Physicians sue the Texas Medical Board.

[Guest guest]

FYI, This matter is relevant to the mold issue. Some of the physicians who

have had anonymous complaints filed against them by the TMB, and some of the

experts who have testified against the physicians are heaviliy involved in

the mold issue.

Sharon

Dec. 27, 2007, 12:17AM

Physicians sue Texas Medical Board over anonymous complaints

© 2007 The Associated Press

AUSTIN — The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons has asked a

federal judge to stop the Texas Medical Board from accepting anonymous

complaints.

The group claims the regulatory board has used anonymous complaints to

intimidate and retaliate against doctors.

" The situation has reached the crisis point for patients and doctors, " said

Jane Orient, the national group's executive director. " Our members are too

afraid of retaliation to sue the board as individuals. "

The lawsuit, which was filed Friday in federal court in Texarkana, claims

the board and its physician members have manipulated anonymous complaints. It

also alleges conflicts of interest and privacy breaches by board members and

expert witnesses hired by the board.

The medical board, which licenses doctors and investigates complaints, was

closed Wednesday and its staff members could not be reached for comment.

Board officials defended their record at an October legislative hearing and

said the anonymous complaints protect whistle-blowers from retaliation. They

said less than 2 percent of complaints are anonymous.

Complaints against doctors have increased 39 percent since 2003, when state

law was changed to give the board more authority to suspend doctors'

licenses.

During the legislative hearing, physicians complained that an abundance of

anonymous complaints over minor issues have unfairly cost them time and

money.

The lawsuit accuses a Kalafut of Abilene, the board's president, of

working with her husband to file anonymous complaints against other doctors,

including her competitors in Abilene.

Kalafut could not be reached for comment on Wednesday, but she has said that

similar allegations are untrue. None of the anonymous complaints resulting

in disciplinary action came from Abilene, she said.

" I can't influence the process. No one can. There are too many hands on

this, " Kalafut said in November.

On the Net:

Texas Medical Board: _http://www.tmb.state.tx.us_

(http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/)

Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, _http://www.aapsonline.org_

(http://www.aapsonline.org/)

Sincerely yours,

F. Hotze, M.D.

F. Hotze, M.D.

Hotze Health and Wellness Center

20214 Braidwood, Suite 215

Katy, Texas 77450

(o) 281.698.8679 - Exec. Asst. - Stacey Bandfield

_stacey.bandfield@..._ (mailto:stacey.bandfield@...)

_www.hotzehwc.com_ (http://www.hotzehwc.com/)

**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes

(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)