 
April 29, 2000
DOCS DEMAND DISCLOSURE OF ELIAN'S MEDICAL TEAMWASHINGTON - Concern about the possible bias and conflict-of-interest of government-appointed physicians in the Elian Gonzalez case has prompted the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) to ask the Department of Justice and the INS to disclose the names and backgrounds of all government- appointed medical personnel involved in the treatment or evaluation of the boy, including psychiatrists and psychologists.In a letter today to Attorney General, Janet Reno, and INS Commission, Doris Meissner, AAPS Executive Director Jane M. Orient, M.D., writes: "We are extremely concerned about Elian's physical and emotional well-being. Based on the experience of the past two weeks, we're not confident that the glowing reports from anonymous government doctors of the boy's easy adjustment following a traumatic seizure at gunpoint are indeed, unbiased, or for that matter, first-hand." AAPS is concerned that physicians are being used as propaganda pawns in a political game. Dr. Orient points to the recent INS appointment of Dr. Irwin Redlener -- a well-known pediatrician with longstanding political ties to President Clinton and the First Lady. "We are appalled that the Department of Justice and the INS may have relied on the armchair diagnosis of an Administration operative in making their decision to go ahead with a frightening raid in the dark." Government documents obtained by AAPS from the 1993 lawsuit, AAPS v. Hillary Clinton show that Dr. Redlener was not only chair of one of the workgroups of the President's Health Care Task Force, but also an outspoken political supporter of the First Lady's policies for socialized national health care. "We cannot tolerate the specter of any more physicians putting their political or professional interests ahead of the safety of this child. If there is any more conflict-of-interest apparent on the medical and psychological team, we need to know. The government should make immediate, full disclosure." "This important case demands to be attended by unbiased experts, and Elian deserves hands-on treatment, not more armchair diagnosis for propaganda purposes," concludes the letter.
Dear Ms. Reno: We are extremely concerned about Elian's physical and emotional well-being. Based on the experience of the past two weeks, we're not confident that the glowing reports from anonymous government doctors of the boy's easy adjustment following a traumatic seizure at gunpoint are indeed, unbiased, or for that matter, first-hand observations. We are appalled that the Department of Justice and the INS may have relied on the armchair diagnosis of an unqualified Administration operative, Dr. Irwin Redlener, in making the decision to go ahead with a frightening raid in the dark We cannot tolerate the specter of any more physicians putting their political or professional interests ahead of the safety of this child. If there is any more conflict-of-interest apparent on the medical and psychological team, we need to know. The government should make immediate, full disclosure of the names and curriculum vitae. This important case demands to be attended by unbiased experts, and Elian deserves hands-on treatment, not more armchair diagnosis for propaganda purposes. Sincerely,
JANE M. ORIENT, M.D. |