With the recommendation of Dr. Feldman, I begin contacting a few choice (Rep. Steven Carter, Senator John Milkovich, and Rep. Katrina Jackson) elected officials to see if political pressure can help persuade the LSBME to employ ethics or fairness into its dealings.
Dear Representatives, I am diligently trying to work to comply with the burdensome sanctions imposed on me by the LSBME, but I am coming up to roadblock after roadblock. My compliance officer consistently changes how I am supposed to fulfill my sanctions and will not send me a test I am supposed to take. How am I supposed to remove my license from suspension if the LSBME will not let me fulfill the sanctions? I have communicated with the new Director of Investigations, Larry Cresswell, but he is no help either. Please consider helping me navigate this. I am not sure what else to do. I have been corresponding with the LSBME for over a year and have gotten nowhere. My license has been suspended for over three years. I cannot get a job doing anything because this suspension comes up in a background check. I have cancer and need to be able to get medical care. Thank you for your time.
My compliance officer finally replied to my 5th or 6th email. The blatant obstruction of justice occurring at the hands of the LSBME is disgusting. These people are preventing me from earning any kind of living because they are taking their sweet time deciding how I can complete these sanctions, which BTW they adjudicated three and a half years ago. So, they have not prepared anything since the adjudication? Did they just not expect me to ever try and get off suspension? How is this legal? Oh, right. It isn’t. They do not have oversight and have been running amok destroying healthcare providers lives left and right.
But….. I am finally making progress, so let’s relish in that for a minute…….Ok, moving on. I am not sure if the new director is helping push my issues through the cartel which is the medical board or if the legislature is putting political pressure on them or if my compliance officer has run out of excuses. Either way, I am happy that after a year of communicating with Ms. Spooner that I will finally be receiving some straight answers. Sanction 2 is fulfilled–I needed 3 courses but took about 200. Apparently now I can prepare for the quiz for Sanction 3 even though last year Ms. Spooner told me I would have to complete Sanction 1 first. Speaking of Sanction 1, Dr. Cresswell changed Ms. Spooner’s original directive requiring me to attend a drug and alcohol treatment center for no reason. He said I could find a physician in Florida at which to have my mental/physical evaluation. And finally, I can pay my fees and fine in installments instead of one lump sum of over $17,000. Yay. Oh, wait. Ms. Spooner says I need to have the payment plan approved- even though the Director just told me to ask her to set it up? Huh. Are they not communicating? No, they are because I am ccing both of them in my emails. It is interesting that they are not on the same page. No, it isn’t interesting, its typical corruption, ineptitude, and incompetency. No one at the LSBME knows what they are doing. God save us all.
11/02/2018 Jm, The course information you have submitted will be sufficient to satisfy sanction 2 of your Order. I have contacted the Education department to prepare the Midwifery Quiz. I will contact you when it is ready. In the meantime, please review the rules for Licensed Midwives on our website to prepare for the quiz. This link will take you to the rules:
11/03/2018 Ms spooner, Thank you for finally replying to my original email which was over three weeks ago. I have been patiently waiting for a decision. That is wonderful news to finally know that sanction 2 is fulfilled by my over 300 hrs of continuing education. Likewise I’m equally excited to hear that the LSBME finally decided how I can fulfill sanction 3. I’m looking forward to hearing when the quiz will be ready and taking it. Dr. Cresswell mentioned you’d be able to help me with a payment plan for the extortion required to fulfill sanction 1. I’m ready to set up a payment plan whenever you are. Finally, Dr. Cresswell had mentioned that I am not required to attend a drug and alcohol treatment center however all of the places on the list that you and dr mouton supplied in order for me to satisfy the mental/ health evaluation are indeed drug and alcohol treatment facilities. Can you give me the name of a doctor in central Florida where I can get this sanction accomplished? This is where I live and it’s burdensome for me to have to travel as I do not have an income right now because I cannot find a job with this suspension on my record. If not please tell me who can pre approve this sanction. Thank you JM
11/7/2018 JM, The Board would have to approve a payment plan for you since it is a requirement that must be fulfilled prior to reinstatement. If you have a physician or facility you would like to use in Florida, please submit the name and contact information so we can contact them to obtain the necessary information to determine if they can be approved.Thanks,ES
Hi Ms. Spooner. Are you ever going to reply? I’ve sent this five or six times and I’ve sent a copy to Dr. Cresswell. Is this not something you can address as my compliance officer? If not, please let me know who can answer my questions.
