For distribution: Regarding Dr. ' hearings on January 18 and 25

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

As you may know, the next two sessions of Dr. ' case before the

Connecticut Medical Board (CMB) have been scheduled for Thursday, January 18

and

Thursday, January 25. Here are the details:

1. Hearing session scheduled for Thursday, January 18th: This will begin

at 9:00 a.m. at the Dept. of Public Health Complex, 410 Capitol Avenue,

Hartford, CT, Conference Room C in Building 470. The room holds 100 people

(note

that this is a different location than where the last several have been held,

but is nearby);

2. Hearing session scheduled for Thursday January 25th: This session also

will begin at 9:00 a.m. Location to be determined. We should know this by

mid-week. Please watch for more information.

CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN DR. JONES' CASE:

The Connecticut Medical Board has stepped up its assault on Dr. : 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.

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. 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.

WHAT TO DO:

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.

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. ' Legal Defense Fund: The cost of Dr. '

legal defense has been astronomical. We are lucky that Dr. 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 Ray , M.D. Legal Defense Fund, please go to

_http://www.lymesite.com/Dr-_please_send_a_contribution_to_th.htm_

(http://www.lymesite.com/Dr-_please_send_a_contribution_to_th.htm)

For information on current/ongoing fundraisers for Dr. ' legal defense

fund, go to _http://www.lymesite.com/LLMD_FUNDRAISER.htm_

(http://www.lymesite.com/LLMD_FUNDRAISER.htm)

Please continue to check your email for more information and details. Mark

your calendars for these two important dates. Thank you for your attention,

your ideas and your support!

Sincerely,

Sheila

Sheila M. Statlender, Ph.D.

Clinical Psychologist

53 Langley Road, Suite 330C

Newton Centre, MA 02459

617-965-2329