Date: 1. Nov. 2000.
To members of the medical community,

If you support this petition, please send your name, city, state and country to Lainie Hinnant, who is organizing the names on the list (lainiell@email.msn.com).

Medical Community Petition in Support of Joseph J. Burrascano, MD

To maintain ethics, quality, and cost effectiveness in medicine, we the following physicians, researchers and health care providers recognize Joseph J. Burrascano, MD, as an international leader in establishing comprehensive medical and ethical standards for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic illnesses associated with infectious tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease. Dr. Burrascano's rigorous diagnostic and treatment guidelines particularly for Lyme disease are innovative and practical, reflect sound medical judgment, and are supported by many within the national and international medical community who perform research into, and have responsibility for management of, Lyme disease and chronic tick-borne illnesses.

We believe that Dr. Burrascano's approach is committed to preserving traditional conservative medicine. It emphasizes fundamentals of thorough clinical history taking and physical and mental examination and a strong reliance upon clinical judgment, with attention to individualized treatment; the importance of maintaining compassion; and the recognition of a patient's legitimate right to access humane, ethical, and innovative treatment.

In support of Dr. Burrascano's approach to the treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, we formally oppose rigid diagnostic and treatment guidelines, commonly referred to as "cook book medicine," being currently applied to the complex, myriad presentations and varying bacterial strains of these vector-borne illnesses. We maintain that such guidelines are biased, and designed to suit the economic interests of the insurance industry while depriving patients of timely and effective care and enhanced quality of life.

We believe that New York State's Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) proceedings against Dr. Burrascano, and other physicians currently treating tick-borne diseases, reflect a similar bias, and stem from individuals and groups with special interests that are contrary to the best interests--scientific, ethical, and humane interests--of Medicine.

Finally, we feel that a thorough and impartial investigation into the adverse influence and politics which resulted in the OPMC hearing against Dr Burrascano is imperative. We strongly advocate for a just and balanced review, a formal apology from New York's OPMC to Dr. Burrascano, and reimbursement for costs incurred in these proceedings.

Signed,

Robert C. Bransfield, MD
Red Bank, NJ
732-741-3263

Meryl Nass, MD
Freeport, ME, USA

Debra J. Solomon, MD
North Kingstown, RI, USA

Virginia Sherr, MD, FAPA
Holland, PA, USA

Michael Ledtke, MD
Saganaw, MI, USA
519-793-7779

Howard Posner, MD
Philadelphia, PA, USA

Laurence Meer-Scherrer, MD
Switzerland

Werner F. von Lerber, MD
Bern, Switzerland

Theresa H. Yang, MD, FAAFP
Santee, CA, USA

M. Nicolai Nielsen, MD FAPA
Sparta, NJ, USA

Richard Brand, MD
 New City, NY, USA

Jane Kelman, MD
New City, NY, USA

William Braden, MD
Providence, RI, USA

Joachim Gruber, PhD
Hamburg, Germany

Stephen Brand, PhD
Kingston, RI, USA

Rita Stanley, PhD
Portland, OR, USA

Lainie Hinnant, LCSW
Richmond, VA, USA

Sandra K. Berenbaum, CSW-R, BCD
Wappingers Falls, NY, USA

M. Alexandra Stowe, DVM
Orlando, FL, USA

for further signatures, see http://www.angelfire.com/or2/burrally/petition.html