few Lyme treating physicians who oppose guidelines that seem to define the disease out of existence.
posted
Sent messages to the AG office and to the grand inquisitor. Maybe these guys should adopt the techniques of the Spanish Inquisition....oh wait, they already have.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic