HARTFORD — Supporters of a controversial Lyme disease doctor in New Haven can breathe a sigh of relief.

Dr. Charles Ray Jones was told last month that if he didn’t find and pay for someone to monitor his practice by July 20, the state could take away his medical license or impose extra punishment. Jones reached out to more than 200 Connecticut pediatricians asking for help. None responded.

Earlier this year, Connecticut’s Medical Examining Board decided Jones had violated several standards of care by prescribing medicine for children he’d never met (Jones says he continued a prescription for the child of a nurse whom he knows well and trusts) and ordered blood and urine tests before seeing patients (Jones counters that he has a six-month wait time and in the interest of saving time, he tests first) among other things.

The punishment was a $10,000 fine and probation for four years. He also had to pay for a so-called monitor who would review his practice every month and write a monthly report to the state Department of Public Health.

Last week, at the July 20 hearing in Hartford, the Medical Examiners Board approved a monitor for the 81-year-old physician. Jones, his patients and supporters see the case against him as drummed up charges to force him out of practice. They think its intended as a message to other doctors to not treat chronic Lyme disease.

Chronic Lyme is controversial — many doctors believe it’s an umbrella diagnosis to placate patients and parents who may have psychosomatic symptoms.

Since many don’t believe chronic Lyme exists, Jones’ way of treating it — with months’ and sometimes years’ worth of antibiotics — is dismissed and disparaged. Many doctors worry that long-term use of antibiotics can be harmful.

This was the state’s second case against Jones.

Both are being appealed in court.

Jones had a hard time finding a monitor. Some say doctors didn’t want to be involved in the Lyme controversy. At the last minute, Jones decided to accept the suggestion of a Massachusetts company that contracts monitors. Jones originally didn’t want to use that service because of “troubling” aspects of the company’s contract.

“We had no choice,” said Elliot Pollack, Jones’ attorney, after the July 20 hearing in Hartford. “There were no other physicians willing to serve.”

“At least he’s able to continue to practice,” says Tim Lamb, the only Jones supporter at the hearing. (Jones himself did not attend.) Lamb, of Glastonbury, says his daughter has Lyme disease. He took her to eight doctors before seeing Jones. Other physicians did not think she had Lyme; some called her symptoms psychosomatic.

He was relieved to find a doctor who believes she has Lyme and is treating her for it. His daughter is slowly improving, he says. Lamb says he’d lined up an alternative doctor in case Jones lost his license or was suspended.

“From a selfish perspective, at least I’ll be able to see him with my daughter in September,” he says.

Questions or comments? Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Share this story:
Facebook |Twitter |Digg |Reddit |Stumbleupon

Comments

Add New Search

Write comment
Name:
Email:	do not notifynotify
Website:
Title:
	Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."