Three news stories on Jemsek

[Guest guest]

I am forwarding these stories from Robynn's Lyme list as they give further

details on Dr. ph Jemsek's case in North Carolina. I have a special

concern for this outstanding doctor as he is the first doctor who would even

consider giving me antibiotics. This was back when he was treating AIDS

cases and was at least familiar with mycoplasma and therefore willing to

consider treating my mycoplasma infection. At that time he was not treating

Lyme, nor was I a diagnosed Lyme patient until several years later. Just

thought some of you on this list might be interested in his case. If you

pray you might want to pray for his future and service to humanity.

a

N.C. Medical Board Hears Testimony Against Lyme Disease Doctor

Date: Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:22 pm (PDT)

http://www.wral.com/apncnews/9372235/detail.html

N.C. Medical Board Hears Testimony Against Lyme Disease Doctor

POSTED: 1:23 am EDT June 15, 2006

UPDATED: 1:23 am EDT June 15, 2006

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Emotional testimony, including that of a man whose wife

died, began Wednesday in the case against a prominent Charlotte doctor whose

controversial method of diagnosing and treating Lyme disease could cost him

his medical license.

The state Medical Board has charged Dr. ph Jemsek with improperly

diagnosing the tick-borne disease and violating medical standards by

treating patients with large, prolonged doses of intravenous antibiotics.

The 12-member board will decide whether Jemsek, known for discovering the

first AIDS case in North Carolina, will lose his ability to practice

medicine.

About 100 people waited in line in the rain for a chance to sit in on the

hearing Wednesday, including many supporters who praised Jemsek's work as

lifesaving and innovative. But testimony painted a different picture as

board attorneys mounted their case against Jemsek.

" He almost killed me, " said former patient of Huntersville,

who was referred and went to Jemsek in 2002 with flu symptoms and fatigue.

Testifying before the board, said Jemsek told her she had chronic

Lyme disease, which the medical establishment doesn't believe exists in a

chronic form, and she underwent treatment for 17 months. The standard

treatment usually lasts 28 days.

Jemsek never informed her that his methods were outside the standards set by

the Infectious Diseases Society of America, she said. , a 32-year-old

mother of three, said the daily one-hour treatments of intravenous

medications gave her five separate infections, the last of which put her in

a hospital intensive care unit.

Her medical costs topped $200,000, she said.

" I'm not a rat, I'm not an experiment, " she told the board. " I'm a human

being with a life, with a family. "

ph Jabkiewicz, 47, testified that his wife, Kathy, died after receiving

treatment from Jemsek. He said he and his 10-year-old twin sons watched as

Kathy, a pediatric intensive care nurse, fell repeatedly into violent

convulsions for which she was hospitalized multiple times.

One of their sons found his mother the day she died in 2004. The family

filed for bankruptcy because of mounting medical bills.

" Indirectly, I think he killed my wife, " Jabkiewicz said of Jemsek, saying

he urged his wife to stop seeing the doctor. " My wife didn't sign up to be a

guinea pig. "

Jemsek, who began testifying late Wednesday, defended his methods, saying

only the sickest 20 percent of his 400 to 500 Lyme disease patients received

medications through IVs. He said the disease requires various combinations

of drugs because of the complexity of the bacteria that causes the illness.

He said his extensive work with HIV and AIDS patients led him to work with

people suffering from Lyme disease, whom he said often had similar

depression after visits to several doctors proved fruitless.

After the hearing, Jemsek said listening to the testimony against him was

difficult.

" It just made me sad, " he said. " I feel horrible about Mrs. Jabkiewicz's

death, but we maintain we weren't responsible. "

Dr. Meera Kelley, an infectious diseases expert, reviewed the cases of 10

patients treated by Jemsek. She said none of the patients tested positively

for the disease through standard Lyme disease tests and that their initial

symptoms were chronic and vague.

" In all the cases I reviewed, the harm (of treatment) significantly

outweighed the benefit, " Kelley said. " These cases were dramatically outside

the realm of the guidelines and standards. "

Outside the boardroom, dozens of people waited in the lobby to show their

support for the doctor whom they described as a brilliant lifesaver who

treated them for illnesses other doctors shunned.

" I'm terrified if he loses his license, " said Kris , a former teacher

from Chapel Hill.

She said doctors repeatedly told her that Lyme disease didn't exist in North

Carolina and was told she had hormonal problems, multiple sclerosis or

needed psychiatric help.

She said Jemsek's treatment has given her her life back.

The state's chief epidemiologist, Jeff Engel, testified that Lyme disease is

rare in North Carolina and that spikes in reported cases between 2002 and

2004 were in part the result of diagnoses by Jemsek that didn't follow

medical standards.

