AL-05: Parker’s Heavier Gloves
Documents have surfaced to expand on the ad that Republican Wayne Parker has been running against Democratic opponent Parker Griffith in AL-05. Brian at Flashpoint and Dale Jackson at the Attack Machine were early to the party, so check out their posts with links to “A Report to the Board of Trustees of the Huntsville Hospital Relative to the Program in Radiation Oncology at the Huntsville Hospital” and a transcript related to Griffith’s suit against Huntsville Hospital. (Traffic is a blogger’s sustenance, so I’ll direct you there since they had the goods first.) Dale and Brian both make the point that recent misrepresentation on Griffith’s part about the situation 20 years ago “goes directly to the issue of trust” for the candidate.
Democrat Griffith has been perceived as the candidate with the upper hand, and Republicans are hoping/believing this is some serious weight added to Wayne Parker’s boxing gloves as the two candidates duke it out. Democrats are hoping that Wayne Parker is not contender enough to deliver a knockout punch. Is this a glancing blow or a knockdown?
Links:
Attack Machine: Parker Griffith’s honesty problem…
Flashpoint: Parker Griffith & Unwarranted Pain and Suffering
Related Articles:
This really hits home with me. My mother recently passed after an extended stay in the hospital. As my grieving family was dealing with getting any possible treatment that could help my mom – WE PUT EVERY OUNCE OF TRUST AND FAITH IN THE DOCTORS THAT WERE TREATING HER. To think that Griffith did what is clearly described in the Huntsville Hospital review makes me sick.
Parker Griffith’s actions speak to his credibility –
“Past performance is a predictor of future behavior”
This secures my vote for Wayne Parker and I will tell everyone I know about this.
G. Masser
Harvest AL
Comment by G. Masser — September 24, 2008 @ 11:41 am
Dr. Griffith was one of the finest doctors in North Alabama. People all around Huntsville love and respect him. This report was made by hired guns from out of town in a business dispute with Huntsville Hospital. They have absolutely zero credibility. They even offered to buy him out during all of this. Dr. Griffith continued to practice after this all across North Alabama in a number of hospitals. Wayne Parker is desperate because he is behind and is simply throwing dirt. To answer your question, Danny, this is not even a glancing blow.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
Parker Griffith was and is a Class A physician. He only treated his patients with respect and I know it from first hand experience. I don’t know much about politics, but I do know that Parker Griffith is the man for the job.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 12:29 pm
“Hired guns from out of town” - Huntsville Hospital brought in two of the most respected Oncologists in the world (Dr. Brady and Dr. Perez - who literally wrote the book on Radiation Oncology) to review Griffith’s work - and they found: that “Patients receiving radiation therapy have had sub-optimal radiation therapy leading to sub-optimal potentials for cure rates”, treatment “inappropriate to the disease being treated”, and “obvious departure from the standard of care”.
http://www.amazon.com/Bradys-Principles-Practice-Radiation-Oncology/dp/078176369X
Parker Griffith’s hospital privileges weren’t pulled because of a “business dispute” - that lie has been exposed.
Comment by Reactionary — September 24, 2008 @ 12:37 pm
Way to go Parker Griffith’s Campaign for posting these “Anonymous” comments 2 and 3!!! These reports sure are making his camp squirm. Looks like our self-proclaimed “great next congressman” isn’t that great after all.
Comment by Steph Caldwell — September 24, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
even if Griffith could win the seat in november, this scandal will never go away. as a representative of dist 5 he will always have to answer to angry constituents who’s mom or dad died under his care. i dont know the legal side as it relates to “statute of limitations” but Griffith will have his hands full with potential litigation. i guess thats why he waited 20 years to enter politics.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
Wayne Parker is going to get killed in this race and knows it. Unfortunately, he stooped his campaign to the gutter in a last ditch effort. But, this ridiculous attack is not going to work. It’s sad, really. Wayne Parker has nothing to offer, no ideas, no accomplishments, so he has to try to smear his opponent. It didn’t work against Bud Cramer, and it won’t work against Griffith.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 12:49 pm
It’s amazing how low Wayne Parker has stooped in this campaign. The man is desperate. I wish he would quit runnig for Congress and get a real job.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:01 pm
If Griffith is so “squeaky clean” then put him on air, live to defend himself. These documents prove a couple of known facts about Griffith, greed and bad judgement. neither of which are fitting for a congressman
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
#8 - providing “sub-optimal” care and “inappropriate” treatment, then lying about it - seems pretty low to me.
Smear? Pointing it out seems like a public service.
Comment by Reactionary — September 24, 2008 @ 1:08 pm
I read the Saturday article in the Huntsville Times on the economy and Wayne did not even know what was going on. Shelby and Griffith are showing real leadership on this issue. They spoke out right away. Based on Wayne Parker’s statement, he is not even qualified to be a bank teller (much less North Alabama’s congressman)!!
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
anyone who would use people dying of cancer as lab rats without their knowledge, and intentionally prolong the process for economic gain is absolutely a “class A” guy. no wonder he went into the funeral home business. this guy is the grim reaper.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
Parker Griffith was on TV last night over the phone. Apparently he was in Boston speaking to a prominet group of oncologists so he could not be there live.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
Those reports were prepared by hired guns. If he is such a bad doctor, then why has he been endorsed by every major medical group, why did he continue to practice in nearly a dozen hospitals, why does he have a clean record with the doctors group, and why does he have the support of a large chunk of the Huntsville medical community. This report was about business competition and money. It’s a shame Wayne Parker has distorted the truth and compromised his own integrity.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
#14 Did Griffith’s medical partner LOSE his license because of “business competition and money”?
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
He did not lose his license. He could practice today if he wanted to. He has a clean record!
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
oh . . . “partner”. I thought we were talking about Dr. Griffith.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
I wonder how many “anonymous” posts the Griffith campaign press secretary can post in one day?
Comment by Steph Caldwell — September 24, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
“hired guns” = two of the most respected Oncologists in the world.
Their comments on Griffith: “sub-optimal” therapy, “inappropriate” treatment, “obvious departure from the standard of care”.
Comment by Reactionary — September 24, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
wow - that looks bad for Griffith.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
What did Wayne Parker ever do? I heard something about him being part owner of a car wash and then he got FIRED!! They say he is an “insurance executive”. Give me a break, an “executive” of what a three person insurance firm?
Laura Jones
Huntsville, AL
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
The fact of the matter is that whatever you want to call it, Parker Griffith was willing to let patients die in order to make money.
The report was written by two of the very best radiation oncologists alive.
If Griffith wants to use that white coat as political brownie points then people need to know what kind of white coat it really is.
That is definitely not the kind of person I want representing me because there’s no way we can trust him to not just take lobbyists money and run.
Comment by PoliticalJunkie — September 24, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
Based on what? Oh, the fee they were paid to produce these documents so Huntsville Hospital would have some leverage in their business dispute. Maybe that explains why they tried to buy him out. Because they wanted his business. He was one of the most respected doctors in North Alabama.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
“One of the most respected doctors in North Alabama”?
Not anymore…
Comment by Reactionary — September 24, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
# 22, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. That is the lowest kind of accusation you can make. This report had no credibility and was based on little research. These “experts” get flown in to throw their names around and deliver some report or testify in some case. All the plaintiffs lawyers have them. They get paid, and they say what you want.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
His thousands of former patients think so. I don’t think the sleazy Wayne Parker campaign is the arbiter of who good doctors are.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
I also understand that top executives from Huntsville Hospital are supporting Parker Griffith (the CEO and others are major donors). So, apparently EVEN Huntsville Hospital does not agree with Wayne Parker’s smears.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
so the experts were hired guns, the judge was a hired gun, Dale Jackson was a hired gun, Loretta Spencer must have been a hired gun, Wayne Parker was a hired gun, Huntsville Hospital was a hired gun…. does the former Dr. Griffith take responsibility for anything?
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
Wayne Parker = Desperate Loser
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
#22, I have never read something so disturbing in my life. Danny, these comments shouldn’t be allowed on your blog. To say that Parker Griffith intentionally let his patients die, is the most disgusting, untrue comment ever posted on this website.
#22, AKA- Wayne Parker’s Press Secretary, I am praying for you.
Laura Jones
Comment by Laura Jones — September 24, 2008 @ 1:52 pm
# 28 ??????????????????????? I am not sure what you are referring to?
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
There wasn’t a judge (as far as I know). Dale Jackson is a talking head (no one has called him a “hired gun.”). Nobody called Loretta Spencer a hired gun (she and Griffith had a hard fought race, but nothing he needs to “take responsibility for.”). And Wayne Parker is just up to his old tricks. The only thing he has been hired to do in recent years is lobby his father in law. So, I don’t get your post # 28.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
This whole debate is disgusting. I wish these candidates would talk about their plans for the economy. Nobody cares about some allegation from over 20 years ago that nobody ever proved. Let’s talk about getting this economy back on track.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
I heard Wayne Parker is a murderer.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 2:05 pm
Some expert from St. Louis looked at some papers and told me so.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 2:05 pm
From the Dr. Perez report:
“Carcinoma of Uterine Cervix… This is grossly inadequate therapy, which it will be expected to result in a very high incidence of central / pelvic recurrence rate”.
Dr. Perez is one of the “hired guns” who reviewed Griffith’s records.
“Carlos A. Perez is an internationally recognized specialist in radiation oncology who has made important contributions to the clinical management of patients, especially those with gynecologic tumors and carcinoma of the prostate and of the breast.”
http://www.academyofsciencestl.org/initiatives/fellows/p/carlos_perez.php
Comment by Reactionary — September 24, 2008 @ 2:16 pm
Medical opinion . . . not fact!
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Parker Griffith supporter: “I heard Wayne Parker is a murderer”.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
Dr. Perez was paid by Huntsville Hospital because Dr. Griffith was getting all the patients in Huntsvile and was no longer using the hospital’s equipment. They wanted to start their own clinic and could not compete. It is not credible. Dr. Perez based his report on what?? Looking at a few papers.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 2:25 pm
well, the proof is in writing and available for anyone to see. So if Parker Griffith can refute these “independent studies” that found griffith’s treatment inadequent, go ahead and put it out there for the world to see. I don’t know what the issue is, unless griffith can’t find anything, or anyone, to go on the record in writing with the truth as he sees it…
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
“Medical opinion” - fair enough.
The point is that Dr. Griffith lied when he said that his hospital privileges were pulled for competitive reasons, when clearly the hospital had other concerns.
I can understand someone wanting to lie about their problems at work, but I expect more truthiness from someone who wants to be my Congressman.
Comment by Reactionary — September 24, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
# 38 . . . . you heard it too?
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
# 41 . . . it was for competitive reasons. That is even acknowledged in the report. The report would have never been made (the hired guns would have never been brought in to fabricate this case against Dr. Griffith) if their wasn’t a competitive conflict. Dr. Griffith was exactly right to say this was purely about a business dispute. If it wasn’t, why did they Huntsville Hospital drop their claims when he resigned his privileges? Why did they seek to buy him out (and have him work for them)? Why did he keep his license and continue working at every other major hospital in North Alabama? His statements were not misleading . . . they were completely accurate!!!
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 2:37 pm
Huntsville Hospital tried to buy Dr. Griffith out (so he would work for them)!!!! And that was while this dispute was going on. Why would they want Dr. Griffith to work for them . . . because this was a business dispute.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 2:40 pm
Dr. Griffith is a good doctor. It doesn’t say much about Wayne Parker’s plans for the future that he has to rely on this.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 2:44 pm
Comment # 1: “Past performance is a predictor of future behavior” If this is the case, then we really don’t want Wayne Parker in Congress. He has never accomplished anything in his life . . . and Parker Griffith has been a huge success and well respected in everything he has ever done.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 2:47 pm
So Dr. Brady and Dr. Perez were hired to “fabricate this case” and their reports are “not credible”.
