LETTER TO ALL FROM C. M.D.
December 5, 2007
Dear Friends,
I have appreciated the many expressions of
support being conveyed to me by so many of you, and
want to keep you apprised of the latest developments
regarding the charges brought against me by the
Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Almost as soon as I had issued my previous update
to you, the hearing panel assigned to my case
released its "Proposed Memorandum of Decision.”
This decision, which is preliminary, recommends
that many of the charges against me be upheld and
outlines the following sanctions: a reprimand
from the Connecticut Medical Examining Board, a
total civil penalty in the amount of $10,000, and a
two-year supervised probationary period, to be
conducted by a physician who will review my patient
records at my expense. My license, however, was
neither suspended nor revoked, nor was it
recommended that it should be.
I want you to understand the potential impact of
these recommendations, if they are allowed to
stand. For example, the proposed decision states
that I have been charged with failing to reconsider
my diagnosis of Lyme disease in light of the
negative Western Blot tests in April, 2005. It also
states that I have been charged with diagnosing
a disease in very low risk patients, with
non-specific medical histories, non-specific signs and
symptoms, and negative laboratory tests. Bear in
mind that the record indicates that these
patients had traveled to other states, had camped in
Oklahoma, and had a history of tick attachments. A
panel of the Connecticut Medical Examining Board
has determined that the Connecticut Department of
Public Health has sustained its burden of proof
with regard to these charges, meaning that I am
guilty as char ged.
As you can see, these recommendations fail to
take into account the unreliability of laboratory
testing for Lyme disease. If they are not
overturned, they will seriously impede my freedom to
diagnose and treat Lyme and other tick-borne diseases
based on my clinical judgment and expertise,
despite the fact that I will be allowed to retain my
medical license. Furthermore, these findings
will set a dangerous precedent for other physicians
treating Lyme disease. That is why we must
prevail and, if we are unable to reverse these
recommended findings, continue to oppose them in court.
The full board will consider the hearing
panel’s recommendations and proposed penalties at a
formal hearing scheduled for December 18, 2007 at
1:30 p.m., at the Legislative Office Building,
Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT, in Conference Room 2C.
Written responses, or legal briefs, must be
submitted before December 13. At the hearing, both
sides will present oral arguments. My legal team
will challenge the preliminary findings and the
proposed sanctions. It is possible to see
movement from a panel’s “Proposed Memorandum of
Decision” to an approved final decision, after the
full board hears the oral arguments and reads
the briefs.
I extend a warm and hearty welcome and encourage
your attendance at this hearing. It is important
to convey to the full board that this is a
matter of considerable importance to the surrounding
community. They have reserved a big conference
room for this purpose, indicating that they are
anticipating a very large turnout. We wouldn't want
to disappoint them! Please bear in mind,
however, that this will be our first public encounter
with the full medical board. It is critical that
we do not distract them, or disrupt the
proceedings in any way. The press also is likely to show
strong interest in these proceedings, and it will
be important for them, as well as the members of
the board, to see the Lyme community for what it
is: responsible, dignified and appropriately
involved.< /SPAN>
Once again, I want to emphasize that your caring
and concern during this process has been
invaluable to me. As you know, your financial support has
been essential as well, and your generosity has
touched me deeply. I hope that you will continue
to make donations, to the extent that you are
able, to the Charles Ray Jones, M.D. Legal Defense
Fund (http://www.lymesite.com/drjones.htm).
I send very best wishes for a healthy and happy
holiday season.
Sincerely,
Dr. C M.D.
For a synopsis on the hearings go to
www.lymesite.com/hearing_1_synopsis_by_sandy_bere.htm --
NEW UPDATE! YOU ARE NEEDED! Find out what you can
do and why you should do it:
lymeactivist.wordpress.com/. The Take
Action! call is presently focusing on the defense of
Dr. C