I just wanted confirmation that these Board of Nurses courses (from RN.com) I’ve taken from the are sufficient. Im including a list of all the courses over the last four years. You’ll see that I have over 344 CEUs of which 61.95 CEUs (23 classes) are in Medical Record Keeping, 32 CEUs (13 classes) are in Medical Ethics and 53.9 CEUs (17 classes) are in the evaluation and identification of high risk pregnancies. I’m sure you’ll find these as more than sufficient in fulfilling this sanction 2. Thank you.
Hi Ms. Spooner. Are you ever going to reply? I’ve sent this like four or five times and I’ve sent a copy to Dr. Cresswell. Is this not something you can address as my compliance officer? If not, please let me know who can answer my questions.
I just wanted confirmation that these Board of Nurses courses (from RN.com) I’ve taken from the are sufficient. Im including a list of all the courses over the last four years. You’ll see that I have over 344 CEUs of which 61.95 CEUs (23 classes) are in Medical Record Keeping, 32 CEUs (13 classes) are in Medical Ethics and 53.9 CEUs (17 classes) are in the evaluation and identification of high risk pregnancies. I’m sure you’ll find these as more than sufficient in fulfilling this sanction 2. Thank you.
Since the new bill passed, an opportunity has presented itself to send information on the shenanigans of the board to the legislators. I didn’t know if anyone was receiving my complaints, but evidently they are. Thank you legislators of Louisiana. I appreciate you providing oversight to this corrupt board. My emails are below:
10/22/2018 To whom it may concern, The state of Louisiana needs to know what has been going on with this corrupt board. Below is my story. (Story not copied and pasted on this blog post- you can see it in another post). If anymore information is needed to file a formal complaint, please let me know. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, JM
10/25/2018 I’m checking to see if anyone received this. I haven’t heard back.
The reply:
10/26/2018 JM, Act No. 655 does not require any specific format or content of a complaint to the committee regarding the actions and procedures of a licensing board. This email is to confirm that the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs has received your complaint regarding the LSBME actions and procedures.
Woooohoooooooo! It is working. Someone is seeing these and hopefully passing them along to the proper person(s). So grateful. Keep breathing.
A pathologist, nephrologist, and urologist walk into a boardroom…
Though this sounds like the start of a joke, what happened next was hardly funny. These three doctors, who are on the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME), decided to indefinitely suspend my midwifery license.
What Happened?
Nothing. Other than a normal homebirth, where an 11-pound baby was safely delivered, nothing happened. There were no injuries. The mom and baby were not transported to the hospital before,during or after the birth. In accordance with the law, this mother’s obstetrician stated five times in her medical record that she was low risk and healthy for a homebirth.
On Christmas Eve in 2014, as I was leaving to a holiday party, I received a certified letter. It stated that the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners summarily suspended my midwifery license under the guise of protecting Louisiana citizens, from what I am not sure. While the news of being unable to attend any further births put a damper on my holiday, it pales in comparison to the experience of one of my other clients. She gave birth three days later without a healthcare provider by her side because she could not find a midwife to replace me in that limited amount of time and the LSBME, with blatant regard for this woman and her baby’s safety, refused to allow me to continue care.
The next three months following my suspension consisted of being at the mercy of the LSBME. The LSBME’s idea of following the law included lying, withholding evidence, and purposefully manipulating the rules and regulations. In the end, the LSBME accused me of deviating from midwifery standards of practice, exhibiting incompetence as determined by local midwifery standards, and fraud and deceit in connection with services rendered. None of these allegations are true.
The LSBME allowed a videographer, who attended the birth, to file a complaint against me. Ironically, while the labor was caught on video the actual birth was not, yet I was still accused of not delivering a baby correctly. However, I did not know who filed the complaint or what the allegations were until the day before my adjudication. Of course this allowed me no time to prepare for her coached and rehearsed untruthful testimony. Not only did this single, childless videographer lack medical training, her complaint was based on untrue allegations. Her dishonesty was propagated by a local midwife and obstetrician, who coincidentally opened a new birth center located five miles from my home. Can anyone say competition? I can.
The videographer, without the birth parents consent, showed the video to this competing midwife and obstetrician. Coincidentally this was the same obstetrician my client, the mother, was transferring care from when she decided to have a homebirth with me. The videographer worked closely enough with the birth center that they exclusively listed her photography services on its website.
Healthcare providers should be petrified that a videographer/photographer was allowed to file a complaint against their license especially when no one was injured. Though anyone should be allowed to make credible complaints against anyone’s license, the allegations should be truthful. None of the videographer’s allegations were proven to be anything but her opinion. Had the LSBME consulted with a noncompeting midwife, the charges would have been dropped. Instead, I was judged by three doctors (a pathologist, nephrologist, and urologist). They did not understand what was happening at this homebirth nor could they imagine what was normal because management of a homebirth is vastly different than a doctor-led hospital birth.