Dr. Brady and Dr. Perez are the top Oncologists in the world. Dr. Brady donated the Art Gallery at GWU. And you’re trying to tell me they lied about Parker Griffith 20 years ago for the money?
You people will say anything in defense of the indefensible.
Comment by Reactionary — September 24, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
To the Griffith campaign: will Griffith go on Dale Jackson tomorrow? Yes or No.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
Who is Dale Jackson????????????????????????????
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
Dale Jackson is some sort of Dale Jackson is some sort of criminologist. I guess he gives lie detector tests or something like that. Not sure why Parker Griffith with meet with him.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Dale Jackson is the lead musician of The Dale Jackson band, located in Nashville, TN. They aren’t too bad actually.
Laura Jones
Comment by Laura Jones — September 24, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Cool . . . I’ll check them out.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
For your liking #52:
http://www.garageband.com/artist/DaleJackson
Laura Jones
Comment by Laura Jones — September 24, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
Thanks. I need to get up to speed on my music. Never even heard of them. I take it they are Republicans?
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 3:11 pm
#30, it is most definitely disgusting. Sadly though, if you have actually read the report you will see that instead of giving his patients the standard dose of radiation he gave them more doses in smaller amounts so that he could bill for more office visits. That resulted in high incidence of death. I don’t know what else you can call it.
#32, there was in fact a judge. Griffith sued the hospital and the judge found the suit to be so frivolous he dismissed it and ordered him to pay the hospitals attorneys fees. Which if you know anything about the legal practice, you’ll know that means it was an especially stupid suit.
Comment by PoliticalJunkie — September 24, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
Wayne Parker is up to his dirty tricks again. Making up lies, stretching the truth, doing anything to divert attention from his lack of accomplishments.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
Medical Opinion. Medical Opinion. And obviously it was bad medical opinion (or he would not have his license today). And why did the Huntsville Hosptital try to buy out Dr. Griffith’s practice and have him come work for them? This is Wayne Parker at his best. Making up lies.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
Apparently the CEO of Huntsville Hospital has given $1,000 to Dr. Griffith’s campaign. He obviously thinks Dr. Griffith would make the better Congressman.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
I sure wish Wayne Parker would start talking about the economy and stop spending all of his time on some allegations from 20 years ago that have no proof to back them up.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
# 55 . . . there might have been a suit. I am not sure. But I guarntee you if there was it had nothing to do with Dr. Griffith’s treatment of his patients.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 3:24 pm
Doctors and hosptitals are always involved in lawsuits (as many businesses are). Allegations fly both ways. This is just more of the same (doesn’t mean a thing).
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
It appears Huntsville Hospital didn’t push this issue because they knew they would get sued due to the fact that they referred patients to Dr. Griffith’s practice. Huntsville Hospital let him walk to save their butt. Those execs that let him walk are long gone from the Hospital, but the scary thoughts is, did they unleash Dr. Griffith on other patients and hospitals in order to protect their bottom line?
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
There is so much spin in here I am hearing the tornado sirens. The Griffith cronies are getting the blog-o-sphere in a tizzy because there is no response from them that would really adequately address this unless it is to throw out a bunch of argumentation 101 logical fallacies and personal attacks on Parker. This story is a disaster, thank God I don’t know anyone who had cancer at this time, because I’d be madder than hell right now to know that my loved one’s treatments were not done properly.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
#62 Yes, you are starting to connect the dots. There is much more to this than meets the eye initially.
