November, 2001 Hearing: Flyer 2

NOTE: This Action Item Has Expired
www.lymeinfo.net

ATTENTION LYME PATIENTS, FRIENDS AND FAMILIES

This is an urgent call for Lyme disease patients and their families FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY to attend a vitally important hearing before the NYS Assembly Health Committee on Nov. 27th at 10a.m. in Albany, New York in the Legislative Office Building, Hearing Room (B), 2nd Floor. This hearing may be the last chance that chronic Lyme disease patients have to save their access to appropriate medical care.

Most of us have been aware of the scientific controversy about whether or not Lyme disease is easy to diagnose and treat. In recent years, state licensing boards, frequently spurred on by complaints from insurance companies, have been investigating and charging with professional misconduct those physicians willing to treat chronic Lyme with more than the cookbook 4 weeks of antibiotics.

These investigations have created an atmosphere in which many physicians will no longer risk their licenses in order to treat chronic Lyme. The most aggressive of these licensing boards is the Office of Professional Medical Conduct, (OPMC) in New York State. At present almost 70% of the few doctors still willing to treat chronic Lyme disease in New York State have come under the threat of losing their licenses to practice medicine.

If the OPMC is permitted to continue this witch hunt, the ripple effect on physicians throughout the country could leave chronic Lyme disease patients without access to appropriate care. We must show up to support our physicians' right to treat us according to their best clinical judgment.

THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO SAVE OUR MEDICAL CARE - YOU ARE NEEDED
Please come to Albany, you, your family and friends are needed. Hundreds or even thousands attending to show support for our doctors will demonstrate to the Assembly that the OPMC must be stopped from depriving patients of essential medical care.

IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND:
Please fax your name, address, phone number and e-mail address to:
Lara Kassel at Fax # 518-455-5939
OR mail it to her at:
822 Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248.
Tell her that you plan to attend the public hearing on the Lyme Disease Controversy on November 27th. Indicate if you need any assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information.

FOR TRANSPORTATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE PERSON IN YOUR AREA:
1) DUTCHESS/ULSTER COUNTY, NY AREA:
Lia McCabe at: lmccabe@localnet.com   914-474-2679
2) LONG ISLAND, NY: Eva at: ArtistEMHGD@aol.com 631-878-6657
3) ANYWHERE ELSE IN NYS: Ellen at: ellenluba@yahoo.com 212-799-2554
4) CONNECTICUT: Jody at: jlring@yahoo.com   203-327-0008
5) MASSACHUSETTS: Kay at: b10g7@mediaone.net 978-468-6336
6) PHILADELPHIA AND SOUTH JERSEY:
For bus that will be leaving on 11/26 and returning on 11/27:
Call Tom at 215-886-9493 or E-mail Arlene at aj1903@aol.com

PROVIDE THEM WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
Please include in your e-mail or phone message: your name, address and phone number, and how many people from your family will be going including yourself.

IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION:
** 1) Go to www.lymeinfo.net **
2) E-mail your questions to RACEr91@aol.com
3) Call Jean at 914-245-5278 or Steve at 203-762-2723