Likewise, the LSBME could have interviewed any of the other four adults present in the room during the birth. This included a nursing student and doula with more knowledge and experience with normal births than the videographer, which would have laid the videographer’s false allegations to rest. The parents testified on my behalf,explaining to the board that they were overjoyed with my careful, quality of care and would do the same birth all over again with me as a provider. The parents even asked me to attend the birth of their next child, but because my license is indefinitely suspended, I was unable to attend. This mom went on to have another 11-pound baby in a hospital setting, attended by another midwife without judgment on her license.
No one can control how a birth is perceived. It all depends on the persons’ perspective. The people with the most important perspective are the parents. They thought the birth was perfect, not at all traumatic as indicated by the LSBME. Homebirth is raw,natural, messy and organic. It’s hardly the same as a hospital birth. So of course a nephrologist, urologist, and pathologist who have never seen an out-of-hospital birth might perceive the normal sights and sounds of a homebirth as traumatic. Nothing unlawful or malicious happened at this birth or post-partum.
The LSBME was the investigator, accuser, judge, and jury in my case. In fact, the Lead Investigator was also the Executive Director of the LSBME—further evidence of injustice and conflict of interest. The Executive Director’s behavior, widely-known to be abrasive, abusive, and hostile did not lend itself to any professional negotiating or understanding. Under her direction, the LSBME acted like a soap opera; she allegedly had an affair with an attorney who worked with the LSBME to prosecute its victims, then hired his niece as part of the investigative staff, as evidently nepotism doesn’t apply to Louisiana. You just can’t make this stuff up.
Additionally, I didn’t have adequate access to the testimony nor appropriate peers to sift through the false allegations. Even though no one was hurt, injured, died, and no transfer to a hospital occurred, my livelihood was stripped from me because of competition. There was no oversight to this board. It screams of antitrust. Louisiana law states that a board of midwives serving underneath the LSBME would oversee any midwifery complaints. However, that board of midwives was dismantled years previously, evidently due to budgetary constraints.
In Adam Crepelle’s article, Guest column: Louisiana licensing rules stifle free market, he noted that “by making it harder to enter a profession, licensing can also reduce employment opportunities and lower wages for excluded workers, and increase costs for consumers.” The report notes that licensing is particularly burdensome on those required to move for work,like military families. It also asserts licensing hits the poor the hardest because they are often unable to afford licensing’s training costs.Furthermore, the report concludes that “most research does not find that licensing improves quality or public health and safety.”
Also, according to Alden Abbott of the Heritage Foundation, “In recent years, however, there have been signs that the Fourteenth Amendment ‘rational basis’ test that applies to economic regulation may be applied more expansively by the courts when it comes to analyzing anti-competitive licensing restrictions and related affronts to one of the most basic civil rights of all: the right to earn a living.”
Off the record, I consulted several midwives who are expert witnesses in other states and they agreed that my case was biased and unfounded, but I could not utilize their testimony because the prosecution set the tone of the courtroom, whereby doctors were used to defend midwifery rules and regulations. This is something doctors cannot adequately do because, well, they are not midwives and do not understand what occurs at a homebirth. Midwifery rules and regulations, especially for autonomous, out-of-hospital midwives are, and uniquely designed for, complete,continuous independent care of low-risk, healthy mothers. The mother whose baby I delivered was low-risk and healthy, as indicated five times in her medical records by the obstetrician she was seeing during the pregnancy. The LSBME told me that this obstetrician was “wrong.”
Why didn’t I appeal the decision?
Unfortunately I didn’t have the available funds. This was my second client in Louisiana as a licensed midwife,so my income was minimal. My attorneys were flabbergasted at the railroading that occurred at my hearing. Initially, they thought these allegations would not amount to anything close to a suspension because license suspensions are usually only given when a practitioner does something horrific like operates on the wrong leg, practices under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or prescribes medications illegally, not during a birth where no one was hurt or injured.
The decision the LSBME made in my case was unprecedented. A regulatory board like the LSBME is responsible for “protecting the public from unsafe practitioners,” but clearly it overstepped its jurisdiction because it did not have any oversight. It took advantage of its intended purpose and instead applied irrational, unreasonable, arbitrary, and burdensome requirements to unduly limit my individual constitutional liberties. Due to institutional corruption, an appeal was looking unfavorable, and it would cost me an additional $30,000. Unable to get the upper hand and find additional funds, I had to cut my losses and regroup. Besides, my family needed me.
