Notes: *Mary Flowers is the sponsor of the bill and the hearing, so her constituents do not need to contact her at this time (unless they want to thank her for sponsoring the bill, or want to discuss other issues!)
**Reps. Kenner and Soto were the ONLY committee members (besides Flowers) to vote 'yes' on the Patient Right-to-Know Act last year.

The following committee members attended the hearing:
Representatives:  Flowers, Ryan, Soto, Miller, and Krause.

Testimony/Statements provided by proponents:

1.  Ken Dobbs:
Mr. Dobbs, of Chicago, is an attorney and the Chair of the Executive Board for FAIR (Families Advocating Injury Reduction).  His mother was the victim of medical malpractice; a physician subjected her to a lethal level of radiation.

2.  Teddy Bofman:
Ms. Bofman, of Chicago, is a professor at Northeastern Illinois University.  In 1981 her mother died as a result of medical malpractice at a local Chicago hospital.  The doctor who injected her mother with a dangerous drug had a long history of injuring patients and unprofessional conduct.

3.  Jeanne Bouillon: (Case Closed Scandel)
Ms. Bouillon, of Gillespie, is a stained glass artist and FAIR Board Member.  She was the victim of medical malpractice in 1995.  The doctor who harmed Jeanne injured four more women in the same time period.  Her complaint with the DPR yielded no results.      (More detail below)

4.  Tiffiny Walker:
(written testimony read by Arlene Salamendra, of FAIR)
Ms. Walker, of Joliet, was a victim of medical malpractice in 1996.  She was under the the care of obstetrician Leo Wrona during her pregnancy.  An ultrasound at 20 weeks showed abnormal brain development in her fetus.  Dr. Wrona failed to inform her of the ultrasound results.  She later gave birth to a baby who was blind, deaf, and quadriplegic.  Dr. Wrona has paid over $5 million in malpractice suits but has NEVER been disciplined by the DPR.

5.  Kristine Houle:
Ms. Houle, of Chicago, is the Policy Director at the Coalition for Consumer Rights.  The Coalition is a public Interest research and education center;  it has been advocating the Patient Right to Know for many years.   (More detail below)

6.  Dr. Rick Schuch
(written testimony read by Ben Edmonds,
Research Director at the Coalition for Consumer Rights)
Dr. Schuch is a licensed family physician and medical consultant.  He formerly served as the medical director of the PPO Healthstar. 

7.  Representative from William R. Moran's office.  Mr. Moran serves on the Cook County board of Commissions representing the 6th District.

8.  Nancy Achin Sullivan
(written testimony read by Gail Siegel; Executive Director; Coalition for Consumer Rights)

Ms. Sullivan is the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine.  Massachusetts was the first state to implement a physician profiling program.

9.  Jack Schaffer:
Mr. Schaffer is a former State Senator.  He currently works as a lobbyist for the Illinois Association of Health Plans.   He WANTS to provide health insurance consumers with more profile detail of the physicians that they hiring for their services.  His hands are tied because laws prohibit them to provide any more information that they do. 

10. Charles G. Brown
Issues: Mercury Fillings and Mercury Poisoning
Patient Right-to-Know                  (More detail below)

11. Susan J Bucher: (Case Closed Scandal)
Ms. Bucher, of Lockport, IL, is a board member of FAIR, a member of NOW, and the founder of the Coalition for Post Tubal Women (CPTwomen).   She testified to a scandalous "Case Closed Scandal" which is on-going and still unfolding.  (More detail below)

Testimony/Statements provided by opponents:

1.  Mr. Leonard Sherman; Director of the DPR:

The Illinois Department of Professional Regulation (DPR) is the state agency empowered to discipline doctors. The Coalition for Consumer Rights has monitored the agency since 1989 and documented its woefully inadequate performance in protecting the public from impaired or incompetent physicians.  (More detail below)

2.  Illinois Medical Society (letter)

Personal Testimony

Jeanne Bouillon:
Ms. Bouillon testified to a "Case Closed Scandal".

