In wake of the AMA finding against Eastern Shore Lyme's disease specialist Dr. Geoffrey Gubb, several of Gubb's patients have come out in support of the specialist.In a letter sent to WESR from Dianne Nickel, local resident and current Lymes disease patient of Dr. Gubb, she said that Dr. Gubbs contributions vastly outweigh the allegations against him.
Nickel said "A year ago I could not see to drive my car, and I had chronic fatigue, leaned on walls to stand, had migraine headaches, joint pain and swelling in my wrists, night sweats and so on. I lost 5 months of work due to these ailments. I am glad to say that Dr. Gubb's treatment has me back on my feet, exercising 10 miles each night on my exercise bike, working 8 hours a day, driving anywhere I want to and feeling great with no pain."
Nickel also addressed the AMA's allegations, saying "I understand that he gave pain killers to patients and did not follow their cases and treatment. All I can say is for sure that he did not give anyone a pain killer unless they absolutely needed it. I trust him completely. He sent me to an herbal store to purchase milk thistle, probiotics and other herbal remedies. He is a naturalist."
The letter also says the review of Dr. Gubb by the AMA was only a 3 man review. A more formal 9 person review could overturn the ruling in this case. Gubb still plans on closing his family medical practice at the end of the month. He is the only Lymes disease specialist on the Eastern Shore.
www.shoredailynews.com
just a correction here: The AMA (American Medical Association) has NOT now nor has it ever investigated Dr. Gubb. The Virginia Board of Medicine which is the Commonwealth's regulatory body which determines safe medical practice in Virginia HAS investigated and found Dr. Gubb's medical management substandard. The AMA has NO administrative or regulatory power over medical practices in Virginia or any other state. Ms. Nickel may not have understood the details of the BOM's purview over safe medical practice and what the requirement is for safe management of patients who take large doses of narcotics for years and years. Specific 'opioid' contracts/urinalyses and stringent record keeping along with regular, scheduled patient visits and exams are required by the BOM and the DEA. Anyone prescribing these drugs who refuses or fails to comply with the regulations will be sanctioned. It's just a fact of practicing medicine today . Lymes Disease has NOTHING to do with the actions taken on Dr. Gubb's medical license. Prescriptive behavior when chronic pain meds are used is specific under the law. There is no mystery or vendetta here. All doctors KNOW what the compliance issues are for rxing continuing, high doses of scheduled narcotics and what will happen if they FAIL to follow accepted pain management guidlines and protocols. Dr. Gugg knew this would be the outcome of his medical management.
ReplyDeleteI think you mean Lyme disease, not Lymes disease.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's Dr. Gubb, not Dr. Gugg.
For someone who claims to know about this case it's funny that these details have escaped you.