I n September 2019, the Virginia Board of Medicine summarily suspended Dr. Leila Zackrison’s medical license for treating Lyme disease, pending a hearing.
“My suspension stems from the political rift between IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America) and ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) where IDSA contends that Lyme Disease is simple to treat and not chronic,” Dr. Zackrison stated on a GoFundMe page raising money for her legal defense.
“Unfortunately, the Virginia Medical Board favors IDSA over ILADS,” she continued. “Many ILADS doctors like myself have suffered medical board investigations because they treat outside the IDSA guidelines….The board has accused me of over-treating these patients, despite the fact that hundreds of my patients have improved under my care and returned to normal activity.”
A group called “Friends of Dr. Zackrison” helped in the fundraising efforts. It also organized patients to participate in a peaceful show of support when the medical board met to decide the case on February 20-21, in Henrico, Virginia.
However, despite their efforts, the medical board voted at that meeting to revoke Dr. Zackrison’s license. Under Virginia law, she can seek re-instatement in three years, if she meets certain requirements of the board.
We will keep you posted on any noteworthy developments as the process unfolds.
Click here for more background on Dr. Zackrison’s case.
Editor’s note: Any medical information included is based on a personal experience. For questions or concerns regarding health, please consult a doctor or medical professional.