Comment by Daisy — September 24, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
This is a non-story as far as I can tell. A couple of doctors thinking they were the smartest guys in the room over 20 years ago. Give me a break.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
65, it may be a non-story to you, but i say it’s a story if you were one of the patients or family member of one of the patients who now find out that they were intentionally not given proper treatment so that THEIR DOCTOR WHO IS SUPPOSED TO CARE FOR THEM ABOVE ALL ELSE lied to their faces to make more money.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
# 66 . . . you are treating this report as some sort of conclusive fact. The whole point is that it is NOT. There are contradictions left and right even within the report. Plus, Huntsville Hospital was trying to buy Griffith out at the same time. Griffith didn’t have problems with other hospitals. He didn’t have problems with his patients. And the medical boards obviously thought he was fine. So, when you look at the big picture, the idea tha he was intentionally hurting patients is ridiculous and absurd. This report is biased and full of contradictions and medical opinions. It is not fact.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 5:09 pm
#67…So if this is not true, why did Griffith “retire” from his lucrative “pioneering” medical practice only a couple of years after this report was written, after he lost his privilege to practice at Huntsville Hospital, and after bouncing around 4 other hospitals in N. Alabama? Oh that’s right, he started a chain of funeral homes- I guess that is one profession requiring knowledge of human anatomy that would be perfect for an out-of-work doctor…
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 5:25 pm
He actually had his own cancer center which was extremely successful. He sold it to pursue other opportunities . . . inlcluding a chain of radio stations . . . that were very successful.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 5:32 pm
Parker Griffith has been a very successful businessman his whole life. His accomplishments are very impressive (in healthcare, in real estate, and in radio). It’s hard to attach this man’s career. He has accomplished so much.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 5:37 pm
What are Wayne Parker’s credentials? He lobbied his father-in-law and he lied about being an insurance “executive.”
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 5:38 pm
What company is Wayne Parker an “executive” from? How many employees does he manage? This guy is a fraud.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 5:39 pm
Going back to the subject at hand, yesterday on Channel 48 in Huntsville, Griffith said that “I’ve never had a patient complaint” when he was asked for a reaction to this story. Is that believable? I don’t think so. Griffith seems to be frazzled because that is an irresponsible answer (and an “untruth” if he’s ever been sued). So to answer the original question, I don’t think he’s knocked out, but he sure is dazed. I bet he thought these reports were shredded years ago…I guess that shows skeletons always surface when you run for the big offices!
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 6:55 pm
There sure weren’t any patient complaints in those “reports.” They were based on these guys reviewing some charts. The hired guns did not even examine the patients . . . they just looked at the charts. I think that is what Dr. Griffith was probably talking about. Huntsville Hospital didn’t have any patient complaints against him, so they hired these guys to “review” some charts and play monday morning quarterback. This all goes back to medical opinion. Dr. Griffith saw these patients and treated them as he saw fit. These guys saw no patients, came in, review a few charts, and then started second guessing everything he had done (and were paid a handsome fee for doing so). These are the same guys that plaintiffs lawyers pay millions to come in and testify for them. But in this case, the doctors did not even examine the patients. They just assumed they were the smartest guys in the room and could decide this from looking at some charts.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 7:09 pm
Has anyone heard about a Democrats for Wayne Parker group forming? Ive heard a lot of rumors about that in the last day and it involves some well known politicians.
Comment by anon — September 24, 2008 @ 7:39 pm
wow. and i thought the race in district 2 was rough. luckily nothing of this nature has happened in that race nor do i foresee it. but this story does seem to have hot a nerve with the griffith folks. where there is smoke…..
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 8:35 pm
So, 70, “real estate” is what we are calling “funeral homes” these days? Just can’t get the irony of oncologist turned funeral home director out of my mind
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 9:16 pm
This controversy is nothing but bad news for Parker Griffith: his doctor bio is a major part of his image-can’t exactly run on his record in our less than stellar Alabama Senate. Its a bad mix-creepy facts plus credibility questions.