I spent the next two years helping to care for of my 86-year old grandmother, while my mother took care of her dying husband, all while going through a divorce. Additionally, I found out I have thyroid cancer. Last year, I attempted to find some gainful employment doing something, anything that would help me afford health insurance. I live in a ‘red state,’ so even Medicaid insurance would cost me hundreds every month. I applied to about 50 different jobs from department stores to libraries. I couldn’t get past the background check with a suspended license on my record,despite having had a midwifery license in Wisconsin that was never acted upon and had no lawsuits. I chose not to renew my Wisconsin license, as I did not live there. I was fortunate enough to maintain my skill set in midwifery by working as an assistant midwife and birth assistant, but the pay is not as steady nor much as it would be if I were an independent midwife. I could not afford to keep paying my health insurance premium of nearly $700 a month.
I moved to Florida in the spring of 2018 to work at a birth center where I would have a more steady income as an office assistant and birth assistant. I took a second job house sitting so that I would have a place to stay. After realizing that my first application for midwifery licensure in Florida should not have been denied, I chose to reapply after completing the in-state requirements. But once again, the suspended license in Louisiana is somehow preventing the Department of Health in Florida from granting me a license, even a temporary one, in the underserved area where I live. Although Florida has a Council of Midwives who assist the Department of Health in making decisions regarding midwifery rules and regulations, the Council was not given the ability to have any input on my application. Likewise, if my allegations were true and I was adjudicated in Florida, my sanctions would be at most a fine of a few hundred dollars and a few months of probation compared to an indefinite suspension.
The stipulations required to lift my suspension and place me on probation include paying the LSBME nearly$18,000 in fees (which the LSBME didn’t calculate until 11/2017), going to the LSBME’s handpicked rehab in Mississippi, completing three courses, demonstrating my understanding of the Louisiana midwifery rules and regulations (which the LSBME will elaborate only after I go to rehab), and paying a $300 fine. According to an email from my compliance officer on November 13, 2017, the LSBME accepts cash or money orders only. They do not take credit cards, have payment plans, or will agree to community service in lieu of fines or fees. However,in an email correspondence tonight with the new Director of Investigations, he stated that “the board has been willing to work with licensees in the past if money is the primary reason a person would not be able to comply with orders and sanctions of an administrative hearing. Paying over an extended period of time has been granted in the past.” Clearly, the LSBME personnel lack consistency and understanding of LSBME policies, procedures, and options regarding payments.
Despite the fact that physical, mental, drugs, or alcohol were never an issue in my case, the LSBME is requiring me to go to one of five rehabs to prove it. Interestingly, two of the rehabs closest to me declined to admit me after viewing my court documents because I do not fit their criteria for admission. Coincidentally, after the Mississippi rehab Pine Grove consulted with my compliance officer at the LSBME,they decided I was a “perfect” candidate. There is abundant information on how Physician Health Programs (PHP) choose to utilize fraud, deceit, and fabrication to go above the law to commit crimes for these boards, whom conveniently give them immunity and a constant flow of “customers.” Furthermore, the LSBME continues to change its requirements. For example, it stated that I could take courses found on the Board of Nursing’s website, but months later were silent on whether those courses that I already completed were adequate.
In a contrary statement, the new Director of Investigations wrote in October of 2018 that he reviewed my file and found that “there is no mention or recommendation of a drug and alcohol treatment facility. This is not a requirement of the Board and therefore you do not have to commit yourself to a drug and alcohol treatment center. The Board does require a mental/physical evaluation by a physician or group of physicians who have been pre-approved in writing by the Board. You must also have an evaluation showing that you have been deemed competent to resume the practice of midwifery.” This sounds confusing because it is. I have several emails from my compliance officer stating the opposite. These boards are notorious for (un)comically being Lucy constantly moving the football so that I, Charlie Brown, can’t kick it.
Likewise, in an even more frustrating turn of events, the new Director also stated in an email from October 2018 that my compliance officer could set up a payment plan for the almost $18,000 fee, but my compliance officer stated that I would have to get preapproval from the LSBME before she could set up a payment plan because she could not guarantee that the LSBME would accept a payment plan even though the Director of Investigations stated to do so. Also, now I am apparently supposed to find my own physician to conduct a mental evaluation but they will not tell me what I need to be evaluating. Once I find someone who I think can do the evaluation I am to have that person contact my compliance officer for specific instructions on what exactly needs to be evaluated. Sound shady? Yes, yes it is.
Why share this story now? Why didn’t I share it three years ago when it happened?
The Supreme Court has finally realized how out-of-control and cartel-like these state boards have become. In 2015, in North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners v. FTC, the Supreme Court held that when a controlling number of state board members are market participants, the board must be “actively supervised” to be immune from antitrust law. States have three options for complying with this ruling. First, they can choose not to put a controlling number of active market participants on boards. Second, they can actively supervise boards where market participants make up a controlling number of members. Third, they can forgo state action immunity by not actively supervising boards and keeping a controlling number of market participants on boards. Without such changes, state boards may be subject to antitrust liability for actions that are deemed to be anticompetitive.
In May 2018, Louisiana Senator John Milkovich introduced a bill to the Louisiana legislature to provide oversight to actively supervise these corrupt boards, like the LSBME. The bill was approved and instituting its requirements have begun, albeit slowly. Therefore, I finally feel like I have a chance to positively change my circumstances. Louisiana needs to nullify the absurd sanctions placed on me. Please join me in contacting the following agencies and complaining on my behalf at the injustice and the unreasonable restraint on competition violating federal antitrust law that occurred. *However, since this bill was just “dropped on them” as stated by the secretary of the House and Governmental Affairs Committee, at this time, she does not know what a formal complaint should include. I will update this information as soon as their attorney returns my call.
In compliance with Act 2018-655, the board gives notice to its licensees and applicants of their opportunity to file a complaint about board actions and board procedures. You may submit such complaints to one or more of the following organizations:
Louisiana State
Board of Medical Examiners; 630 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130; (504)
568-6820; lsbme@lsbme.la.gov
Committee on
House & Governmental Affairs; La House of Representatives; PO Box 444486,
Baton Rouge, LA 70804; (225) 342-2403; h&ga@legis.la.gov
Committee on
Senate & Governmental Affairs; La Senate; PO Box 94183, Baton Rouge, LA
70804; (225) 342-9845; s&g@legis.la.gov
Conveniently, the media group Gatehouse recently published a series of articles pertaining to out-of-hospital midwifery. They complied a database of all midwives across the US. If we look at Louisiana’s active licensed midwives (and the five midwives who would still be practicing if their licenses were not acted upon) we will find shocking statistics—32% (8/25) have had their licenses acted upon in some capacity. This further underscores the restriction of trade and antitrust issues occurring there. Out of those 20 with active licenses, three have been acted upon by the LSBME for violations and are still practicing in some capacity, whether that is on probation or in a state of undocumented, involuntary suspension. These violations, which midwives carry on their record forever, stem from simple clerical errors to natural occurrences that no one can predict or prevent like stillbirth. Two midwives, including myself have their licenses suspended. One Naturopathic physician was also targeted by the LSBME and had her license to practice midwifery revoked. The data speak for itself: more midwives have inactive licenses in Louisiana than those actively working (26 with two of those licenses having been acted upon). This means that there are more midwives in Louisiana that have, for one reason or another, stopped practicing in Louisiana. Is this because Louisiana unfairly and unjustly monopolizes the practice of midwifery? We can imagine that these midwives who are not practicing anymore or have declined to renew their licenses were dissuaded to do so because of the unethical railroading that occurs there. We can assume they would still be working in the field of midwifery if this Board had oversight and any adherence to the spirit of the law. When 32% of the Louisiana midwives are targeted, no one can claim this field is not being restricted.
According to the NOLA.com article Under Fire from Opponents, Medical Examiners Bill Stripped of Key Provisions, the number of doctors having active licenses acted upon is around 30-50 per year according to Cecelia Mouton then Executive Director of the LSBME. A census in 2016 from the Federation of State Medical Boards states that there are 16,894 active licensed physicians in Louisiana. Louisiana has provided licensure for midwives since 1984. So if we compare the amount of midwives to doctors over the last 34 years and the irrespective disciplinary actions (taking an average of 40 per year for doctors),midwives licenses have been acted upon 32% vs doctors 8%. How is the LSBME not overstepping its administrative function? How is this not a restraint of trade?How is the LSBME able to adequately discipline midwives when it is obviously biased?
The LSBME has traumatized me.From investigators showing up at my house to hand deliver a subpoena to knocks on my door from the mail carrier delivering certified letters—I lived in a constant state of fear of how the LSBME would affect my life. I lost over 20 pounds in two months from the stress. The LSBME combed through social media to use posts against me, forcing me to delete or make private all social media support systems I had established. I was concerned that my husband could lose his job, since he worked for the state of Louisiana. I worried that my daughter would be bullied in school by the obstetrician’s children. I was concerned that a lien would be placed on my property so that I could not move until I paid the fees. No part of my life was untouched by the evilness of the LSBME.