The data was later changed.

Jemsek was expected to continue testifying Thursday, when medical board

members could make a decision.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press.

Medical board hears accusations against Lyme-treating doctor - NC

Date: Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:57 pm (PDT)

http://rdu.news14.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=85912

Medical board hears accusations against Lyme-treating doctor

6/14/2006 10:37 AM

By: Associated Press

RALEIGH -- More than 100 people lined up in the rain Wednesday morning to

attend a state board hearing on a Charlotte physician. Dr. ph Jemsek's

controversial treatment of Lyme disease could cost him his medical license.

Jemsek diagnoses and treats patients he believes suffer from chronic Lyme

disease, but most doctors don't believe the illness has a long-term form.

He's charged with misdiagnosing patients and using long-term intravenous

antibiotics treatments, which violates the standards established to treat

Lyme disease.

North Carolina's chief epediemiologist Jeff Engel told the state Medical

Board that Lyme disease is rare in this state. He said Jemsek's reports have

swayed data about the illness here.

Dr. Meera Kelley, an infectious disease expert, testified that she reviewed

some of Jemsek's case files and believes his treatment does more harm than

good.

The hearing is expected to last through Thursday.

Copyright C2006 TWEAN Newschannel of Raleigh, L.L.C. dba News 14 Carolina

Support for Lyme disease doctor comes from experts, science - NC

Date: Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:32 pm (PDT)

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/14819260.htm

Posted on Thu, Jun. 15, 2006

Support for Lyme disease doctor comes from experts, science

ERIN GARTNER

Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. - A physician in danger of losing his medical license

over his disputed diagnoses of Lyme disease received support Thursday from

experts who said the illness was complicated to detect and treat.

Dr. ph Jemsek, a prominent Charlotte doctor also known for his

treatment of AIDS patients, also is accused of failing to inform his

patients that his method of treatment - prolonged doses of intravenous

drugs - were not in line with medical standards.

After emotionally charged testimony Wednesday from former patients,

expert witnesses told the state Medical Board on Thursday that treating

chronic Lyme disease, a form of the illness many doctors don't believe

exists, can be difficult. Symptoms can be vague and the bacteria that causes

the disease reacts differently to drugs than other bacteria, they said.

Dr. Fallon, a Lyme disease expert at Columbia University in New

York, testified that a study he conducted found that 10 weeks of intravenous

antibiotics decreased the disease's symptoms of fatigue and physical pain,

and improved brain blood flow and metabolism.

Patients participating in Fallon's unpublished study tested positive

for the illness and had other symptoms of Lyme disease as defined by the

Centers for Disease Control. Medical board attorneys, who act like

prosecutors in the case, allege Jemsek often diagnosed patients without

positive test results.

However, the absence of a positive Lyme disease test doesn't mean

doctors can rule out the disease, Fallon said. And standard treatment

guidelines, which usually call for 28 days of oral medication, can miss the

mark.

" Guidelines are helpful but they can be problematic, " Fallon said of

standards outlined by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. " Clinical

judgment is a critical part. "

The science-heavy discussion followed testimony Wednesday from a

former patient who spent several days in intensive care and from a man whose

wife died while being treated by Jemsek.

The 12-member Medical Board could decide Thursday whether to revoke

Jemsek's North Carolina medical license.

C 2006 AP Wire and wire service sources.

http://www.charlotte.com

[Guest guest]

I hope he wins this because it's outrageous that he's

being targeted when there are so many more deserving

doctors who should be targeted. The lazy ones who

don't care. As much as I do dislike the laziness and

downright incompetence of many doctors, this is a

witch hunt. And just like the old witch hunts, you can

pretty much prove anyone's a witch if you try.

Especially those who are a little unique in their

particular " craft " .

penny

--- a Carnes <pj7@...> wrote:

>

> I am forwarding these stories from Robynn's Lyme

> list as they give further

> details on Dr. ph Jemsek's case in North

> Carolina. I have a special

> concern for this outstanding doctor as he is the

> first doctor who would even

> consider giving me antibiotics. This was back when

> he was treating AIDS

> cases and was at least familiar with mycoplasma and

> therefore willing to

> consider treating my mycoplasma infection. At that

> time he was not treating

> Lyme, nor was I a diagnosed Lyme patient until

> several years later. Just

> thought some of you on this list might be interested

> in his case. If you

> pray you might want to pray for his future and

> service to humanity.

> a

>

>

[Guest guest]

a

Can't you read between the lines how terrible this guys treatment

is. Imagine if he wasn't such a d..k head and actually treated there

common infections and the patients improved instead of sprouting

superinfections and ending up in ER. You shgould know from your own

experiences with cipro/levaquin collapsing the circulation in your

legs and causing you pain, discomfort and almost the inability to

walk.

>

>

> I am forwarding these stories from Robynn's Lyme list as they give

further

> details on Dr. ph Jemsek's case in North Carolina. I have a

special

> concern for this outstanding doctor as he is the first doctor who

would even

> consider giving me antibiotics. This was back when he was treating

AIDS

> cases and was at least familiar with mycoplasma and therefore

willing to

> consider treating my mycoplasma infection. At that time he was not

treating

> Lyme, nor was I a diagnosed Lyme patient until several years

later. Just

> thought some of you on this list might be interested in his case.

If you

> pray you might want to pray for his future and service to humanity.

> a

>

>

> N.C. Medical Board Hears Testimony Against Lyme Disease Doctor

>

> Date: Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:22 pm (PDT)

>

> http://www.wral.com/apncnews/9372235/detail.html

>

> N.C. Medical Board Hears Testimony Against Lyme Disease Doctor

>

> POSTED: 1:23 am EDT June 15, 2006

> UPDATED: 1:23 am EDT June 15, 2006

>

> RALEIGH, N.C. -- Emotional testimony, including that of a man

whose wife

> died, began Wednesday in the case against a prominent Charlotte

doctor whose

> controversial method of diagnosing and treating Lyme disease could

cost him

> his medical license.

>

> The state Medical Board has charged Dr. ph Jemsek with

improperly

> diagnosing the tick-borne disease and violating medical standards

by

> treating patients with large, prolonged doses of intravenous

antibiotics.

>

> The 12-member board will decide whether Jemsek, known for

discovering the

> first AIDS case in North Carolina, will lose his ability to

practice

> medicine.

>

> About 100 people waited in line in the rain for a chance to sit in

on the

> hearing Wednesday, including many supporters who praised Jemsek's

work as

> lifesaving and innovative. But testimony painted a different

picture as

> board attorneys mounted their case against Jemsek.

>

> " He almost killed me, " said former patient of

Huntersville,

> who was referred and went to Jemsek in 2002 with flu symptoms and

fatigue.

>

> Testifying before the board, said Jemsek told her she had

chronic

> Lyme disease, which the medical establishment doesn't believe

exists in a

> chronic form, and she underwent treatment for 17 months. The

standard

> treatment usually lasts 28 days.

>

> Jemsek never informed her that his methods were outside the

standards set by

> the Infectious Diseases Society of America, she said. , a

32-year-old

> mother of three, said the daily one-hour treatments of intravenous

> medications gave her five separate infections, the last of which

put her in

> a hospital intensive care unit.

>

> Her medical costs topped $200,000, she said.

>

> " I'm not a rat, I'm not an experiment, " she told the board. " I'm a

human

> being with a life, with a family. "

>

> ph Jabkiewicz, 47, testified that his wife, Kathy, died after

receiving

> treatment from Jemsek. He said he and his 10-year-old twin sons

watched as

> Kathy, a pediatric intensive care nurse, fell repeatedly into

violent

> convulsions for which she was hospitalized multiple times.

>

> One of their sons found his mother the day she died in 2004. The

family

> filed for bankruptcy because of mounting medical bills.

>

> " Indirectly, I think he killed my wife, " Jabkiewicz said of

Jemsek, saying

> he urged his wife to stop seeing the doctor. " My wife didn't sign

up to be a

> guinea pig. "

>

> Jemsek, who began testifying late Wednesday, defended his methods,

saying

> only the sickest 20 percent of his 400 to 500 Lyme disease

patients received

> medications through IVs. He said the disease requires various

combinations

> of drugs because of the complexity of the bacteria that causes the

illness.

>

> He said his extensive work with HIV and AIDS patients led him to

work with

> people suffering from Lyme disease, whom he said often had similar

> depression after visits to several doctors proved fruitless.

>

> After the hearing, Jemsek said listening to the testimony against

him was

> difficult.

>

> " It just made me sad, " he said. " I feel horrible about Mrs.

Jabkiewicz's

> death, but we maintain we weren't responsible. "

>

> Dr. Meera Kelley, an infectious diseases expert, reviewed the

cases of 10

> patients treated by Jemsek. She said none of the patients tested

positively

> for the disease through standard Lyme disease tests and that their

initial

> symptoms were chronic and vague.

>

> " In all the cases I reviewed, the harm (of treatment) significantly

> outweighed the benefit, " Kelley said. " These cases were

dramatically outside

> the realm of the guidelines and standards. "

>

> Outside the boardroom, dozens of people waited in the lobby to

show their

> support for the doctor whom they described as a brilliant

lifesaver who

> treated them for illnesses other doctors shunned.

