Southampton Press/Nov 9, 2000
Protest Will Support Lyme Doctor

Dr. Joseph Burrascano is facing state charges of medical misconduct 
by Michael Wright


Patients and doctors from around the country are planning to rally in Manhattan today, Nov.9 in support of Dr. Joseph Burrascano Jr. an East Hampton internist charged with medical misconduct for his methods of treating advanced or persistent cases of Lyme disease.

The rally was organized by "Voices of Lyme" a group of Lyme disease patients who say they have been helped by the treatments Dr. Burrascano has pioneeered. They will gather at 1:30 in front of the Plaza Hotel at the corner of Central Park South and Fifth Ave.

The State Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) began hearings in Dr. Burrascano's case on Oct.26 at its offices on th Lower West Side. The agency has declined to release the exact charges that have been leveled against Dr. Burrascano, but Voices of Lyme has called for him to be cleared of nine charges of misconduct.   The group has also called for an investigation of OPMC, a division of the State Health Department, for alleged bias in it`s handling of Dr. Burrascano's case and
other cases involving doctors using treatments not recognized by the OPMC.

"The OPMC stated from the beginning that they feel as if Lyme can be cured in about three weeks with antibiotics," "said Voices of Lyme member Ellen Lubarsky, herself homebound and often bedridden by persistent Lyme disease. "That is the definition of a biased board."  

                     Seventeen doctors around the country are said to be investigated for using Dr. Burrascano's techniques, and at least one, Perry Orens, formerly a general practitioner and cardiologist from Quogue, has already had his license to practice medicine revoked.   Ms. Lubarsky, who lives in Manhattan, said her own doctor, whom she declined to name, also was under investigation for using Dr. Burrascano's techniques. She said the OPMC is "after anyone who doesn't follow their own accepted guidelines."   Dr. Burrascano's treatment strategy for patients he has diagnosed with chronic or severe Lyme disease involves larger than normal intravenous doses of antibiotics for as long as symptoms persist.   The OPMC, which licenses physicians, recognizes the accepted method, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, as oral antibiotics for two to three weeks. But Dr. Burrascano and many of his patients have asserted that such treatment is effective only for patients with early stage Lyme disease and not with advanced or severe cases.

Dr. Burrascano has been the target of at least three malpractice suits brought by former patients who said they were hurt by his treatments, but none of the suits went to trial and one was withdrawn shortly after it was filed.   Dr Raymond Dattwyler, chief of the University Hospital at Stoney Brook Medical Center's division of allergy and clinical immunology and widely regarded as a leading authority on Lyme Disease, has said that Dr. Burrascano's success is largely unsubstantiated. And, he cautioned there have been cases in which such treatments have allowed natural bacteria to build up a resistance to the antibiotics and, in some cases, have endangered patient's lives.  

Voices of Lyme members contend that doctors should be free to use their clinical judgment, and patients like Ms. Lubarsky assert they would not be able to conduct their lives without Dr. Burrascano's treatments.  

"We are very sick people who are scared of losing our access to treatments," Ms. Lubarsky said, her voice cracking with emotion. "If he goes down, we can kiss our medical care goodbye."  

Southampton Press
Nov 9, 2000 by Michael Wright