Dear All,

 

As you may know, the next two sessions of Dr. Jones' case before the Connecticut Medical Board (CMB) have been scheduled for Thursday, January 18 and Thursday, January 25.  Here are the details:

 

CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN DR. JONES' CASE:

 

The Connecticut Medical Board has stepped up its assault on Dr. Jones:  they have dug up additional cases which involve divorced or estranged parents fighting over their kids' medical care, and want to add them at this late date to the current charges. The Board also is bringing the father in from Nevada, in the hopes of discrediting his ex-wife, who is the mother of the two children in the current case.  It is likely he will try to paint a Munchausen-type picture of her, to negate the powerful testimony that she gave during her appearance at the hearing. 

 

In response to these developments, it is time for the Lyme community to mount a powerful, visible, vocal, yet respectful response. The Connecticut Medical Board (and the Department of Public Health) must hear that Dr. Jones has been a highly valued practitioner whose dedictation and expertise with pediatric Lyme disease has been a blessing and a lifesaver to thousands of children and their families.  

 

It is critically important to support Dr. Jones not only because of his direct contributions to children with tick-borne disease and their families.  If the CMB is allowed to prevail, it will pave the way for similar charges to be brought against other physicians who treat Lyme comprehensively in Connecticut and, ultimately, elsewhere.  This situation, together with the recent publication of the newly revised, draconian IDSA guidelines, poses another direct threat to availability of appropriate care and patients' right to informed consent in the area of tick-borne disease.  The Lyme community must express a unified, coherent and powerful message regarding our presence and determination with regard to these issues.

 

 

1.  Attend one or both of the upcoming sessions:  Offer rides and organize carpools.  Bring your family and friends, as well as your children.  Some of us who have helped to publicize the previous sessions are going to be away on one or more of the next two hearing dates.  This, together with the uncertainty of winter weather conditions, increases our concern about ensuring strong attendance at these next two sessions. 

 

2.  Media Coverage:  We are now seeking as much media coverage as possible for these hearings - newspapers, TV, etc.  Is this an arena that you or anyone you know could help with?  Please come forward if you do.  Your ideas and contacts are vital!

 

3.  Help to spread the word:  Please do what you can to support Dr. Jones and to get the word out that attendance is more crucial than ever, etc.

 

4.  Formal Protest:  Some of us are investigating the possibility of a formal, indoor demonstration at one or both of the hearings.  This is complicated and time is short, however.  We are awaiting word regarding the legal requirements, including a permit.  In the meantime, please plan to attend the hearings themselves - if we pack the room and overflow into the hallway, this will serve as an informal, de facto demonstration.  Wear comfortable shoes, bring chairs and healthy snacks, just in case.

 

5.  Donations to Dr. Jones' Legal Defense Fund:  The cost of Dr. Jones' legal defense has been astronomical.  We are lucky that Dr. Jones has promised that he won't quit, and is determined to defend both his license and the right to treat Lyme comprehensively.  This could entail a lengthy appeal process and even wind up in civil court.  If we want him to prevail,  we must remember that his fight is our fight:  this is about much more than one physician's medical license. 

 

To donate to the Charles Ray Jones, M.D. Legal Defense Fund, please go to  http://www.lymesite.com/Dr-Jones_please_send_a_contribution_to_th.htm 

 

For information on current/ongoing fundraisers for Dr. Jones' legal defense fund, go to http://www.lymesite.com/LLMD_FUNDRAISER.htm