>

> " I'm terrified if he loses his license, " said Kris , a former

teacher

> from Chapel Hill.

>

> She said doctors repeatedly told her that Lyme disease didn't

exist in North

> Carolina and was told she had hormonal problems, multiple

sclerosis or

> needed psychiatric help.

>

> She said Jemsek's treatment has given her her life back.

>

> The state's chief epidemiologist, Jeff Engel, testified that Lyme

disease is

> rare in North Carolina and that spikes in reported cases between

2002 and

> 2004 were in part the result of diagnoses by Jemsek that didn't

follow

> medical standards.

>

> The data was later changed.

>

> Jemsek was expected to continue testifying Thursday, when medical

board

> members could make a decision.

>

> Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press.

>

>

>

>

> Medical board hears accusations against Lyme-treating doctor - NC

>

> Date: Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:57 pm (PDT)

>

> http://rdu.news14.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=85912

>

> Medical board hears accusations against Lyme-treating doctor

> 6/14/2006 10:37 AM

> By: Associated Press

>

> RALEIGH -- More than 100 people lined up in the rain Wednesday

morning to

> attend a state board hearing on a Charlotte physician. Dr. ph

Jemsek's

> controversial treatment of Lyme disease could cost him his medical

license.

>

> Jemsek diagnoses and treats patients he believes suffer from

chronic Lyme

> disease, but most doctors don't believe the illness has a long-

term form.

> He's charged with misdiagnosing patients and using long-term

intravenous

> antibiotics treatments, which violates the standards established

to treat

> Lyme disease.

>

> North Carolina's chief epediemiologist Jeff Engel told the state

Medical

> Board that Lyme disease is rare in this state. He said Jemsek's

reports have

> swayed data about the illness here.

>

> Dr. Meera Kelley, an infectious disease expert, testified that she

reviewed

> some of Jemsek's case files and believes his treatment does more

harm than

> good.

>

> The hearing is expected to last through Thursday.

>

> Copyright C2006 TWEAN Newschannel of Raleigh, L.L.C. dba News 14

Carolina

>

>

>

>

>

> Support for Lyme disease doctor comes from experts, science - NC

> Date: Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:32 pm (PDT)

>

> http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/14819260.htm

>

> Posted on Thu, Jun. 15, 2006

>

> Support for Lyme disease doctor comes from experts, science

>

> ERIN GARTNER

> Associated Press

>

> RALEIGH, N.C. - A physician in danger of losing his medical

license

> over his disputed diagnoses of Lyme disease received support

Thursday from

> experts who said the illness was complicated to detect and treat.

>

> Dr. ph Jemsek, a prominent Charlotte doctor also known

for his

> treatment of AIDS patients, also is accused of failing to inform

his

> patients that his method of treatment - prolonged doses of

intravenous

> drugs - were not in line with medical standards.

>

> After emotionally charged testimony Wednesday from former

patients,

> expert witnesses told the state Medical Board on Thursday that

treating

> chronic Lyme disease, a form of the illness many doctors don't

believe

> exists, can be difficult. Symptoms can be vague and the bacteria

that causes

> the disease reacts differently to drugs than other bacteria, they

said.

>

> Dr. Fallon, a Lyme disease expert at Columbia

University in New

> York, testified that a study he conducted found that 10 weeks of

intravenous

> antibiotics decreased the disease's symptoms of fatigue and

physical pain,

> and improved brain blood flow and metabolism.

>

> Patients participating in Fallon's unpublished study tested

positive

> for the illness and had other symptoms of Lyme disease as defined

by the

> Centers for Disease Control. Medical board attorneys, who act like

> prosecutors in the case, allege Jemsek often diagnosed patients

without

> positive test results.

>

> However, the absence of a positive Lyme disease test doesn't

mean

> doctors can rule out the disease, Fallon said. And standard

treatment

> guidelines, which usually call for 28 days of oral medication, can

miss the

> mark.

>

> " Guidelines are helpful but they can be problematic, " Fallon

said of

> standards outlined by the Infectious Diseases Society of

America. " Clinical

> judgment is a critical part. "

>

> The science-heavy discussion followed testimony Wednesday

from a

> former patient who spent several days in intensive care and from a

man whose

> wife died while being treated by Jemsek.

>

> The 12-member Medical Board could decide Thursday whether to

revoke

> Jemsek's North Carolina medical license.

>

>

>

> C 2006 AP Wire and wire service sources.

> http://www.charlotte.com

>