Pubdate: Fri, 16 Sep 2005 Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY) Copyright: 2005 Johnson Newspaper Corp. Contact: http://www.ogd.com/letter.htm Website: http://www.ogd.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689 Author: Matt Akins Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n1484.a02.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/dr+james+latimer DOCTOR'S DAD: MILES 'GRANDSTANDING' POTSDAM - The father of a Madrid doctor, who some people are accusing of being connected to the prescription drug scandal in the North Country, wants people who really know his son to stand up and support him. "I'm asking the many people Dr. James Latimer has helped during his 25 plus years as a St. Lawrence County Physician to come to his support," wrote his father Glenn Latimer in a letter to the editor. To include Dr. Latimer in the present medical drug scandal and insinuate that he is responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in unneeded drugs prescribed to Medicaid patients is untrue and unfair." Latimer said that he and his wife were spending a few days at a friend's camp on Lake Ozonia when the first news stories broke in the media connecting their son to the investigation. They hadn't seen the television or read the "media circus," according to Mr. Latimer. They were surprised and shocked when they arrived home and started receiving phone calls from people telling them that their son was being linked to this major drug investigation. Latimer said people were calling his son a "drug pusher." "It was unbelievable," Latimer said. Mr. Latimer said he stands by his son's record as a doctor which spanned over 20 years and includes his current family practice in Madrid. He has over 4,000 patients. "They think he walks on water. You can talk to any of them," Latimer said. "He goes to church on Sunday. He doesn't smoke, drink or gamble. You know what he does, he works, 10, 12, 16 hours a day. He is at the hospital before day break." He supports the other doctors at the hospital and sees over 40 patients a day, according to his father. "He is totally, completely honest, I can vouch for that," Latimer said. He believes the allegations going around connecting his son to the scandal are just "grandstanding" by Acting District Attorney Gary Miles who is in the middle of a race for the district attorney post with Potsdam attorney Nicole Duve. "He is making it sound like Jimmy is the cause for the whole thing," Latimer said. Following the arrest of two people in Gouverneur on Tuesday, including a pharmacist at the Gouverneur Correctional Facility, Miles said they were investigating another physician in the area. He wouldn't say who that physician was, but labeled the person as "the leader of the pack." But sources have said that Dr. Latimer has 30 days to surrender his medical license after some have alleged he prescribed narcotics in large amounts to patients. It is believed that Miles and the DEA were investigating Dr. Latimer for more than a year. Miles said the DEA investigation is looking at physicians who prescribe dangerous narcotics to individuals in such large quantities drugs can be sold to addicts. Latimer said if people are going to target his son for prescribing drugs, then they should target any doctor who has ever prescribed medication. "If you are one of thousands of people who Dr. Latimer has helped, raise your voice to help him, Don't let Dr. Latimer's license to practice medicine be a feather in a candidate's hat," Mr. Latimer wrote in his letter. He also said if the media wants the whole story behind his son then they should talk to his employees and the other doctors he has worked with and supported over the years. "See what he has done and what he stands for," Latimer said, pointing out the St. Lawrence Medical Society is standing up for their colleague. "See what esteem he is held in. "Lastly, check with his patients and see what they think," Latimer said. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin