POLITICAL ACTION: Why does Connecticut keep spending money to harass Dr. Jones?
PRESS RELEASE: "At a time when all eyes are focused on the economy, no one seems to be watching as the Department of Public Health dwindles away taxpayers' dollars attempting to persecute a pediatrician for making children better."
From the Lyme Disease Association & Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force:
Is the Connecticut DPH Helping Patients?
Hartford, CT February 12, 2010 −At a time when all eyes are focused on the economy, no one seems to be watching as the Department of Public Health (DPH) dwindles away taxpayers’ dollars attempting to persecute a pediatrician for making children better.
DPH investigations and legal actions, prompted by supporters of the guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), have forced Dr. Charles R. Jones of New Haven to defend himself against charges that have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition, there is a significant outstanding balance in his legal defense fund.
The complaints filed against Dr. Jones were not due to children being harmed, in fact, they all have improved significantly as a result of his treatment. Yet, the DPH continues to monitor Jones and gathers children’s medical files from his office shelves to try to find evidence that will justify any charges that many say are designed to bankrupt him and force him into surrendering his medical license. After almost 6 years as a target of the DPH, Jones is still licensed to treat, has a full patient load with a long waiting list, and works six days a week to help as many sick and disabled children as possible.
Dr. Jones, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport with over one hundred of his “children” in attendance, took an unprecedented stand against the flawed Infectious Diseases Society of America’s (IDSA) Lyme disease treatment guidelines long before Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal launched an investigation which uncovered multiple undisclosed conflicts of interest by IDSA panelists who developed the guidelines. For years, Jones has refused to allow the thousands of children with Lyme and tick-borne diseases, who have been coming to him from around the world for help, to suffer from lack of adequate treatment.
“We must send a clear message to health departments across the country that we will not be bullied, or allow our right to medical treatment to be trampled,” stated Jones in a recent letter to patients and health care providers. His “children” and their parents are grateful that he helped so many of them return to a normal life after years of suffering.
Although the State has indicated the most recent charges are not about Lyme, it hired two Connecticut-based “Lyme specialists” to testify against him. Dr. L. Zemel, one of the “experts,” testimony was thrown out, with the panel characterizing him as clearly biased against physicians who treat chronic Lyme and against many of the labs that they use. This characterization comes as no surprise to Lyme patients and their families who have been subject to the same type of bias by many IDSA guidelines’ followers, leading to curtailed treatment, disabling disease, tremendous pain, and inability to function in society.
As Dr. Jones’ legal fees continue to snowball, someone needs to investigate how much the State is spending to harass a good doctor who is saving lives and what other doctors, who pose real threats to patients, are slipping through the cracks while this spurious investigation is permitted to continue.
CT volunteer Lyme disease support groups are holding a rally for Dr. Jones prior to his next scheduled DPH hearing on February 16, 2010 at 11:00 AM in front of the DPH building on Capitol Avenue. For more information and inclement weather advisories on the rally please visit www.LymeRights.org
CONTACT:
Rally/State: Maggie Shaw, Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force 203-470-5406 National: Pat Smith, Lyme Disease Association, Inc. 888-366-6611 Lymeliter@aol.com
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