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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
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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
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
#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.
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)!!
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.
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.
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.
#14 Did Griffith’s medical partner LOSE his license because of “business competition and money”?
He did not lose his license. He could practice today if he wanted to. He has a clean record!
oh . . . “partner”. I thought we were talking about Dr. Griffith.
I wonder how many “anonymous” posts the Griffith campaign press secretary can post in one day?
“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”.
wow – that looks bad for Griffith.
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
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.
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.
“One of the most respected doctors in North Alabama”?
Not anymore…
# 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.
His thousands of former patients think so. I don’t think the sleazy Wayne Parker campaign is the arbiter of who good doctors are.
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.
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?
Wayne Parker = Desperate Loser
#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
# 28 ??????????????????????? I am not sure what you are referring to?
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.
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.
I heard Wayne Parker is a murderer.
Some expert from St. Louis looked at some papers and told me so.
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
Medical opinion . . . not fact!
Parker Griffith supporter: “I heard Wayne Parker is a murderer”.
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.
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…
“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.
# 38 . . . . you heard it too?
# 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!!!
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.
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 # 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.
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.
To the Griffith campaign: will Griffith go on Dale Jackson tomorrow? Yes or No.
Who is Dale Jackson????????????????????????????
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.