Jeanne was injured by a Dr. Dickstien and reported  him to the DPR and to the IL Medical Society. 

This doctor injured many women and many complaints were made against  him prior to and after Jeannes injury.   

As this doctor committed gross negligence which resulted in battery and rape upon women, and as complaints poured in, and as hospitals dismissed him (fired him) he moved from hospital to hospital, county to county... leaving a trail of victims in his wake.

    Jeanne Bouillon

To date, the DPR reports this doctor has a "clean" record, with no disciplinary actions having been taken upon him.  Today this doctor still practices medicine in the state of Illinois! 

     When Sherman took his position with the DPR I asked  him if members of the IL Medical Society had special privileges, immunities or sanctions within the DPR...  Sherman quickly replied, "if your asking me if I take bribes, the answer is no."  I was so flabbergasted I could not respond.   (this was BEFORE the License for Bribes Scandal broke...)
     Adrienne Hirsch stated, "Ms. Bouillon,... your case is closed.   It's because of you, Ms. Bouillon, a complainant can now see what 'we' document as their complaint..." 
     >Jeanne Bouillon<

Jeanne requested to see what the DPR had on file as her complaint under the "freedom of information act."   She received a reply from the DPR stating simply "NO".

She appealed under their requirements to the Director of DPR within 30 days stating why she was appealing their decision. 

She received a response four months later... a letter from the DPRs Director (letter soon to be posted) telling her again that her  request was denied, and that if she wanted to know why her request was being denied that she would have to take the director of the DPI to civil court.

Dispite Jeanne being told that it's because of "her" that complainants are allowed to see what the DPR states their complaint to be, to date, Jeanne has yet to receive a document or reply stating what her complaint is or what is on file as being her complaint.

Mr. Lenoard Sherman,
Director of the  DPR 
watches on as  proponents of 
HB 3936 give testimony. 

Jeanne told me personally what happened.  It's very painful, and Jeanne is a very private person. Jeanne has never publicly stated what happened.

Jeanne was a young vibrant women.  She was in excellent heath.  Being smart about her health, she went in to an obgyn for a routine pap smear. 

At this regular checkup visit Dr. Dickstien told her that he thought she had "pathology"... CANCER, and that he wanted to take a uterine biopsy.   He said it wasn't a big deal, and that he could do it right there in his office.

No consent was given for this procedure. No information was given to her.  She signed no consent.  No testing was done.  No ultrasound, no pregnancy testing, NO NOTHING.  

I listened to what unfolded in horror.  Dr. Dickstien almost killed her.  His lack of judgment and the actions he took can only be called battery.   Jeanne has forwarded a copy of her complaint which was sent to the DPR to be posted here.

The DPR closed Jeannes case and took NO ACTION on Dr. Dickstien for his gross misconduct, gross negligence, and for the batteries he committed against Jeanne.

When Jeanne contacted her insurance provider (HealthLink) she was told verbally told that there were many (insurance) complaints against him.  This too she reported to the DPR. 

Dr. Dickstien went on to injure four more women that Jeanne is aware of.

If the DPR had taken proper action these women may have been spared serious injury.  I believe most doctors are good, but I hold them (as well ad the DPR) accountable for turning their heads and allowing doctors such as Dr. Dickstein to continue to practice.

I was physically violated in a criminal manner.  Not only am I a victim of battery by this doctor, but my human rights and civil rights have been violated by the State of IL. 

If a citizen showed up at a police station to make a police report of battery and rape the police would take action.  Because this crime occurred in a medical setting, the police refused to take her report and instead referred her direct to the States Attorney who ultimately referred her back to the DPR.   The DPR has a duty to forward cases such as this to the State Attorney for CRIMINAL prosecution, but NEVER does. 

What occurred to me happened in a private clinic...
This is why Patient-Right-to-Know is so very important....  There's NO oversight or safety net for patients treated in a private clinic.  The patient is completely unprotected.

Note:  When the DPR finally did take action (Dr. Dickstien is now "probation") it was because of a complaint made to the DPR by a hospital, not by a victim.   It seems the DPR takes complaints  by hospitals more seriously?