I am an over-qualified, educated, competent midwife, who cannot practice because of a bogus adjudication. I have never lost a mother or baby. I have never had a lawsuit. In the last three years, I have taken over 300 hours of continuing educational units. That’s far beyond any required amount in any state. I would be a valuable asset to any state, city, and community. I have two degrees in the study of midwifery, in addition to a bachelor’s degree. I have completed a course as an EMT. I have several job opportunities awaiting me at birth centers in Florida, but I only need a license. My position as a college midwifery clinical coordinator was rescinded as soon as my license was suspended. I am a preceptor for midwifery students. While I have suffered emotionally, physically, financially, and mentally because of my suspension, ultimately it is consumers seeking midwifery services who have suffered by not having access to one. Likewise, students who need preceptors are suffering from not having one more choice. Therefore, the LSBME is not only hurting me, but also mothers, babies, and future midwives.
Although I have been very blessed in the opportunities I have been given and the kindness and gratitude of my friends and family, it is simply not enough to sustain any lifestyle, especially one where I also need medical care. Please help spread my story to attorneys, organizations, and writers so that I can get the word out on the unconstitutional and biased decision made by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Please call and/or write to the LSBME, the LA House, and LA Senate and complain on my behalf towards the goal of nullifying these sanctions so that I do not need to pursue litigation in either state. Please help me raise the funds I need to overcome all of this and once again provide safe, competent, quality midwifery care.
Below is my email on 10/22/2018 to the new Director (Lawrence Cresswell) of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. He is replacing Cecilia Mouton. It is about time.
Dr. Cresswell CCs my compliance officer, Esparonzia Spooner when he replies promptly also on 10/22/2018. The take home from this email exchange is that I do not have to go to a drug and alcohol facility for the unwarranted mental/physical exam. Likewise even thought my compliance officer said a year ago that I could not make payments on the egregious fees/fines, that Dr. C said I could. Finally, he said he would be happy to help facilitate any request I have for a Board decision. Yes, we shall see. It is surprising to me how helpful he is being. It is almost as if he realizes the unprecedented amount of injustice that has occurred.
Dear Mr. Cresswell, Welcome to the LSBME. I am one of the unfortunate souls to have been railroaded by the corruptness of the board and Dr. Mouton in the past few years. I am wondering if you can be of help in nullifying my egregious sanctions that are keeping my license indefinitely suspended? I do not live in the state of Louisiana anymore and will never return. However, because of my unconstitutional adjudication dripping with antitrust issues, I am unable to make a living in the state of my choosing. As you will see in my file, I have never hurt nor injured anyone. I have followed all the rules and regulations. I am over-qualified. In the last three years, I have taken over 300 hours in continuing education in addition to completing yet another degree in midwifery studies. Without a job, I cannot pay the board its fees of almost $18,000 and the board will not allow me to make payments, use credit cards, nor substitute community service for payment. Likewise, I cannot commit myself to a drug and alcohol treatment facility of the board’s choosing in good conscience as I do not have a drug nor alcohol problem, not to mention the $5000 required to pay for the evaluation. Furthermore, the inability to complete one of my sanctions because the board will not tell me how to complete it, until after my unnecessary drug and alcohol evaluation, is beyond ridiculous. It is not legal for my livelihood to be tied to a board with no oversight. I do not see how the board can continue to deny a good citizen like myself the inability to earn a living in any field. I look forward to a review of my case and the rescinding of all sanctions. Thank you. JMac
Dr. C’s reply:
Thank you for my welcome to the LSBME. I have reviewed your file and would like to offer the following suggestions. The board has been willing to work with licensees in the past if money is the primary reason a person would not be able to comply with orders and sanctions of an administrative hearing. Paying over an extended period of time has been granted in the past. I would recommend that you make a formal request to the board in writing that can be submitted to the Board on your behalf for consideration. During my review of your file, there is no mention or recommendation of a drug and alcohol treatment facility. This is not a requirement of the Board and therefore you do not have to commit yourself to a drug and alcohol treatment center. The Board does require a mental/physical evaluation by a physician or group of physicians who have been pre-approved in writing by the Board. You must also have an evaluation showing that you have been deemed competent to resume the practice of midwifery. In addition, education in the areas of Medical Record Keeping, Medical Ethics, and Evaluation and Identification of High Risk Pregnancies are required. These courses must be approved in advance by the Board. If you have taken these classes since your suspension, please submit proof of course completion. After the completion of the above, it has been ordered that your license may be reinstated, however your license would be reinstated on probation. I do believe there is a path for you to move forward and a way to regain your license. You stated that you have no intention to practice in the State of Louisiana. If this is the case, I recommend including this in your formal written request for Board consideration. As the Director of Investigations, I do not make administrative decisions pertaining to any individual licensee as this is a decision of the Board. I would, however be happy to help facilitate any request you may have to the Board for a decision. I hope this has been helpful.
It is not often that I see eye to eye with physicians. It isn’t that I do not like them, but usually our philosophies and approaches are vastly different. You’d think having the commonality of wanting to serve others would be enough to unite us, but sometimes it isn’t. Thankfully this is not the case this time. Despite our working environments being surgical suite vs. living room, Dr. Feldman, an anesthesiologist, and I have had a more similar plight through licensure land. Sure, his care revolves around easing the pain of laboring women while mine involves encouraging them through it, but our hearts, souls, and minds all focus on helping people through life’s difficult journeys. The first time I read about Dr. Feldman, his wife, and staff, was on a WordPress blog post from Sound Off Louisiana. I have attached the post below. http://www.soundoffla.com/?p=1750#comment-789
I could feel the frustration and anger in his quotes. I could see his passion in the accompanying video. Our style of healthcare may not be similar, but our plight with this medical board is—Dr. Feldman also lost everything because a competing doctor wanted him gone. This is all too similar to my situation where obstetrician Dr. Dickerson and fellow midwife Sherri Daigle, my two main competitors in Baton Rouge, encouraged and coached a naive photographer to turn me into the board. Were these allegations even true or fair? No, in both of our cases. Were both of us railroaded out of practice unable to find work anywhere else? Yes. Have both of us faced unimaginable hardships and continued backlash from the board who does not want to see us practicing again? Yes. Removing healthcare providers for antitrust issues does nothing to protect the consumers. For cases like mine where I had to discharge a client three days before she gave birth–she chose to have her baby alone because she did not have time nor money to set up an alternate plan. Likewise, Dr. Feldman was forced to leave his clients without access to pain management. Does anyone know how hard it is to get into see a doctor? Sometimes it takes months if you are a new client. Dr. Feldman is a world-renowned anesthesiologist who has been reduced to sleeping in his RV in Wal-Mart parking lots—all because of a board that lacks oversight and refuses to bow to the law.
Finding Dr. Feldman has been a blessing. His energy is palpable. His desire to see justice served is as important as seeing no one else harmed by the medical board. It isn’t as lonely knowing there is someone else out there in the same boat, and as I continue to fight the board, it is nice having his expertise on my side. Though we have yet to meet, we plan to soon and will eventually file a lawsuit against one of these states. And perhaps one day we may actually work together toward making births better.
Sen. John Milkovich’s close on his “physician’s bill of rights” draws sharp rebukes from many of his House colleagues and leads to attorney Jack Stolier being escorted out of the meeting.
May 6, 2018
Louisiana State Sen. John Milkovich, D-Shreveport
At the Louisiana House Committee on Health and Welfare meeting of Wednesday, May 2, 2018, Louisiana State Sen. John Milkovich presented his physician’s bill of rights. Video highlights of that event follow: Milkovich’s heated closing, which led to numerous rebukes by House Committee members and to the ouster (not captured on video) of New Orleans attorney Jack Stolier, who, according to one source in attendance, charged directly at Sen. Milkovich upon him having uttered that Stolier engaged in an affair with the director of investigations of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.
As is obvious from the preceding video, though Stolier was unable to reach Milkovich, it didn’t stop him from yelling several times to Milkovich that “you’re a bald face liar” regarding statements Milkovich made entailing the alleged affair.
Regarding the preceding statements by Milkovich entailing Louisiana Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera not being provided with access to the investigative files of the Board, that was an interesting point of contention during the meeting as evidenced by the following video clip: Testimony about the degree, if any, that Purpera has been afforded an opportunity to examine the Board’s investigative files.
Soon after Sen. Gerald Long, R-Winnfield, provided support for Milkovich’s bill, Dr. Greg Stephens provided testimony indicating that he had been railroaded by the Board and that Dr. David Hammond, Medical Director of the Healthcare Professionals’ Foundation of Louisiana, had essentially told him to just suck it up and take it “because you have no due process rights with the Medical Board.” Hammond, while acknowledging his conversations with Stephens did take place, stated that Stephens was taking his comments “out of context” and presenting them “in a manner that I don’t believe is accurate.” Sen. Long provides support for Milkovich’s bill, followed by Stephens testifying to his alleged railroading by the Board with Hammond, to some extent, refuting that testimony.
Stephens was accused of not properly safeguarding pre-signed prescription pads and prescribing to family members without adequate documentation in their medical records. He was also cited for “performing a minor office procedure on a patient in the clinic without appropriately documenting such in the medical record or assuring that the office was able to comply with requirements for any untoward complications.” He is no longer allowed to practice in Louisiana; however, he is practicing in Arkansas.
There can be perhaps no more public and vocal protestor of the Louisiana Medical Board than Dr. Arnold Feldman, who has directly accused Dr. Michael Burdine, a former direct competitor of his and a former member of the Medical Board, of “conducting an organized campaign to eliminate me, his key competition in Baton Rouge, by having my medical license revoked and shutting me down.” Dr. Feldman’s testimony, in its entirety, follows: Dr. Arnold Feldman’s testimony entailing the Louisiana Medical Board’s investigative tactics, along with that of his wife and a former employee whom Feldman insists that he was forced to terminate or face an immediate suspension of his medical license.
My compliance officer tells me she has not had time to review my 344 CEUs to see if they are sufficient (yes they are). She claims she has to review them with the new Director of Investigations and to follow up on Tuesday 10/23. I do not hear from her on Tuesday, nor do I hear from the new Director, Dr. Cresswell. I decide to write him on 10/29/2018. All this stalling is not only aggravating me but preventing me from making a living. My cancer is still here, but I cannot afford or qualify for medical coverage in order to follow up on it. So, I wait.
10/19/2018 JM, I have been out of the office and have not had time to review your courses with the new Director of Investigations. You can follow-up with me on Tuesday [10/23/2018] to see if they were approve. From a cursory review, what you submitted appears to be adequate. Thanks, ES
10/21/2018 Ms. Spooner I didn’t realize you were away from the office. Usually I receive an auto reply stating ones absence in that circumstance. Regardless please pass along the name of the new director and contact info. Thank you. JM
10/22/2018 Ms. Spooner, I am unsure of who to call regarding making a complaint against the LSBME as seen in the fine print of your email. Can you please direct me to a person? Is Mr. Cresswell the person I need to be in touch with? Thanks so much, JM
10/22/2018 My compliance officer responded with Dr. Cresswell’s information.
10/22/2018 ES, Thank you. JM
10/29/2018 Hi Dr. Cresswell, I was under the assumption that Ms. Spooner would be discussing these courses with you, but in typical fashion, I have not received a reply from her regarding these. I look forward to hearing that I have fulfilled the courses requirement sanction. Thank you. JM
10/19/2018 Hi Ms. Spooner. This is the third time I’m sending this email. Is there a reason you are not communicating with me?
I just wanted confirmation that these Board of Nurses courses (from RN.com) I’ve taken from the are sufficient. Im including a list of all the courses over the last four years. You’ll see that I have over 344 CEUs of which 61.95 CEUs (23 classes) are in Medical Record Keeping, 32 CEUs (13 classes) are in Medical Ethics and 53.9 CEUs (17 classes) are in the evaluation and identification of high risk pregnancies. I’m sure you’ll find these as more than sufficient in fulfilling this sanction 2. Thank you. JM
Esparonzia Spooner <espooner@lsbme.la.gov>
Oct 19, 2018, 6:26 PM
to me
Ms. Macaluso,
I have been out of the office and have not had time to review your courses with the new Director of Investigations. You can follow-up with me on Tuesday to see if they were approve. From a cursory review, what you submitted appears to be adequate.
This email transmission, including any attachments, is intended only for the named recipient(s) and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you have received this transmission in error, or are not the named recipient(s), permanently delete this transmission, including any attachments.
In compliance with Act 2018-655, the Board gives notice to its licensees and applicants of their opportunity to file a complaint about board actions and board procedures. You may submit such complaints to one or more of the following organizations:
1. Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners; 630 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130; (504) 568-6820; lsbme@lsbme.la.gov.
2. Committee on House & Governmental Affairs; La. House of Representatives; PO Box 44486, Baton Rouge, LA 70804; (225) 342-2403; h&ga@legis.la.gov
3. Committee on Senate & Governmental Affairs; La Senate;PO Box 94183, Baton Rouge, LA 70804; (225) 342-9845; s&g@legis.la.gov.
From: Jackie Mac <jmacmidwife@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2018 4:28 PM To: Esparonzia Spooner <espooner@lsbme.la.gov> Subject: Third email. Pls respond ASAP. Sanction 2 Jacqueline Macaluso
Jacqueline Macaluso <jmacmidwife@gmail.com>
Oct 21, 2018, 2:26 PM
to Esparonzia
Ms. Spooner I didn’t realize you were away from the office. Usually I receive an auto reply stating ones absence in that circumstance. Regardless please pass along the name of the new director and contact info. Thank you. Jacqueline Macaluso
My Journey as a Licensed Midwife in Louisiana 