--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Holiday season is a tough time for some of your colleagues who are incarcerated or facing prison as a result of unjust prosecution. 

Last year we asked you to help spread a little holiday cheer and show your support, and we are pleased to say you responded to our call.  And the recipients of your good wishes say they can’t begin to tell us how much they appreciated it.

AAPS General Counsel Andrew Schlafly suggests sending a holiday card or note, even if you don’t know them.  Just mentioning AAPS should be enough.  Names and brief notes are below. 

To make this as simple as possible, just send your cards to AAPS – we’ll forward to your colleagues and their families.

1601 N. Tucson Blvd, Suite 9, Tucson, AZ  85716

To all of you who are safe and warm with your families this year, give your loved ones a big hug, and promise to double your efforts to help make the changes that need to made to protect the practice of medicine.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM AAPS!

Jeri Hassman, M.D.

Dr.Hassman, a Tucson pain management specialist, was indicted on literally hundreds of counts

for her prescribing of legal pain relief for patients after the DEA mounted an undercover

operation against her.  A single mom with  2 children, Dr. Hassman isn’t playing the victim – instead, she worked with AAPS to develop the “Communicate and Cooperation” project to st  drug diversion.  But her practice has been devastated as the government keeps

using its stalling tactics to delay a trial until next year.

William Hurwitz, M.D.

Dr. Hurwitz is another victim of the witch hunt against pain specialists.  Hounded for years by the DEA, he was indicted in September (just a week after he spoke at the AAPS annual meeting in Alabama) when the U.S. Attorney compared him to a street crack cocaine dealer, instead of recognizing him as the compassionate physician he is.  Dr. Hurwitz’s assets have been seized, so friends and family managed to post $2 million bond.  He is now under home confinement in  McLean, VA, and is required to get permission to leave his own house.

Jay Van Houten, D.O., & Ida Chen Van Houten, R.N.

Dr. and Ms. Van Houten of Anchorage, AK, now await their federal prison terms, a devastating ordeal for the entire family, and especially for their young children, daughter Kyana, age 8 and son Kobuk, age 3.

At least 16-20 government personnel stormed their office, frightening patients as well as their 3-year-old daughter, eventually resulting in fraud indictments almost five years later.  After an intensive negative media against them, the Van Houtens felt forced to accept a plea bargain.

They have lost their home, and Dr. Van Houten has suffered medical problems.

Jesse Henry, Jr., M.D., & Hong Lu Henry

Dr. Henry is a 60-year old family doctor in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is charged with first-degree murder along with his wife, Hong Lu Henry, after some of his patients overdosed on pain medications.  He was forced to surrender his license to practice as a condition of bail, while he awaits trial next year.  Dr. Henry says “if these people get a whiff of blood, you are dead meat.”

James Graves, M.D.

The Florida doctor is a former Navy flight surgeon, now serving 63 years for manslaughter after 4 patients overdosed on OxyContin -- mixed with illegal street drugs and/or alcohol, in violation of their opioid contracts.  AAPS has filed an amicus brief in appeal of his conviction.  Despite his conviction, Dr. Graves says he is proud of his daughter, who wants to go to medical school.

------------------------------------------------------------

Association of American Physicians and Surgeons

1601 N. Tucson Blvd.  Suite 9

Tucson, AZ  85716

(800) 635-1196

(520) 325-4230 Fax

www.aapsonline.org