Soon Dr. Dickstiens "probation" will  be over...

WARNING!
The DPR has major shortcomings when investigating obgyn's (ACOG members),
members of the IL Medical Society and complaints which are submitted by women victims. Complaints and reports of abuse  submitted by women are routinely closed without investigation
Medical Consumer Beware!

Kristin Houle:
Coalition for Consumer Rights: Chicago

Houle testified to the shortcomings of the information provided by the DPR to the public, and how nine other states have implemented comprehensive physician profiling programs since this legislation was first introduced in Illinois.  At least 26 other states provide more background information on physicians than Illinois.

Houle also testified to the technological advances of Illinois state government in recent years and called up DPR to use its informational technology to the benefit of the consumers and citizens of Illinois.

Charles G. Brown:
Issues: Mercury Fillings and Mercury Poisoning
Patient Right-to-Know
See: www.toxicteeth.net

Mr. Brown along with Mr. Frank Cuny of Citizens for Health Freedom made headlines recently in CA by aiding in the removal of the CA Dental Board:

Mr. Leonard Sherman:
Director of the Department of Profession Regulations (DPR)

Mr. Sherman presented the
DPR's non-support to the
Patients-Right-To-Know, HB 3936

Mary Flowers ripped into him.... 

He stammered along, and was quick to state that his "tenure with the DPR is almost up". (like he'd soon be off the hook)

Mary Flowers told Sherman that he still has time to leave his post with the DPR with a legacy.

Sherman has a way of not answering questions posed to him. 

He never did give a straight answer to any of the questions posed to him. 

Susan J Bucher:  

This narative is in part written follow up to my 02-28-02 verbal testimony to Mary Flowers and the Health Care Availability and Access Committee of 02-28-02.

I testified regarding the "Closed Case Scandals" of the IL DPR's (and CA CMB).

Medical boards close cases without gathering all known information and records, with out proper investigation, without testimony or narratives from the patient, they withhold key records from their own review boards, and have withheld information from the states attorney(s).  Often cases are closed before they are opened. 

In my case, the DPR REFUSED to gather known key evidence which validated and proved my complaint and the need for the DPR to discipline  the doctor(s) in some manner.

My personal  narrative, statments of truths from doctors who  reviewed my case, and other key  documents which were provided direct to Mr. Sherman were not forwarded to the DPR review board and not put into my file.  This was confirmed by Mr. John Coghlan, the DPR's director of enforcement. (Son-in-law of Governer Ryan). 

Picture above taken just after Sherman took his position with the DPR.  Included in the photo is Arlene Salamendra representing FAIR (now a Member of the NPSF's Family Advisory Council. ), standing: Adrienne Hirsch, (DPR's Lawyer) aka the "Gatekeeper",  and  Susan J Bucher.  At this meeting Susan provided key information and her naritive direct to Sherman.  What happened to these records and documents?

My question to Mary Flowers is, what good is a "Patient Right-to-Know Act"  going to do when the DPR and other medical boards refuse to take action on doctors who should be displianed,  and instead assists and abets  in cover-up with doctors who are grossly negligent and commit criminal acts?  The patient right to know starts with the DPR (and the CMB) doing the job they are commissioned  to do by law, which is to PROTECT THE CITIZENS of the state, not to  be bias and protect the doctors of the state. 

Mary Flowers needs to be informed that Dr. Hufnagel, who gave expert opinion and public statements/support to my public testimony, legal cases, and medical board complaints is being attacked for being a whistle blower... Prior to her doing so, she was threatened and told NOT to.

Mary Flowers was also one of the 13 members for the "IL Gov. Task Force" regarding "Medical Errors", which was chaired by Carl Getto, M.D., Dean, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, and included John R. Lumpkin, M.D., Director, Illinois Department of Public Health, William N. Werner, M.D., Vice President, Quality Management, Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Leo Henikoff, M.D., President/CEO, Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center,Dave Newell, President, Illinois Pharmacy Association, Ann O'Sullivan, MSN, RN, President, Illinois Nurses Association,  Barbara Martin, RN, MBA, System Vice President of Provena Health, Leonard Sherman, Director, Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, Nathaniel Shapo, Director, Illinois Department of Insurance, Rep. Elizabeth Coulson, (R-57th), Sen. Barack Obama (D-13th),  Sen. Brad Burzynski (R-35th).  All members of the Gov Task force were invited to the 02-28-02 hearing by Ms. Flowers. 

March 2001, I am on public record, to the IL Governors Task Force exposing the criminal activities of the IL DPR, the CMB, and more. 

At this 02-28-02 hearing, I made it known on the public record that I have not received a reply to my March 2001 public testimony to the IL Governors Task Force.   Governor Ryan was sent this information direct as well, but I never received a reply.  One person that I expose for neglect in handling my case is his son-in-law, John Coglhan (the DPR's Director of Enforcement). Maybe this is why I haven't received a reply.

The Director of the DPR, Mr. Leonard Sherman, was neglect in handling my case too.  It's interesting to note that Mr. Sherman before working at the DPR was with the SOS.   This is were the "license for bribes scandals" originated.  Senator Chris Larzson quoted at the March '01 hearing, that "This has the makings of another license for bribes scandal" 

I and many others have seen a pattern to the state medical boards closing questionable cases.  This has been occurring for years causing many  "Case Closed Scandals".  With the power to license comes  the opportunity for corruption, and it could be possible for unscrupulous officials and directors to not "sell' a license to a doctor, but to allow a doctor to "retain" their license, for a price...   And the price would be much higher then selling a licence to a truck driver. 

Maybe this is why I haven't received a reply.

The CMB 11-2001 raid on Dr. Hufnagel's home may be due in part to their (the CMB and DPR medical boards) being exposed,  along with Dr. del Junco, Dr. Rosenberg, the ACOG, and more.  Of course if you ask the CMB or the DPR regarding this they will say no.  It has been reported that Ron Joseph (the Director of the CMB) had "No Knowledge" of the raid on Dr. H's home.  The DPR closed my case stating they found no gross negligence (despite wrong medications prescribed to treat a KNOWN condition....)  Coglhan refused to reopen despite proof provided that all the records (key records) were not collected by the DPR.  The CMB closed my case without investigation.  As was done in IL, the outcome of my CA complaint was decided before it even began, and done so   behind closed doors.

Please note: Everyone's testimony from the March 01 hearing was posted at the IDPH site expect mine. I requested correction numerous times and was told that it was corrected (but it was not)  I had to scream "cover-up" in order to have my testimony posted. - See the e-mails which occurred below: 

The follow up to to my March '01 testimony in IL was my Dec 4th, 2001 testimony in CA to the Sunset Review, headed by Senator Liz Figerioua. I provided full detail follow-up with supporting documents.  I will post in full my written testimony as soon as possible.    At these CA hearings, the fact that they have a new board was bought up many times.   I stated that although there's a new board, the criminal actions of the old board still needs to be dealt with...

This is occurring in IL.   Sherman's post will soon expire, and a new director will be appointed to the the DPR but the criminal actions of the old board will still need to be dealt with... Just because there's a new board, or a new director does not wipe the slate clean.   Citizens are still looking for answers to why the system fails. 

At this 02-28-02 hearing I'm on record stating. "I have not received a reply from the Gov. Task Force, or from the DPR, Mr. Sherman or anyone, regarding my March 2001 testimony..."  "Cover-up..."  "... the medical boards are riddled with corruption".  

Who polices the DPR and the CMB?  They answer to no one. The state and federal agencies in place that would remotely over see these agencies (the States Attorneys, The CA Consumer Affairs, the NICB, etc...) just refer victims back to the state medical boards.

COVER-UP ISSUES

The following is what occurred in order to have my testimony correctly posted at the IDPH. No one is aware that cover-up and "silence the whistle blower" events occur such as this.  If I do not write about this and make this a public record then no one is aware that events such as this occur.  (Such as the NBC incident)....  Of course if you ask the IDPH regarding this matter you will be told that the wrong testimony being posted was an "error".

Representitive Mary Flowers, Senator Liz Figerioua and other concerned citizens need to be aware that this happened.  

Please note, my testimony was the ONLY testimony NOT posted. Why were all the others correct and not mine?  What I say in my testimony EXPOSES criminal activity, (including Mr. Sherman, one of the 13 Task Force Members...)   All the other testimonies were tame in nature, and non-exposing as my testimony was. 

I believe not posting my testimony was deliberatly done to silence and censor me from the public record.  

>>> "susan j bucher" <susan@tubal.org> 01/17/02 10:28AM >>>

The following is posted at:

http://www.idph.state.il.us/mederrors/comments/bucher.htm

This is NOT my testimony. I am not with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

I am a private citizen.

My testimony was sent electronically, and should have been posted here correctly.

I also faxed my testimony, mailed it, and publicly spoke in front of the task force on March 29th. At this hearing I handed each panel member a copy of my testimony, including the court reporter.

I question that I'm the only one who's testimony is not correct. Is it because I'm exposing the non-action of the DPR, non-action and cover-up by Mr. Leonard Sherman (appointed by Gov. Ryan), and the non-action and cover-up by the DPR's director of enforcement, Mr. John Coglhan, (Gov. Ryan's son-in-law)??? All which carries over to the CMB and more cover-up issues?

I'm again including my testimony here. I am again asking that you make this correction ASAP.

This is my third request to correct.

Susan J Bucher

815 834-0987

----- Original Message -----

From: BRENT DEMICHAEL
To: susan@tubal.org
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 10:54 AM
Subject: Re: Cover-up

Susan, I believe I have fixed the improper link on our Department Web site. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for alerting our agency to the error. Thank you for visiting our Web site.

---

>>> "Susan B" <znet@interaccess.com> 01/17/02 01:53PM >>>

NO - it is NOT correct.

1. The link to my testimony does NOT WORK.- Now It comes up blank

2. It still states, "National Association of Chain Drug Stores"

Should be "Private Citizen" or BLANK.

I've again attached the testimony which was electronically submitted, and that should posted.

----- Original Message -----

From: BRENT DEMICHAEL
To: znet@interaccess.com
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 2:28 PM
Subject: Re: Cover-up

Susan, I have checked the link and it appears to be fine. I have also checked with other individuals outside of the agency and they are able to pull up your letter fine. You may want to refresh your Web site browser as sometimes there are stored files within the program that are still linked from previous visits to a specific Web page.

As for the label, I have changed it to read, "private citizen"

If you have any further questions, please let me know.

----- Original Message -----

From: susan j bucher
To: BRENT DEMICHAEL
Cc: mailus@idph.state.il.us
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2002 12:53 AM
Subject: IL Task Force Cover-up - Censor from the Public Record.

Dear Mr. Demichael,
No, it's not my site browser.

This is something on YOUR end. The link: http://www.idph.state.il.us/mederrors/comments/bucher.htm now points to a page named, http://www.idph.state.il.us/mederrors/pdf/bucher.pdf but it's an NOT viewable page. This has been repeatedly confirmed. Why??? Error messages occur when abode acrobat loads. This could only occur if you had altered the file. When the same .pdf file was uploaded to an alternative site it's viewable. - See: http://www.tubal.org/GovTaskForceTestimonyBucher.PDF.

What do you mean that you, "checked with other individuals outside of the agency..."? To who exactly did you check with? What are their names? These people told you that the page loads fine? This is impossible because the page is NOT viewable. ANYONE who goes there can see that.

Is this more cover-up? I'm being censored from the public record? By who?  Barbara Martin? Mr. Leonard Sherman? Why do you state that it's viewable when it's not?

I have again attached a copy of my testimony. This is now my 5th request for proper correction to the public record: http://www.idph.state.il.us/mederrors/pdf/bucher.pdf

Susan J Bucher
815 834-0987