Comment by anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 9:37 pm
Griffith brought his “Pioneering Medical Practice” into this race never thinking his past could be “unsealed”. — now he smells form it. Going even deeper and more personal – He quit the hospital to prevent the peer review that would have exposed him for his inept/unethical medical practice.
The real issue is trust, and we cannot trust Parker Griffith.
G Masser
Harvest, AL
Comment by G Masser — September 24, 2008 @ 10:25 pm
Agreed that Griffith brought this whole issue up - made it part of his campaign - and now he is suffering the consequence.
Comment by Anonymous — September 24, 2008 @ 10:32 pm
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2008/09/medical_documents_stir_up_cong.html
See if you find this article interesting. I did. When I saw that Wayne Parker lobbied for a recurring drug addict/alcoholic to have his medical license reinstated, I was appalled. How can we trust a crony lobbyist who once fought for a drug addict to practice medicine on our loved ones fight for us in Congress? We certainly can’t.
Comment by Laura Jones — September 24, 2008 @ 10:56 pm
I did find that article interesting! Because the man that you talk about, Dennis Olive, was who Parker Griffith brought into his practice to be his closest partner, and according to the report, Griffith gave the same quality of “treatment” (i.e. letting people die for money) as this bozo. Griffith was the one who let this drug addict be his closest partner, and for that, shame on Griffith.
If you read that article, you’ll see the Huntsville Times validates Wayne Parker’s claims, even if it raises questions on Wayne’s representation for Olive. And congrats to Wayne for accepting responsibility for that, which Parker Griffith never seems to do.
The judge said Griffith sued because he knew of the peer review. The outside doctors said Griffith was letting people die of cancer to bill them more money. The peer review board agreed that Griffith was doing this. The papers see the report as legitimate enough that they are running with this.
Everyone accepts this report but Parker Griffith.
And how could he? It says that he let the vulnerable die so he could exploit them for a few dollars more.
Anyone working for this man should feel completely betrayed by him. They should be ashamed of themselves if they stay on his staff and continue to pretend he didn’t do this to the vulnerable and defenseless people that Democrats are supposed to protect. If you are a Democrat, and you care about protecting the vulnerable and defenseless, then Parker Griffith is the very antithesis of everything you stand for.
Comment by R.A. Zimmerman — September 24, 2008 @ 11:53 pm
Anyone hear Dr. Cotter on Dale Jackson this morning? Sounds like Wayne Parker is in deep trouble for illegally releasing this medical information.
Comment by Anonymous — September 25, 2008 @ 9:07 am
Man, no wonder Dr. Griffith opened his own cancer center. Huntsville Hospital’s behavior was disgusting as it related to this whole issue. That place was so corrupt its unbelievable.
Comment by Anonymous — September 25, 2008 @ 9:08 am
Gregory W. Cotter, M.D., Director and Philip Rubin Scholar, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Chairman, Standards Committee, American College of Radiation Oncology
Comment by Anonymous — September 25, 2008 @ 9:11 am
83, just heard it, and your interpretation i think is through “griffith colored glasses,” ’cause Cotter did him no favors. Cotter did challenge the legality of releasing the docs, however a quick review of caselaw will show that unless the WP campaign disclosed patient info, no law was broken. sorry, you got nothing there. But Cotter hurt his buddy Griffith with this interview, way more than he helped..
Comment by Anonymous — September 25, 2008 @ 9:11 am
#83 - whoever violated the confidentiality of the document by giving it to Parker might be in trouble, but Parker is not.
Dale Jackson (WVNN) asked “Did Huntsville Hospital, Dr, Brady, Dr. Perez, and Dr. Scheider conspire against Griffith” - Cotter replied “Yes”. Cotter also stated that “Huntsville Hospital had an environment of corruption”.
Cotter admitted that he spoke with Griffith prior to the interview.
Huntsville Hospital has some explaining to do. If Griffith is the monster the Hospital says he was, why didn’t they report him to the State Medical Board?
What a mess. Regardless of the election, getting this information out to the public is a good thing.
Comment by Reactionary — September 25, 2008 @ 10:07 am
I think Cotter gave an interesting perspective. I think its clear that Huntsville Hospital was out to get Dr. Griffith at any cost.
Comment by Anonymous — September 25, 2008 @ 10:54 am
Dr. Cotter was a class act. He was fair and reasoned. Dale Jackson, on the other hand, came across as a real jerk (questioning Cotter’s credentials with nothing to back it up). From what I hear, Dr. Cotter is one of the most respected oncologists in the state.
Comment by Anonymous — September 25, 2008 @ 10:57 am
This was about Huntsville Hospital trying to make money. Clear and simple. Dr. Griffith was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. They went after him because he had the successful practice, not them. Dr. Griffith was right when he said they went after him because he was a competitor.
Comment by Anonymous — September 25, 2008 @ 11:00 am
89, i’ll agree with you on Cotter being classy, even when his back was against the wall, he didn’t get angry or laugh, like parker griffith has the whole time. To hear griffith laugh this off will make you want to throw up. Sick dude if you ask me.
Comment by Anonymous — September 25, 2008 @ 11:03 am
I laughed when I saw Wayne Parker’s ad. A skeleton and the picture breaking. True desperation. That’s what happens when the Republicans nominate an incompetent candidate. This seat would have been competitive if they had a halfway decent candidate. It looks like Parker Griffith already has this election wrapped up.
Comment by Anonymous — September 25, 2008 @ 11:36 am
Wayne Parker’s ad was sick. I thought Parker Griffith’s reaction was completely natural. I would laugh too if someone accused me of being a murderer.
Comment by Anonymous — September 25, 2008 @ 11:37 am
he wasn’t asked about murder, just about the very serious issue of mistreatment of patients who have cancer, under treating for more visits which equal more cash to griffith. he was running the show over there, it was griffith’s department. good leaders take responsibility, bad ones hide and laugh.
Comment by Anonymous — September 25, 2008 @ 11:51 am
Huntsville Hospital is the shop that got shut down. Dr. Griffith left and opened his own shop.
Comment by Anonymous — September 25, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Seems rather interesting timing that shortly after rumors begin being heard that the Republican Party will pull major financial support from Wayne Parker’s campaign, the campaign attempts to drop a bombshell on its opponent. Maybe a “hail Mary” attempt to keep the money flowing for the independent ads?
Comment by Anonymous — September 25, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
Parker Griffith is clearly someone who let cancer kill people for money. All the smoke you can blow cannot change that Parker Griffith is clearly someone who let cancer kill people for money.
Comment by R.A. Zimmerman — September 25, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
R.A. Zimmerman . . . you are a desperate Republican. Parker Griffith is going to clobber Wayne Parker at the polls.
Comment by Anonymous — September 26, 2008 @ 11:49 am
The way it looks now, I don’t see parker griffith “clobbering” anyone.
Comment by Anonymous — September 26, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
even if his name stays on the ballot, Griffith won’t be doing any clobbering
Comment by Anonymous — September 26, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
Jay Love and Wayne Parker have had a good couple of weeks. We will see if the momentum continues. As of now, they will both win. But it is a long time (politically speaking) to election day. All the other Alabama incumbents are safe, including Mike Rogers.
Comment by Anonymous — September 26, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
alot of stuff going on with this, check out www.theattackmachine.com…
Comment by Anonymous — September 26, 2008 @ 5:41 pm
I hear this has largely backfired on Wayne Parker. Looks like Parker Griffith might be clobbering him after all.
Comment by Anonymous — September 29, 2008 @ 4:19 pm
Gri$$ith smells bad in this. Gri$$ith is a criminal who billed for more Medicare or insurance money, and the media can’t connect the dots and get to the bottom of it. Hey HTimes, get your blue tinted glasses off and fight for the truth instead of believing that bully Gri$$ith.
Comment by Anonymous — September 29, 2008 @ 10:54 pm