Laura Novak
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Sarah Palin's Letter: A Doctor Dissects It

5/12/2011

 

Ah, the doctor’s letter. This would be the version of Mrs. Palin’s “medical records” that she promised during the campaign.

The letter is short, as was President Obama’s, but it was only released by the McCain campaign an hour or so before midnight on election eve, 2008. It also differed from Mr. Obama’s in that the bulk of it concentrated on the birth of Trig Palin. The Obama children, their births and health, were not mentioned in his letter.

Much has been written on several excellent blogs about Mrs. Palin’s letter. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson, who calls herself the Palin family physician, signed the letter. A PDF of the document archived with the Los Angeles Times can be found HERE.

And Regina at Palingates recent post on the matter can be found HERE.

Others have questioned everything about the letter, from the doctor’s signature, to the formatting, to the passive voice. I found the letter odd in several ways, not the least being the fact that the McCain campaign released it, purposefully of course, at a time when no reporter could scrutinize it or press for answers. 

Why was that, Steve Schmidt?

To sort out what others see as discrepancies, I asked the neonatologist, with whom I have been speaking on this blog, to offer his expert opinion.

LN:  So, does this letter state that Sarah Palin was pregnant and gave birth to Trig Palin in 2008?

DOC:  It does say that she was pregnant and delivered a baby with Down’s syndrome in 2008 at 35 weeks gestation. It’s very vague and doesn’t mention a birth date, but it does spend more time on this pregnancy than any of the others. Others have noticed that it leaves out her two miscarriages and gets the year of Piper’s birth wrong.

I’m most interested in the part that says that the diagnosis of Down’s syndrome was made early in the 2nd trimester and confirmed by amniocentesis. I find this point interesting, because most pro-life or highly religious parents who I work with decline amniocentesis. In fact, they often get offended when I ask them about the pre-natal genetic testing. I often hear “It’s god’s will and we’ll accept the baby that god gives us”.  Amniocentesis carries a 1-2% miscarriage risk, and even if positive for something serious, the parents aren’t going to terminate the pregnancy based on the information they receive. There’s a rule in medicine: “Don’t do a test if you aren’t going to do anything with the results” and it certainly applies here.

The generic nature of the narrative suggests to me that she could have easily been describing Bristol Palin’s pregnancy. Perhaps Bristol, without strongly held beliefs about abortion like her mother, wouldn’t have objected to an amniocentesis in the face of suspicion of Down’s syndrome.

LN:L What do you make of the fact that the baby’s specific birth DATE is missing?  Would you put a date in a letter if you were writing it? Is that important?

DOC: Dates are critical in neonatology as we deal in premature babies and want to know exactly how premature a baby is. The exact date of Trig’s birth is very important. If Trig was born 3 or 4 weeks earlier than otherwise claimed, Bristol could have been the mother of both babies. The letter does not give a specific date for Trig’s birthday and if the letter were written for the implicit purpose of confirming Trig’s parentage, a specific date would have been expected. On the other hand, in most medical records that I read, only the year is given, so I don’t want to read too much into this.

LN:  Is there anything out of the ordinary in the letter?

DOC: It says nothing out of the ordinary except that the doctor changed her status at the hospital on June 1, 2008 to "devote more time to my work in the area of child abuse evaluation and prevention". The timing is interesting. If CBJ was board certified in 1983 then that puts her age somewhere in the 50s assuming a normal career path. Most doctors don’t start cutting back their time until they reach their 60s. Also, how is this relevant to Sarah Palin’s health? Why include this in a letter about her?

LN:  Do you surmise from it that the doctor is telling the truth (passive voice and odd narrative not withstanding.)

DOC:  I'm actually not all that bothered by the use of passive voice in the letter. It's pretty typical of medical written communication. That's what they tell us to do in medical school. I think she's telling as much of the truth that she can except for Trig's pregnancy. I'd still like to know if she was Bristol's doctor too, but there’s no reason to put that in the letter.

LN:  So what do you mean except for Trig's pregnancy?  Doesn't she say that she was Mrs. Palin’s doctor during this pregnancy and that she followed routine prenatal care?  Tell me if there is a clue as to what's missing.

DOC:  I mean that she tried to include as much factual information in the letter as possible to give it credibility. From the letter, we are supposed to assume that she was Sarah Palin's doctor during Trig's "pregnancy". I don't see any clues to anything amiss in the letter. However, it would be simple for her to attribute the care of Bristol Palin's pregnancy with Trig to that of Sarah.

LN:  In other words, mix two cases or names:  Blend the daughter’s possible pregnancy chart and attribute it to the mother?

DOC: Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.

LN:  But isn’t that precisely what would be unethical, if not illegal?  Isn’t the entire point of a medical record to go on the record about that one patient?

DOC:  Yes, and that’s why I find the fact that she went off active status in June 2008 to be interesting. If she had continued on after that point, her medical records might have received extra scrutiny by the credentialing committee at the hospital that she didn’t want to deal with.

LN:  So herein lies the rub:  If a doctor fibs about a patient to the public, that’s one thing. But any record of that can be discovered by the State during an audit for credentialing. And that could jeopardize an entire facility. So, is it possible she bowed out of her role there in order to staunch any bleeding that could occur down the road for the hospital itself? No matter how entwined she was with them?

DOC: The state handles licensing and each hospital handles credentialing. The state usually doesn’t act against a practitioner unless there is a specific complaint or if standard requirements aren’t met. Hospital rules for credentialing vary, but most require renewal every 2-4 years and any concerns or complaints are evaluated by the credentialing committee. Obviously, the process for “active” staff is more robust than for “courtesy” staff. In this particular case, it wouldn’t surprise me if CBJ struck some kind of deal with the hospital that she would downgrade to courtesy staff and they wouldn’t push back with any kind of investigation. Hospital administrators hate controversy.

LN:  Would you write that letter if you were NOT that woman's doctor? (May not be illegal, but it's sure a lie or unethical.)

DOC:  No way! If I was given access to her medical record and wasn't her doctor, I would make it clear that I wasn’t her personal physician.

LN:  So either this truly is Mrs. Palin’s doctor writing the truth, or…tell us under what circumstances a doctor might do this? Have you ever known one to not tell the whole truth in a letter like this?

DOC: I think CBJ may have already been too deep in this mess to bail out. If she had lied about Trig’s mother, she would have to continue to support that lie to keep her professional status intact. I don’t know of any cases in my experience like this, but as I have mentioned before, it is very easy for a doctor to get caught between doing the right thing and doing what their patients ask them to do.

LN: One of the things people have criticized is that the letter does not state that Dr. Baldwin-Johnson delivered the baby Trig. I don't see any issue about naming who actually delivered the child. It could well have been the OB on call at that hour, especially if Dr. CBJ induced labor at 11:30pm. She might simply have gone home.

DOC:  Absolutely, the on-call doc for the practice handles the delivery. No one but the most important VIP gets a guarantee to have their doctor at their delivery. The only exception would be the rare case of a true solo-practitioner. I will say, however, that OBs (and Neonatologists) often do 24-hour shifts for continuity of care.

LN:  Well, for a little levity, allow me to say I am flattered. My OB put in a 12-hour day and stayed to deliver my son and I was little more than a TV reporter (34-years-old, prima gravida. Etc., etc, and yes, she and I could both say exactly where and when he was born without mixing up our stories!)

DOC: Well speaking of that kind of wording (prima gravida et al.), I wonder if the records from Bristol’s "2nd" pregnancy indicate anything about her past OB history. Did someone write anything in her chart like her being a G2 P0101, which is OB for "2 pregnancies, one living preterm birth"? HIPPA protected, for sure, but interesting. Maybe Bristol will some day run for political office and have her medical records disclosed.

We often have moms who come in and say its their first pregnancy, but when the OB examines them, it's clear that they have episotomy or perineal laceration scars. That could also be in the chart.

LN:  So you think this letter could have been referring to Bristol giving birth to Trig?

DOC:  The letter doesn’t answer that question directly, but it certainly doesn’t settle the issue either.

LN:  And that’s the key here, in my opinion. They release a letter at, literally, the eleventh hour, with all this wording in order to settle a controversy, and yet it does precisely the opposite:  It remains vague and scattered enough to ensure that the controversy continues.  Why is that?

DOC:  I’m not sure what the law says about this, but the purpose of a doctor’s letter is to attest that a candidate has no significant health problems that would prevent them from fulfilling the office that they aspire to. In this case, they had a dual purpose. One was the standard statement of good health. The second was to use this as an opportunity to support the vice presidential candidate’s claim that she was Trig’s mother. The fewer details that CBJ put in the letter, the fewer details she could potentially have to defend later if/when the medical records are examined. However, it’s more of a political question than a medical question. I’m sure the McCain/Palin people went over that letter with a fine-toothed comb before releasing it.

LN:  But this is all just speculation, because the truth is, we’ll never know, am I right? Especially with a famous patient.

DOC:  There is no obligation to release medical records for public examination. Eventually, they may leak out to the public, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. It’s no different for a famous patient. When doctors have a famous patient, the rules are very simple. If you say anything to anybody about their health information, even to your own friends and family, you can look for a new job. We once had a prominent football player's baby in our nursery. Some staff that weren't caring for the baby or mother opened up the mother’s electronic medical record out of curiosity and were promptly fired.

LN:  So, bottom line, if you were NOT Mrs. Palin’s doctor, you would not have written this letter? So, we have to assume that Cathy Baldwin-Johnson was on the up-and-up here.

DOC:  She says that SP was seen "as a patient in our clinic since 1991". I see no reason to doubt that.

LN:  Except that they shared a religious affiliation that oversaw the Board of the hospital. Long time followers of the story can add more detail to this, I am sure.

DOC:  Now that's scary. Especially since Sarah flew quite a long way to deliver at this specific little hospital. That's the part that makes the least sense in the whole story.

LN:  So, what, if anything, leaves any doubt or questions in your mind about this letter?

DOC:  It’s a rather bland, routine medical letter as it should be. I have no idea why the “FP” at the end of FAAFP is in different color. Not sure it means anything. The three things that strike me as unusual or suspicious are Dr. CBJ resigning from active status at the hospital shortly after Trig’s birth, the amniocentesis, and the fact that Trig’s birth date is not given.

LN:  Let’s talk soon about the photos of the alleged newborn Trig. I have some thoughts about them but more importantly I’d love it if you could offer your own perspective as someone who has specialized in the care of high-risk and medically fragile newborns and children.

DOC: I assume you’re talking about the photos of him being held by friends and family, looking chubby and pink? I don’t see any jaundice in those pictures, nor do I see the normal “plethora” (or ruddiness) that most babies have in the first day or two of life. He also looks too chubby for a newly born baby; at least a few weeks old, but definitely not a new 6lb, 35 weeker. That looks more like one of those babies they use on soap operas who is 1-2 months old playing a newborn.

LN:  Thank you, Doc! That comment alone should get everyone’s juices flowing. I’ll try to pull together the photos and we’ll dissect them. 

Bandit
5/12/2011 02:55:59 am

Very interesting discussion.

I would take issue with one item toward the end. The physician expert states "especially since Sarah flew quite a long way to deliver at this specific little hospital".

In September 2010, during a speech, Sarah stated (there IS video) "the baby was born in Anchorage".

I have been to, driven by, and photographed MatSu - it is over 40 miles from Anchorage and would not be confused with Providence Hospital (with a NICU). Also - NO mother would FORGET where she gave birth to her son (or daughter).

We forget many things in our lives, but forgetting WHERE or WHAT CITY your child is born in?

Therefore that comment is misleading to me....and apparently your physician was unaware of her update that the baby was born in ANCHORAGE!!!

Bandit
5/12/2011 02:59:23 am

In THIS speech in 2010, Sarah clearly states the baby was BORN in ANCHORAGE (a city over 40 miles from the location of MatSu Regional Hospital outside of Wasilla/Palmer.

http://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2010/09/trig-was-born-in-i-anchorage-i-now/182084/

Brad Scharlott
5/12/2011 03:29:08 am

Thanks you so much. I had been puzzling over the fact that Dr. CBJ left active status at the hospital that June - I wondered why and what it might mean. The specialist's hypothesis sounds very likely, that CBJ and the hospital wanted to avoid a potential audit of CBJ's records re the birth of Trig.

Great interview, Laura. Your questions are perfect.

Bandit
5/12/2011 03:35:46 am

Brad - it is unlikely that the hospital would "audit" CBJ's records at all.

Unless this is a Trauma Center or University Medical Center, the docs are "on call" and NOT hospital employees. Many (like CBJ) maintain outside practices and only have privileges at community hospitals to take care of their patients.

With HIPPA, unless there is a legitimate complaint, all of the Palin records would be protected and could not be released without her signed approval.

CBJ is a tool. She practiced at Providence in Anchorage (didn't she?) and after all, that IS where Trig was now born according to Sarah.

Let's face it, when you are a pathologic liar like Palin, you lose track of little things, like where you gave birth.

Oh that's right .. she didn't.

rubbernecking
5/12/2011 04:04:50 am

Great stuff, Laura. The Doc answered many questions that had bugged me. Regarding CBJ's change in status, could her insurance coverage have been a factor?

Her insurance company must have been concerned when the tale of the Wild Ride was published. Could losing her insurance change her status?

What is CBJ's current status today? When I look at CBJ's status on the Providence Health Care website, her status is listed as active.

rubbernecking
5/12/2011 04:34:33 am

Laura, one other follow-up question on ethics. Is it correct to assume most doctors would agree that the ethics of a deliberate falsehood (e.g., a 5th delivery in 2008) are different from those of a deliberate omission (e.g., not discussing history of miscarriage or abortion)?

Citizens are entitled to know of health issues that might affect a President's ability to serve. I am alarmed by the idea that women candidates should be required to reveal miscarriage or abortion history. Whatever CBJ's faults, I am grateful that she did not set any precedent discussing this aspect of Palin's health--whatever it is.

I think the Trig story deserves attention not because a 5th pregnancy is important but because Palin's official story suggests unusual risk taking. It is her risk-taking, not her parenthood, that is relevant to her ability to serve.

curiouser
5/12/2011 05:19:37 am

Even my very liberal, anti-religious, pro-choice, 43-year old daughter refused all genetic testing and amniocentesis. She had miscarried before this pregnancy and wouldn't take any risk, no matter how minor. She prepared herself emotionally for the possibility the baby could be DS, or have other challenges, without needing God to 'prepare her heart'.

I suspect that when an anti-abortion, religious woman chooses amnio, she does so with the mindset of giving God one more chance to end the pregnancy. All risk is a chance to rely on God's will. In Sarah's case, the amnio is integral to her 'choosing life'. It wasn't enough for her to suspect she would have a DS child; she had to know it. Otherwise, her testimony loses its heroic drama.

Lilybart
5/12/2011 05:24:17 am

But why does the letter specifically mention only the details of one birth out of 5? Like the letter was just to prove she is Trig's bio mother instead of a general candidate's health letter.

Molly
5/12/2011 05:50:11 am

I'm very interested in the fact that the doctor says the baby is not a newborn and is at least a couple of weeks old. That did get my juices flowing!

comeonpeople
5/12/2011 05:53:15 am

Great interview Laura. I would add that the American Academy of Family Physician's Family Practice doc of the year , CBJ, possibly violated not only MatSu but also AAFP standards. The AAFP medical records standards clearly state records should be true and not tainted with. If this is not an authentic record by CBJ and obviously she knows this, her silence makes her complicit. If she intentionally gave false info on the record (that Sarah is Tri-Gs birth mother) she is again complicit in the hoax. I don't think the AAFP will take to kindly to their Family Physician of the Year role in this hoax. CBJ should just get out of this mess while the gettting is good.

rubbernecking
5/12/2011 05:55:01 am

@curiouser: I have many church-going Christians in my family. They all had amnio's. Why lie about it if it's a detail that would actually offend her base? A sonogram can predict Downs as well, correct? I realize it's not as accurate but if she wanted to prove she "chose" him and keep her base happy, wouldn't she have simply said Downs was suspected by her sonagrams?

@lilybart: It would make sense to discuss the details of the 5th pregnancy because it was the most significant health event in her recent history.

Gyalist
5/12/2011 06:38:57 am

Thank you Laura for your series of very informative posts.

Have you ever seen <a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsuOWRL_Ios>this video</a> of a clearly pregnant Bristol Palin in the audience for MTV's TRL?

LA Juice link
5/12/2011 06:39:18 am

I just love the depth with which you continue to research this issue. Great thoughtful clever reporting!

Gyalist
5/12/2011 06:40:20 am

Link to YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsuOWRL_Ios

Lidia
5/12/2011 06:58:15 am

I like Ms. Novak's questioning of this doctor, but they seem to contain themselves to the options of CBJ's having written the letter, truthfully or not, or possibly some other doctor having written it.

We know that Sarah has a long history of submitting falsified letters to promote her political career; if she went to great lengths to fake a pregnancy, what exactly would stop her from faking this letter?

CBJ may have nothing whatsoever to do with the letter, but can't come clean without exposing Sarah utterly. She may not be ready to do that for any number of personal and professional reasons, so she has lawyered up and dropped out of sight, possibly another victim of Sarah's poisonous whirlwind. I wouldn't assume she has left the scene because she was involved, necessarily; she may have left the scene because she didn't WANT to be involved. All Sarah needed to do at the hospital was have a baby brought in at some point to be photographed. There's nothing illegal about that, nor would it involve any medical personnel.

That scenario just makes the most sense to me. Sarah needed to come up with some sort of "medical record" and so the letter was thrown together at the last minute without a thought to how odd it ended up sounding.

Ginger
5/12/2011 07:04:11 am

All the evidence I have seen, the ADN, video of her telling about Trig's birth, all said he was born at Mat-Su Hospital on April 18, 2008.

Per Lori Tipton, KTUU, they were camped across the street and took pictures of the Palin family walking out the back door of the hospital with Trig on Saturday, April 19, 2008.

mistah charley, ph.d.
5/12/2011 07:15:21 am

Lidia makes a good point - the letter says it's from CBJ, but has CBJ herself affirmed authorship of the letter?

rubbernecking
5/12/2011 07:16:26 am

@Lidia, there are no comical grammatical errors or malapropisms in the letter. If Sarah wrote it, who proof-read it?

Based on Sarah's and Todd's published emails, I don't think either of them is capable of writing this letter without significant help.

Ginger
5/12/2011 07:24:46 am

Laura, surely you have seen my many comments about the e-mail to Sarah from the SOA, Benefits Div., dated May 21, 2008 asking her for Trig's birth certificate.

It sounded to me like they had been making payments for his birth but weren't going to pay anymore unless they received the b/c within 60 days of his birth date.

What did you think of this e-mail?

Thanks!

Ennealogic link
5/12/2011 07:25:20 am

@Lidia - those are my thoughts precisely.

Add to all this Doctor business - what family practice doctor who specializes in abused children would assume sole responsibility for a high risk, premature, known special needs child birthing? AND ... supposedly, according to the original "story," in a local clinic/hospital that was not even equipped to handle twins much less a PPROM patient with a Down syndrome diagnosis?

That's what I really don't get. My family physician is good for minor stitches and non-severe burns and strep throat and bouts of gas, but would never ever assume responsibility for a 44-yr-old multipara (with two previous white-outs, err miscarriages). My FP referred child #2 to an orthopedist for a broken collar bone, and me to an OB-GYN for what turned out to be a fibroid tumor.

How is it that CBJ was THE ONE who only ever took care of whatever Sarah and her family needed? Makes no sense.

Ennealogic link
5/12/2011 07:31:24 am

My manners are bad - Laura, and Doc, thanks so very much for your Q&A here. The report is enlightening!

rubbernecking
5/12/2011 07:43:59 am

@Ennealogic, this is one of several interviews Laura has conducted with doctors. Her posts on 4/22 and 4/28 address the issue of the delivery of a DS baby by an FP. It's worth reading both doctor's interviews in their entirety, but here's how each answered the FP question:

4/22/2011
Delivery of a Ds baby by a Family Practitioner:
When you live in an urban area, you’re not used to this. But there are a lot a places where family practitioners do most of the deliveries. And having a Board Cert OB available is not necessarily easy. I was delivered by my family practitioner.

4/28/2011
Delivery of a Ds baby by a Family Practitioner:
This, I have no problem with. A family practitioner (FP) who routinely does deliveries can handle this, as long as there is an OB/GYN back up in case a C-section is needed. Keep in mind that an FP could also help with the resuscitation of a sick baby, but that would divert him/her from the care of the mother and someone’s care would be compromised. Often, there is a pediatrician on call, but they may not be immediately available and would likely get there after the baby had already delivered. Again, this is fine for most cases, but when there are known issues with the baby, it makes no sense.

Mhurka
5/12/2011 07:46:03 am

A long time ago I had heard, if I remember correctly, in a news report that when Rahm Emmanuel was told that McCain picked Palin as his VP his first words were "She's a liar".
I immediately thought of that old saying that says your reputation precedes you. My question is if her reputation was not a super secret then why was the McCain campaign so totally clueless.

Molly
5/12/2011 08:03:57 am

Mhurka,

Read Dunn's book. The GOP only made one phone call to Alaska and that was to van Flein.

Tony Knowles on the other hand relinquished all of his files and articles etc to the Obama campaign so they were well ahead of the GOP.

curiouser
5/12/2011 08:05:52 am


@rubbernecking - My point was that you don't have an amnio unless you're willing to take a risk of ending the pregnancy. Yes, of course, there are some Christians who have amnios. My comment suggested one of several possible reasons why.

There's a big difference between continuing a pregnancy when the fetus could be either DS or not and when there is certainty. It's the hero factor.

I do think there's a possibility that Sarah or someone close to her may have gone through a pregnancy similar to her story. It could be the story of her 5th pregnancy that ended in miscarriage or, perhaps, an abortion.

rubbernecking
5/12/2011 08:34:16 am

Abortion planning is not the only reason for amnio. Don't doctors recommend an amnio when a pregnant woman's blood is positive for Rh antibodies?

Supporting info here: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/rh/rh_diagnosis.html



Lidia
5/12/2011 08:41:48 am

@Ginger "Per Lori Tipton, KTUU, they were camped across the street and took pictures of the Palin family walking out the back door of the hospital with Trig on Saturday, April 19, 2008."

Well, "Ginger", I'm glad you brought that up!!

IF Tipton was waiting around outside, who told her that Palin was even there, if not the Palin family themselves?? The birth wasn't to be for another month, right? And Palin arrived in dark of night, right?

Maybe you can tell us, furthermore Why Tipton was "camped outside" in the cold when Palin's official agenda for that morning notes SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS for “Bristol: Interview Assistance Set Up w/KTUU (Wasilla)
GOV: Interview w/KTVA and ADN (ANC)
Todd: Interview w/KBYR (Wasilla)
Trig's Birth
WASILLA”"
????
http://palingates.blogspot.com/2009/09/levi-johnston-lori-tipton-and-their.html

God, I love it when the 'bots leave logical holes big enough to drive a truck through.


Lidia
5/12/2011 08:49:43 am

Just to precise: Ginger is, I think, also conflating two incidents: one is Tipton's supposed waiting outside the hospital on April 18th, and the other is photographing the Palins' exit on the 19th.

I don't care about the latter; I care about the former.

Referring to the ***18th***, Tipton said: "Mat-Su hospital, where Gov Palin delivered, wouldn’t even confirm that she was a patient at the time of her delivery. We had to camp outside the entrance and wait for her family to walk by.”

She also said, again of the **18th**: "“Sarah [Palin] was in another room, and they said that she was sleeping when we arrived. And so, we got a little bit of footage of Sally [Heath] holding Trig, and Chuck [Heath] standing next to her."

Tipton never saw Sarah in the hospital. Sarah was IMO most likely home sleeping in her WalMart jammies after her long flight.

lidia
5/12/2011 08:58:08 am

@rubbernecking: Palin did, of course, have semi-literate aides, one of whom has already attested to writing falsified letters on her behalf.

If your argument is that they are too stupid to be evil, that's just a flawed line of reasoning, as far as I can see.

LakeLucilleLoon link
5/12/2011 09:04:06 am

In the article the DOC sites "HIPPA" and many commenters use the same nomenclature. If we wish to have legitimacy in this argument it should always be referred to as HIPAA: Health Insurance Portablility and Accountablity Act (of 1996) ie: HIPAA, not HIPPA.

Otherwise, some salient points are addressed in this piece by both the author, the doctor and the commenters, but please, let's keep our medical terms in correct form lest we be seen as less than credible.

Lidia
5/12/2011 09:06:44 am

Oh, and not to monopolize the thread, but, Mat-Su hospital not ONLY wouldn't confirm that she was a patient "at the time of delivery", but in fact NEVER confirmed the delivery at all!

Doesn't that strike everyone as odd, see as we're talking about a public figure, the Governor of the state? Mat-Su medical center has NEVER released a statement of any kind about Trig's birth.

Tipton states that Mat-Su was where SP delivered, but there is no objective evidence to support her claim. Sarah herself said that Trig was born earlier at 7.5 months, in Anchorage; she said this more than once. Who should we believe? Sarah, or Tipton? Why should there even be a discrepancy!!? Because we are talking about a madwoman, is why.

rubbernecking
5/12/2011 09:25:21 am

@Ginger, regarding the e-mail from Alaska’s Benefits Division that asks for Trig's birth certificate, this email does not actually prove that any bills have been submitted or paid for Trig Palin.

I don’t know the specifics of the health coverage for Alaska state employees, but typically an employer like the State of Alaska has a Benefits division that acts as intermediary between the employee’s and a third party insurance firm. The Benefits division negotiates coverage, offers various plans to employees, manages enrollments, and pays the premiums on behalf of employees. Based on my understanding of HIPPA, the Benefits division would never have direct access to Palin’s billing information. All the Benefits office knows is that Trig has not been officially enrolled in their Health Plan. They require a birth certificate to complete his enrollment and Palin’s family has not provided it.

For those who want to read the email themselves, it is available here:

http://www.crivellawest.net/palin/pdf/1397.pdf

The set of emails was obtained by a press Freedom of Information request.

rubbernecking
5/12/2011 09:48:55 am

Regarding the insurance thread, this link describes current Health Plan for Alaska State employees:

http://doa.alaska.gov/drb/ghlb/health_plan_qanda.html

The state is self-insured and it uses a third party firm (Wells Fargo) to handle claims processing. The Claims Processor will not pay claims for someone not approved by the Benefits Division.

Based on the email chain, it looks like Palin's staff escalated the birth cert request to Todd Palin when Sarah fails to provide it to the Benefits Div during the month that she has been back at work.



Bandit
5/12/2011 09:52:28 am

Ginger / why would anyone be camped outside of MatSu Regional waiting for Palin to "give birth" to Trig when Palin CLEARLY STATED in her speech in September 2010 that he was born in Anchorage.

The implication that Palin has forgotten where her son was born doesn't ring true for any of us. NO ONE FORGETS where you birth your child. Except of course, Palin apparently.

DS probably showed up on a routine blood draw - the amnio would have been offered for confirmation of the blood test results.

DS cannot be accurately diagnosed via ultrasound.

But since there was NO baby and NO pregnancy, the whole "camped out outside of MatSu" is a big fat lie...just like all of Palin's stories.

Laura Novak link
5/12/2011 10:18:17 am

Thank you all for these great comments. And for the Cruella email. I saved it and hopefully we can talk about it further. (And I was wondering how I'd ever find it again, so thank you.) I never understood that myself. My son was automatically covered by my insurance via the prenatal care. Duh. I had prenatal care, therefore a baby was coming. Who has to provide proof when you've been seen for 8 months???

The reason I think no one else could have written the letter is b/c they would have to obtain the letterhead, first. And then would have to gather all that information and have it cross checked. We know that Mr. and Mrs. Palin are incapable of that. And might it be too risky to bring someone else in on such a lie?

I can see this Doc's theory that CBJ got in too deep and kept it all as vague as possible while trying to prove the maternity issue. Clearly the campaign KNEW it was still an issue. And that's what I find interesting. Instead of believing they knew it was resolved with the "push Bristol out to the front of the stage" number in Sept., by November 3rd they felt they still needed to defend or defy the rumors. WHY? Because they themselves didn't believe it?

As for CBJ never stating that the letter was from her: I've never heard of anyone doing that. Unless they want to "out" or highlight the fact that they'd been impersonated. And even if she was, she wasn't going to at that point.

What is it about that family that nothing ever gets resolved, but instead only "spirals" deeper and deeper into a cloudy pit of confusion?

Ginger
5/12/2011 10:26:23 am

Thanks everybody for your replies.

@rubbernecking...I based my theory on two words in the e-mail. "Continued Coverage." That's an indication to me that they had being paying invoices. How would you interpret the meaning?

There has to be a reason the Benefits Div. wanted Trig's birth certificate. Unless they were paying for his birth, why would they need this evidence? Do insurance companies ask their clients for birth certificates because they read of the birth in the paper? Help me understand this.

By the way, the reason I keep talking about this e-mail is because I think it is proof someone in the Palin family had a baby in April and Sarah sent all the bills to her insurance company. The paperwork was in Sarah's name...thanks to Dr. CBJ. We all know Bristol was the one pregnant, not Sarah.

I'm interested in what people think and what their ideas are.

Again, thanks...

Up
5/12/2011 10:35:28 am

Bandit, doesn't the hospital need to credential all physicians with privileges?

Certainly the Mat-Su hospital's senior mgt, some hospital surveyor, insurer, staff person at the Dept of Public Health , or former hospital employee would have heard reports and realized that either Palin's story was untrue or CBJ did something at direct conflict with hospital policy. Someone must've started asking questions.

But I agree with rubbernecking. The key point is that the story (whichever version you believe) demonstrates awful judgement on Palin's part.

curiouser
5/12/2011 11:51:32 am

Laura - Many thanks to you and Doc.

The relationship between Sarah Palin, her church, the Wasilla Assembly of God, and the Mat-Su hospital is discussed in a video put out by the Wasilla Project, with interviews of Wasilla residents. This is a partial transcript:

"During the time Sarah Palin was mayor, her church became involved in taking over the board of the local hospital. [Note: the video never says "Mat-Su Regional Hospital" by name, but at this point in the video they are showing the entrance of that hospital.] The more conservative, fundamentalist churches, over a period of three or four years, were able to elect and control the operating board of the hospital. At the first meeting where they had control, they passed a resolution ending all abortions at the hospital. The Wasilla Assembly of God and its membership were a key leader in this group."

http://www.palindeception.com/blog/2008/10/startling-revelation-from-wasilla.html

Linda Menard, close family friend of Sarah's still sits on the hospital board. I'm not familiar with the names of other board members. I've read that Dr. CBJ's husband was on the board at one time but have never seen any documentation.

Scorpie
5/12/2011 01:14:14 pm

Laura~
Many thanks to you and Doc. Have one question that I have been unable to find an answer for. Does HIPAA apply if fraud is involved?

Lawyer
5/12/2011 01:43:44 pm

Here's something that appeared on Palin's Deceptions on September 30, 2008:

"A question was raised in a comment to a previous post that I wanted to address.

One person commented: "On the one hand, one would think it couldn't possibly be true because no one, not even Sarah Palin, would be so reckless to accept the VP nomination if it were true.

On the other hand, none of the details about the birth add up. In addition to the other details that don't add up, I find it especially perplexing that the birth wasn't listed on the hospital website with the other births that day (especially after Sarah Palin made such a big deal about having the baby at that hospital and no other hospital) and that suddenly the doctor is no longer affiliated with that hospital."

The Palin Deceptions post for that day in September 2008 goes on to say:

"I have read several places that Cathy Baldwin Johnson's name was "dropped" from the staff list at Mat-Su. All I can confirm is that it's not there now. I can't track down when it was there, or when it disappeared. This whole odd story with the doctor is really one of the strangest aspects of a saga that is already utterly bizarre. Several people have said that she's "MIA." I don't know if that is true, but I'll tell you, she's like B'rer Rabbit: She's sure layin' low."

And then we have the following comment on Palin's Deceptions for that day:

October 1, 2008 4:40 PM
Anonymous said...

"Okay, here is something interesting for inquiring minds.

The infamous Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson is the founder of the medical group MatSu Valley Physicians.

There are nine physicians in the group. http://www.providence.org/Alaska/matsu/matsu_physicians.htm
Pretty prestigious to be the founder of a nine-person medical group.

In addition to Dr. Baldwin-Johnson, the group (according to its website) consists of the following doctors: Barbara Doty, M.D., Adam Greathouse, D.O., Lisa Harrison, M.D., Jenn Hronkin, M.D., Valerie Krozel, M.D., Elowyn Smith, D.O., Therese Tomasoski, M.D. and Angela Torres, M.D.

So the group has nine doctors, including its founder Dr. Baldwin-Johnson. With the exception of Dr. Baldwin-Johnson and Drs. Hronkin and Torres, all of the physicians are listed as having staff privileges at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. (check out the hospital's website - you have to search under both family physicians and pediatrics).
http://matsuregional.com/staff/show_speciality.php?speciality=Family%2FGeneral+Practice

http://matsuregional.com/staff/show_speciality.php?speciality=Pediatrics

Okay, let's look at the two doctors other than Dr. Baldwin-Johnson who lack privileges. If you check with the State of Alaska online, Dr. Jenn Hronkin is listed as residing in Colorado. http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/OccSearch/Detail.cfm?Board=MED&LicType=S&LicNum=5687 Perhaps she has recently relocated to Alaska, thus explaining why she does not yet have privileges at Mat-Su.

Okay, let's move on to Dr. Angela Torres, the only other physician in the group who does not have privileges at Mat-Su. The State of Alaksa's website
http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/OccSearch/Detail.cfm?Board=MED&LicType=S&LicNum=5293
shows that Dr. Torres lives in Anchorage and also that a "formal accusation" has been filed against her. So perhaps she lacks privileges at Mat-Su because she recently relocated to the area and/or has a "formal accusation" pending.

Now is it just me, but does anyone else think it is beyond strange that Dr. Baldwin-Johnson, the founder of this prestigious medical group, no longer has privileges at Mat-Su? We know she must have once had privileges, because otherwise she could not have delivered Trig Palin at the hospital.

Why does she no longer have privileges when most of the other doctors at the medical group she founded have privileges?

When something doesn't add up, it makes my brain hurt, and my brain is hurting over this."

Then we have a follow-up comment:

"October 1, 2008 7:18 PM
Anonymous said...

Let me just add to my prior comment.

First, I was wrong, there are 10 physicians who practice at MatSu Valley Physicians, the group that Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson, founded. The tenth physician, Nancy Ouimet, M.D., was not pictured. A quick review of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center website shows that Dr. Ouimet, like almost all of the other physicians at Mat-Su Valley Physicians, does have staff privileges at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

Mat-Su Valley Physicians is in Wasilla. I believe Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer is the closest hospital. So of course the physicians at Mat-Su Valley Physicians are going to have staff privileges at the closest hospital - where else are they going to admit their sick patients? So why on earth does the head physician, Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson, suddenly no longer have privleges?

This has got to be the smoking gun. I really wish someone would follow up on this."

http://palindeception.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-was-she-thinking-of-rea

rubbernecking
5/12/2011 01:46:46 pm

@Ginger, you ask about the meaning of "Continued Coverage" in the Benefits email.

Typically the birth mother's health insurance automatically covers a newborn until discharged from the hospital. After the baby leaves the hospital, the child needs his own insurance. Insurance plans have a "change of life" event which allows a parent to formally enroll a child, usually within 30 days. When a dependent is added, the insurer requires some proof that the dependent's age and relationship is eligible for coverage. This is the reason a birth certificate is needed to complete the enrollment.

There's no basis to accuse CBJ of insurance fraud. As long as the birth mother had health insurance, Trig was covered until he was discharged from the hospital. The bills identifying the birth mother went to the 3rd party claims processor, not Palin's colleagues in the Benefits office.

Insurance companies do not read birth announcements in newspapers. Large employers (like a Sate gov), however, may have policies to actively assist employees returning from a maternity leave. Sarah Palin's pregnancy was a major news event in Alaska. It would not surprise me if her colleagues in the Benefits dept were concerned about her and her child. If Palin's other children were on her health plan, her colleagues might have also assumed she would want to add Trig as well.

The email does not prove maternity or fraud. It's just another example where Trig's birth cert seems to need special handling.










Anon55
5/12/2011 02:01:14 pm

My last comment got cut off.

I always thought it was very strange that on October 1, 2008 comments were appearing on Palin's Deceptions about Dr. Baldwin-Johnson's staff privileges at Mat-Su and then less than a month later, lo and behold, Dr. Baldwin-Johnson writes a public letter explaining why she no longer has staff privileges at Mat-Su.

I always thought that Palin and her minions (which obvious include CBJ) were assiduously following Palin's Decpetions. When have you ever seen a letter from a physician about a patient that discusses the physician's own career issues and where the physician has staff privileges and why the physician has chosen to forsake privileges at his or her local hospital?

Anon55
5/12/2011 02:04:29 pm

Here is the full Palin Deception's link that I believe Dr. CBJ's letter was written in response to.

http://palindeception.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-was-she-thinking-of-really.html

Otherwise, it is just too weird that Dr. CBJ is addressing her own career issues in a letter that is purportedly about Sarah Palin's health and medical history.

rubbernecking
5/12/2011 03:08:22 pm

I promise this is my last post for the night. The full text of Obama's medical letter is at the bottom of the page here: http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/05/obama_releases_health_informat.html

Just like CBJ, Obama's doctor also begins the letter by identifying his credentials. The credentials are not for the doctor's ego. The doctor needs to establish that she/he has both the professional skills and patient relationship to speak authoritatively about the candidate's health.

CBJ is on active staff at the Providence Hospital in Anchorage--the large hospital with the NICU. She changed her status only at Matsu-Regional, the smaller hospital in Palmer.

If bloggers were asking questions about her status change in Sept, it's possible that people were also calling Matsu about it. It would make sense to deal with the issue preemptively and not worry about journalists calling Matsu when the letter was released.

There may be more to the drama behind her status change at Matsu but whatever it was, it has not kept her from practicing at the large hospital in Anchorage.

Anon55
5/12/2011 03:33:54 pm

Re: "CBJ is on active staff at the Providence Hospital in Anchorage--the large hospital with the NICU. She changed her status only at Matsu-Regional, the smaller hospital in Palmer."

CBJ's practice is not in Anchorage. It is in Wasilla, which I understand to be about an hour drive from Anchorage. I call BS on that she is on active staff in Anchorage, but not at her local hospital where she was previously on staff. I don't know of any doctors who only have staff privileges at hospitals an hour away, but not at their local hospital. (Of course, I don't know any pregnant woman in active labor with a high-risk pregnancy who bypass the local hospital with a NICU and drive an hour to give birth in an unequipped community hospital. I mean if Dr. Cathy had staff privileges in Anchorage, why didn't she just meet Palin there when her plane landed from the "Wild Ride"?

This is all complete BS. There is more to the story than meets the eye. And it is highly suspicious why Dr. Cathy would see fit to explain in her letter why she no longer has privileges at her local rinky dink community hospital. After all, it's not like explaining why she lost her privileges at the Mayo Clinic. We are talking small community hospital where small town family doctor no longer has privileges. I call BS.

rubbernecking
5/12/2011 04:16:21 pm

@Anon55, in this thread we're reviewing CBJ's letter, not the Wild Ride.

- CBJ's letter has an Anchorage address in the letter head.

- CBJ's letter says she's on active staff at Providence Alaska Health Center. When I googled this, I found a link to her bio and an Anchorage office address here: http://providencealaska.netreturns.biz/Providers/Detail.aspx?ProviderId=3ac52674-ba15-4e2a-a12c-bd83d339ea57

- Her bio shows a Facilities section that lists "Providence Matanuska Health Care". This facility appears to be in Palmer, not Anchorage. (I was wrong to assume that her active status at Providence Health included all locations.)

- Her state license info is here: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/OccSearch/Detail.cfm?board=MED&LicType=S&LicNum=1999. It also shows an Anchorage address.

So as best as I can tell, today she has a medical office in Anchorage and active privileges at Providence Health hospital in Palmer.

According to her letter she was on active staff at Matsu Regional from 1985 to June 1, 2008.

If you have other data, please provide links.

Ginger
5/12/2011 05:55:56 pm

@rubbernecking, yes, I agree, the "mother's" insurance covers the baby I think for 72 hours. The e-mail is addressed to..."Gov. Sarah Palin." Now that implies to me she is the patient and using her insurance to pay for Trig's birth.

What I'm trying to say is that the mother, the "real" patient, was Bristol and I think Dr. CBJ entered Sarah as the patient that kicked out all the medical records in Sarah's name so she could get her insurance company to pay for Trig's birth. How else can this be explained? Plus no need to adopt.

We know she faked a pregnancy and didn't give birth to Trig. What right did she have charging her insurance company for his birth. Over at PD, we knew how cheap she was and would figure out a way to get someone else to pay. Never, in my lifetime, have I ever heard of a doctor entering false information on medical documents for a birth. Since the records are in her name, the birth certificate could be too.

Actually, Dr. CBJ had an ironclad plan. When Bristol went into labor (the 4:00 AM phone call on Thursday, April 17th) they all met at Mat-Su through the back door that night and went into a private room. Personally, I think Bristol gave birth earlier that day (the e-mail about the puppy being ready) and that's why Todd was so anxious to get out of the conference.

Her traveling and the wild ride story ruined everything. Especially for Dr. CBJ.

I'm anxious to hear your response. Please tell me where you think I'm wrong.

V
5/12/2011 06:51:04 pm

To Ginger: I think it's unlikely that Bristol gave birth on April 17th. TriG was probably born earlier - in January as a preemie - and it was discovered that he had Downs Syndrome and could not be adopted out as originally planned. I understand that there actually are plenty of people that want to adopt Downs Syndrome babies but it was possible that the Palin family could not do this and keep the secrecy that they wanted.

Possibly TriG's health was such that it was not sure whether he would live or die. So Sarah began wearing scarves. At this time, in late Jan/early Feb, TriG was in care somewhere in Anchorage.

There have been posts on other sites that Levi moved in with the Palins in Feb 2008. This would make sense if he were helping to take care of TriG - which he would only do if TriG were his son.

Sarah announces the pregnancy. The "birth" timing is carefully planned. A weekend so as not to interfere with Sarah's work. Night so the staff is reduced. She has only Todd accompany her to the hospital. The baby is brought in and presented as hers.

V
5/12/2011 07:02:51 pm

I do not think that the letter was carelessly written. I expect that several versions went back between CBJ and Palin/McCain campaign. I expect that CBJ was reluctant to write this at all.

What I find interesting is the timing. Of course it was too late for anyone to go into the facts. So CBJ (and Palin/McCain) must have wanted to prevent that. Something to hide.

But why release it at all? There was nothing for McCain/Palin to gain at this point. The polls made it clear that Obama was going to win. So either the letter is true and the McCain/Palin campaign was simply too disorganized to release it earlier (not impossible but seems unlikely) - or the contents of the letter are not true and CBJ was pressured by the Palins into writing it and releasing it.

There's another piece of information that should be considered when evaluating CBJ. When ADN tried to write the piece to quash this story, CBJ appeared with her lawyer - what did she have to fear? - and apparently did not confirm the birth.

comeonpeople
5/12/2011 09:37:13 pm

As for CBJ never stating that the letter was from her: I've never heard of anyone doing that. Unless they want to "out" or highlight the fact that they'd been impersonated. And even if she was, she wasn't going to at that point.

But she is then violating the standards of the AAFP. They clearly state doctored records should be reported to authorities. Some AAFP Family Physican of the Year 2002 she is!!

comeonpeople
5/12/2011 09:41:07 pm

Also, sorry to beLabor the CBJ theme, the AAFP syandards clearly state that a FP who attends high risk births needs extra certification and proof of practice hours to do so. It is a very interesting site to peruse and I focus so highly on it because CBK was lauded in 2002 by AAFP. As such, she should adhere to their guidelines and be held accountable publicly.

comeonpeople
5/12/2011 09:42:58 pm

Scorpie
Thu, 12 May 2011 20:14:14
Laura~
Many thanks to you and Doc. Have one question that I have been unable to find an answer for. Does HIPAA apply if fraud is involved

No it does NOT

rubbernecking
5/12/2011 11:31:25 pm

@Ginger, we are taking a post dedicated to the CBJ letter way off track. You want to make the insurance email fit your preferred outcome. I understand the temptation but it's not a good research technique.

@comeonpeople, CBJ's letter does NOT tell us who delivered, or assisted in the delivery, or was on standby for the delivery.

Personally, I think it is wrong to spend so much energy accusing CBJ of fraud. Even if the accusation is true, it's the absolute hardest place to force a break in the story. It's like planning to enter a house through the roof without checking for an unlocked door or window.

rubbernecking
5/13/2011 12:01:13 am

And one very promising door is listed in Laura's intro:

...the McCain campaign released it, purposefully of course, at a time when no reporter could scrutinize it or press for answers. Why was that, Steve Schmidt?

The backstage campaign drama to acquire and release this letter is something that can be pursued. HIPAA does not protect campaign secrets.

The backstage campaign drama to issue a press release about Palin becoming a grandmother rather than simply release her son's birth certificate is also something that can be pursued without HIPAA obstacles.

Laura Novak link
5/13/2011 12:48:55 am

What great minds you all have! I am so impressed with the calibre of this conversation. Thank you!

I'd like to invite the Lawyer to PLEASE contact me on my contact page and to consider doing an anonymous interview, such as DOC has done with me, and the first specialist, on this particular topic. I keep confidentiality.

This would give us an opportunity to examine in closer detail the insurance angle of this. Everyone has such great ideas on it.

There is also something in the thread here that I will ask our DOC. I think it's the question as to why bother saying at all that CBJ left that hospital in particular.

Everyone's right: it makes no sense, might have kept the press from bugging the hospital and might still be like trying to go through a hole in the roof.

Laura Novak link
5/13/2011 12:51:44 am

And another thing: If I were chosen for a job in late August and promised my medical records, or at least a doctor's letter sometime in September, I could have that ready in a week. Two, max, given how busy the doctor was.

Even though an OB cared for prenatally and delivered my son, my PCP could easily write the letter. How hard can it be? Especially for something so very important and exciting such as having your hometown girl/patient running for a ridiculous job for which she is so clearly not qualified?

Huh, Steve Schmidt?

comeonpeople
5/13/2011 01:14:13 am

Personally, I think it is wrong to spend so much energy accusing CBJ of fraud. Even if the accusation is true, it's the absolute hardest place to force a break in the story. It's like planning to enter a house through the roof without checking for an unlocked door or window.

I respectfully disagree Rubber. I think CBJ is the way to break this. I think she is tormented andvery conflicted. On the one hand she is a physician doing honorable work. On the other, she is caught in a hoax, not sure if it is willingly or not . I think truly if enough in the medical profession questionedher actions and inactions, she would break. I think the more Sarah gets exposed for a crazy woman, CBJ will want to distance herself. I am coming from a place of a medical professional who works with many world class medical professionals. CBJ is caught in a mistake . She is smart and was honorable....I think she will comeclean of her role eventually. She just needs more national pressure on her.
Let's try it. If I'm wrong I'm wrong.

rubbernecking
5/13/2011 01:51:50 am

@comeonpeople, I have no knowledge of CBJ's inner life. My recommendation is based on the simple fact that CBJ has legal, ethical, and professional restrictions that limit her participation in this story.

Before you volunteer someone else's career for a sacrificial altar, let's be really, really sure we've exhausted other obvious alternatives.

Bandit
5/13/2011 02:23:18 am

RE: HIPAA (sorry for the error, I should know better)

A hospital cannot even confirm someone is a patient - that includes FAMILY - unless permission is given. Any hospital employee (inc contract employees, janitors) who violates HIPAA is subject to immediate dismissal and the fines for the hospital is significant, even for the 1st offense. That is why everyone should have within their medical record, the names of people authorized to obtain information.

RE: privileges

This is a small community hospital. If necessary, any visiting physician can receive quick short term credentialing. If a particular specialist is needed and does not have privileges, this can be done very fast. It's what a Credentialing Office does - but the privileges would be very much restricted to a specific patient for a specific treatment. This is not unusual. Remember, these doctors are not employees of a hospital - this is not a University, County, Public or Teaching Hospital. Docs may be on call but they are not inhouse.

The reason the whole story is bunk is because SARAH stated her baby was born in Anchorage NOT Mat-Su. So there was NO stake out at Mat-Su - none of it happened, ever.



Anon55
5/13/2011 02:44:43 am

I call BS on HIPAA. My local celebrity hospital is always issuing statements on celebrities being treated there. I don't recall the hospital where Gabrielle Giffords was being treated saying HIPAA prevents us from confirming that Rep. Giffords is a patient.

If a birth didn't happen and the hospital is in collusion, HIPAA is quite a convenient excuse. Just like Dr. Cathy lawyered up and refused to confirm to ADN that Palin gave birth. Really normal behavior for a doctor and patient who have nothing to hide. They think we are stupid. We are not, although the mass media sure is cowardly.

rubbernecking
5/13/2011 02:57:42 am

Anon55, HIPAA does not prevent the hospital or doctor from talking. It prevents them from talking ***without the patient's permission***.

Gifford's medical proxy, i.e, her husband, authorized the hospital and doctors to speak about her condition publicly.

Similarly, your local celebrities *may choose* to allow a hospital to speak about *some portion* of their care, e.g., you can talk about my nose job but not my drug addiction.

But you don't have to believe us. Toggle over to a new tab and google "celebrity HIPAA".

comeonpeople
5/13/2011 02:58:57 am

knowledge of CBJ's inner life. My recommendation is based on the simple fact that CBJ has legal, ethical, and professional restrictions that limit her participation in this story.

Before you volunteer someone else's career for a sacrificial altar, let's be really, really sure we've exhausted other obvious alternatives

Actually its CBJ herself who has offered up her career at the sacrificial altar, by commission or ommission. Most strange that she would do that.She hasn't had enough scrutiny for her commissions or ommissions and that is a problem.
Also, it seems we have exhausted many other obvious alternatives to no avail.

Anon55
5/13/2011 03:02:41 am

Also, while Dr. Cathy may now conviently list Anchorage address, I do not believe she actively sees patients in Anchorage. Her family practice group is in Wasilla, an hour away. Healthgrades lists her in Wasilla. Yet, she lacks privileges at her local Wasilla hospital. Unless they are world famous specialists who are recruited away, doctors like Cathy who are in their late 50's don't suddenly move from small towns where the have built up a practice over many years to the big city where they lack a patient base. And I think we can all stipulate that Dr. Cathy who apparently delivers high risk premature infants despite not being Board certified in ob-Gyn is not a world famous specialist.

Let's call a spade a spade. She is a small town family doc who no longer has privileges at her local hospital.

Anon55
5/13/2011 03:11:21 am

Rubbernecking has an excuse or answer for everything. Of course HIPAA doesn't apply if the family authorizes the hospital or doctor to speak (duh).

The question of the day is why Palin wouldn't authorize Mat-Su to confirm Trig's birth at the hospital? Oh, it must be because the Palins are highly private people. That's why they do reality shows and "license" family pictures to celebrity magazines.

They think we are stupid. . . Up is down...black is white....

rubbernecking
5/13/2011 03:21:04 am

@commonpeople, you don't need my permission or blessing.

You mentioned you have access to many respected medical professionals at work. You should pitch your idea to them.

mistah charley, ph.d. link
5/13/2011 04:04:50 am

LEAVE CATHY BALDWIN-JOHNSON ALOOOONE

If Babygate is a fraud, which seems to be clearly established by the preponderance of the evidence, CBJ seems likely to be an unwilling accomplice. Her active participation is minimal, and I am not aware of her claiming this letter, being discussed in this posting, as hers. The letter, released by Sarah Palin, says it's from her - but has she herself said it's from her? I don't think so - I could be wrong, but I believe that her public affirmation of the letter consists of "No comment."

I have never met her, but it seems to me she wants to keep her mouth shut and go on with her life. If Babygate is a fraud - and I'm pretty sure it is - the fraudster is Sarah, not CBJ. If one's target is Sarah and the fraud, then one really should leave CBJ alone. Applying pressure on CBJ about this seems to me more pernicious in its possible long term effects, if arguably less petty, than calling Bristol names and criticizing her appearance, something I've noted on other blogs and which has rather too much of the middle-school mentality about it for my taste.

curiouser
5/13/2011 04:13:01 am

It's too bad Sarah Palin didn't follow the example of her hero, Ronald Reagan.

"Mr. Reagan authorized his doctors to be interviewed. He also agreed to an interview himself, against the wishes of his aides, answering all my questions, including what would he do if he became senile as president."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/us/politics/20health.html?pagewanted=5

The whole article is worth reading. The section on Palin is one short paragraph saying she was declining to release her medical information.

Alaskan Medicine at its best
5/13/2011 04:28:54 am

Two things can be said about Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson. Either she's the world's most incompetent doctor or she's a liar.

Incompetent? Oh, no problem even though your fluid has broken, don't bother going to the nearest hospital. Instead, stay and give a speech. Then take a long flight from Texas to Seattle. Well, if you give birth to your premature high-risk infant on the plane, well, s-t happens and God will provide. Once you get to Seattle, just hang out and wait for your connecting flight to Anchorage. Once you get to Anchorage, don't go to the nearest hospital that's equipped with a neonatal unit. Instead, pick up your car at the airport and drive an hour to the local community hospital that is not equipped for high risk births. Meet you there! And, by the way, sure, take the three-day old premie to work. No problem. That's how we practice medicine in Alaska. We don't need no stinkin' standards of care up here.

A liar? Well, she's a liar if Sarah isn't the birth mother of Trig and Trig was not delivered at Mat-Su hospital when Sarah and Cathy say he was.

So that's Dr. Cathy's epitaph -- she was either incompetent or a liar.

curiouser
5/13/2011 04:34:57 am

Generally, a candidate's medical records are intended to inform the public of the candidate's physical ability to serve. In Palin's case they take on added significance because they prove or disprove the central theme of her candidacy.

What struck me as most odd about the letter, besides it's timing, was that it excluded the number of pregnancies and only commented on births. When 'Going Rogue' was published, we found out that Sarah has had 7 pregnancies. Can you imagine the ruckus if the campaign medical letter had stated, '7 pregnancies, 5 births. I think there may have been some added pressure to release the full medical records to prove the 2 additional pregnancies were indeed miscarriages.

comeonpeople
5/13/2011 04:37:41 am

So that's Dr. Cathy's epitaph -- she was either incompetent or a liar.




And not held accountable for either...

melly
5/13/2011 04:44:01 am

MC Phd, if CBJ was an unwilling accomplice and has put up with all this scrutiny and suspicion for 3 years, she surely has some other personal problems going on. She would have every right to report a fraud perpetrated on her, regardless of HIPAA. If she was a willing accomplice, I get her silence, but not if she was unwilling.

Alaskan Medicine at its best
5/13/2011 04:48:50 am

Re mistah charley, ph.d. and his or her
"LEAVE CATHY BALDWIN-JOHNSON ALOOOONE.
If Babygate is a fraud, which seems to be clearly established by the preponderance of the evidence, CBJ seems likely to be an unwilling accomplice. Her active participation is minimal, and I am not aware of her claiming this letter, being discussed in this posting, as hers."

Sorry, nice try. If Dr. Cathy didn't write the letter, there is nothing in HIPAA that would prevent Dr. Cathy from making a simple statement: "I did not write that letter. It is forged."

Sorry, Dr. Cathy has interjected herself into the national debate and it's time to call a spade a spade.

Take your pick -- Dr. Cathy Baldwin=Johnson -- she was either incompetent or a liar. That's her epitaph and she'll have to live with it.

anonymom
5/13/2011 05:02:39 am

@mistah charley, ph.d.
The letter, released by Sarah Palin, says it's from her - but has she herself said it's from her?

That's what bothers me. I'm a professional, with a certain good reputation to be upheld. If someone released a letter- even one indisputably factual- over my (purported) signature I'd shout to the world that it was a fraud. I suppose if I were deep into a conspiracy, that might not be advisable.


Palintologist
5/13/2011 05:07:46 am

Dear Ms. Novak,
I would like to commend you on a wonderfully written article, in fact I find that your writing and the discourse of your followers to be among the best on the internet regarding the Palin letter. Please continue to report about this issue, your journalistic professionalism is greatly appreciated.

rubbernecking
5/13/2011 05:11:18 am

@curiouser, thanks for recommending the NYT link.

As a country, we are overdue to have some type of standards for medical records for presidential candidates. There should be some enforced deadlines and required information for serious candidates. And the process should require a review by a board of independent physicians. The review board would have some authority to request additional detail or test results based on their medical judgment.

No candidate should be able to withhold her records until election eve. Having a review board would ensure more accountability while maintaining a reasonable level of patient privacy.

Chris
5/13/2011 05:55:26 am

Okay, here's my take.

Releasing the medical record at the 11th hour reeks of something Sarah and Todd would do, and possibly one or two of her close campaign advisers that they managed to hoodwink.

Not because it was necessary but because Sarah and Todd obsessed over controlling the message and image, they like to "put rumors to bed". I think in their minds Sarah had a shot at the next Presidency, so under the protection of the powerful McCain campaign, they decided to do a little last minute mop up job. Plus I think Sarah and Todd felt betrayed by McCains campaign advisors.

I'm not sure the level of involvement Dr. Baldwin had, but I wouldn't put it past any one of Sarah and Todds Alsaska minions to get ahold of the doctor's letterhead and fake their own or pressure the doctor to write "something or else".

It reminds me of the concession speech Sarah intended to give on the sly. Only they didn't catch her releasing the med. records, or they may not have cared since she'd already been such a pain in the rear and lost the election for them. They may have said, go for it.

But I doubt McCain or Schmidt would have agreed to releasing the medical record then, if they'd wanted to do it they would have done it sooner, they must have known it was a can of worms not worth opening or at the late date even necessary. And I'm sure they still feel that way, all things Palin is a can of worms.

Is there information about how the record was released?



Yellowgirl
5/13/2011 06:10:33 am

Another theory to consider: CBJ wasn't part of the initial deception, but was asked to provide a copy of her letterhead to the campgain/Palin as a favor. They could tell her it would be a huge favor, and she wouldn't be committing any sort of medical or legal issue by simply giving letterhead to someone.

Now, while she technically has done nothing wrong, she has sat back, afraid to say, "yes, I gave them letterhead, and I knew (suspected) what they would do with it". Might explain some of the weird printing issues in the letterhead?

Just another possibility: CBJ was not incompetent or unethical, but just immoral.

brbr2424
5/13/2011 06:10:37 am

I think we have seen in the last couple of days that Bristol Palin is capable of telling a ridiculous lie and sticking to it. The medical necessary jaw surgery story. That new evidence adds to the intrigue of the Trig story.

Chris
5/13/2011 06:11:43 am

If you google 2008 palin medical record, it pulls up a lot of article references to the fact it had not been released. So McCain must not have wanted to release it, yet Sarah did anyway, by an aide at the last minute. Notice her use of "curiosity seekers", same thing she said about President Obama's birth certificate being questioned.



"Palin, the Republican nominee for vice president, declined to provide any health information or be interviewed about her medical history.

She retreated from that position on Oct. 22 in an interview with Brian Williams of NBC News. “If that will allow some curiosity seekers, perhaps, to have one more thing that they can either check the box off, that they can find something to criticize, perhaps, or to rest them assured over, fine,” Ms. Palin said.

A spokeswoman for Ms. Palin said the medical information would be released a week ago, but the campaign failed to do so.

The McCain-Palin campaign e-mailed the statement to the news media while Ms. Palin and her traveling press corps were on a flight from Colorado Springs, Colo., to Reno, Nev., en route to her fifth campaign event of the day."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/us/politics/04medical.html

mistah charley, ph.d. link
5/13/2011 06:16:09 am

THE DOG [doctor] THAT DID NOT BARK IN THE NIGHT [refudiate the fraudulent letter]

The title phrase is from the Sherlock Holmes story "Silver Blaze" - the reason the dog didn't bark in the night was because the person who entered the stable was well known to it.

The reason the doctor did not refudiate the fraudulent letter was because the person who issued the fraudulent letter was well known to her. According to what I've read, this person has a reputation for determined nastiness. To refudiate the letter is to poke the hornet's nest. And for what? The election is over, the letter is without practical significance - so the doctor remains mute.

I'm not a doctor (i.e. to say, a physician - I am a male with a Ph.D.), nor a lawyer - so I could be wrong. Nevertheless, I imagine that her lawyer has said to this doctor, "The best thing you can do in this instance, unless your testimony is legally compelled, is keep your mouth shut." If Laura can get a lawyer to join in this discussion of the medical letter that was not refudiated in the night, I would like to know what he or she would advise to a hypothetical client in the hypothetical situation that we postulate faces this very real, very flesh and blood, nationally recognized family practitioner dealing with very delicate family situations (and it is quite possible that Babygate is connected with her area of special concern - yet another reason why keeping the mouth shut is the wisest course.)

Original Lee
5/13/2011 06:27:24 am

Just a few comments on this excellent discussion:
1. Doctors do sometimes perform amnio if the mom is Rh- and the dad is Rh+, but usually not just for that reason. I did not have an amnio when I was in my mid-thirties, for religious reasons, but I did when I was in my forties, because by then I was a little more clueful about how important it was to know stuff ahead of time. So I don't place a lot of emphasis one way or the other on the alleged amnio.

2. Most HR departments ask for a birth certificate even if they've already been getting the bills for prenatal and neonatal care. I have to assume it's so that they know you have custody of the child and for cross-checking for income tax purposes. Whether the insurance company needs it or the HR department needs it, I had to provide one to my employer and to my insurance company, for each of my children within 90 days of birth.

Laura Novak link
5/13/2011 06:36:52 am

I know the Silver Blaze story well and it's a great analogy. Great suggestion on the lawyer and I've asked our commenting health care lawyer to contact me and hopefully agree to have a conversation with me along the lines of the others I've conducted.

You've all made such great points, it's difficult to know where to begin. But why not release a simple medical letter early when everyone's asking for it? Because it's too "hot." Wait for when the die is cast, when they suspect they'll lose, and toss it out to the wolf pack for good measure. By then, who cared?

Except the doctor of course. She was left holding the bag. Unless WE are all wrong and the bag she was holding was honest, upright and truthful.

Anyone ? Bueller?

Chris
5/13/2011 06:41:29 am

When reading the Doc's answers it dawned on me that it was Sarah and crew that released the med. records not McCain and crew.

"LN: And that’s the key here, in my opinion. They release a letter at, literally, the eleventh hour, with all this wording in order to settle a controversy, and yet it does precisely the opposite: It remains vague and scattered enough to ensure that the controversy continues. Why is that?

DOC: I’m not sure what the law says about this, but the purpose of a doctor’s letter is to attest that a candidate has no significant health problems that would prevent them from fulfilling the office that they aspire to. In this case, they had a dual purpose. One was the standard statement of good health. The second was to use this as an opportunity to support the vice presidential candidate’s claim that she was Trig’s mother. The fewer details that CBJ put in the letter, the fewer details she could potentially have to defend later if/when the medical records are examined. However, it’s more of a political question than a medical question. I’m sure the McCain/Palin people went over that letter with a fine-toothed comb before releasing it."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/03/palin-campaign-stonewalls-on-medical-records/

"Two weeks ago, Palin’s campaign told several reporters traveling with the campaign that a summary of the governor’s medical history would be made public before election day.

Reporters were told that details on Palin’s medical background would be released early last week. Last Thursday, after that timeframe had passed, a campaign aide backed off the previous pledge, saying the campaign wasn’t sure when the information would be released."

curiouser
5/13/2011 06:45:01 am

In 'Going Rogue', Sarah confirms the medical letter's inference that CBJ delivered Trig. Sarah names the people in the room when Trig was allegedly born: Todd, their daughters, an unnamed nurse, and CBJ.

"The girls gently cooed and cuddled and quietly helped swaddle their new baby brother. Todd beamed. I heard him whisper to CBJ: “Hmmm, he doesn’t look Down.” CBJ looked up at Todd and gave him a kind, knowing smile."

http://www.lifenews.com/state4591.html

honestyingov
5/13/2011 06:47:32 am

Laura, sort of OT as far as pertaining to just the Letter aspect but relevant as to the bigger picture.
I hope in future discussions that you can ask your Medical Dr's and professionals to view the Newsweek interview that Palin had with Karen Bresslau on stage (that had included Janet Napolitano)and give an opinion.It was March 4th 2008.2 days later the ADN reported ( told by Palins Staff) they were " shocked " at the News that she was 7 months pregnant.

Have a Medical expert explain HOW it is physically impossible to ( at 7 months pregnant) cross your legs and bend over with your elbows on your knees and have a nice conversation, perfectly at ease the whole time.
Whether or not she was 'showing 'in various pictures, it is irrelevant to that part of the ' story ' that Sarah wants to tell.The fetus would still 7 months.... showing or not.

Can you bend over like that and NOT crush the fetus?( Don't think so )
And even if you did bend over like that... what/where is the fetus position physically in her body.
Notice that sarah had no problem breathing. Not a wince. Her body language says she is not concerned at all.The interview went on for over 20 minutes with her in that position... in front of a Nat'l audience. Her only concern was giving her opinion.

As one of those ongoing interviews.... have a Medical expert explain the physical characteristics that take place when someone who is " supposedly" 7 months pregnant would be in these positions. Maybe some pics/charts of the body included too. A picture is worth a 1000 words. Even more if they are Palin words. Her words don't add up to much and have much value.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWlzmWnZ_ek&feature=relmfu

mistah charley, ph.d.
5/13/2011 07:02:47 am

The letter is fraudulent, in that it gives the impression, without quite stating it in so many words, that Sarah gave birth to Trig. Maybe other people wrote it and put it on CBJ's letterhead; maybe, under pressure, CBJ wrote it herself (but why the various orthographic flaws - crooked printing, differing color on the FAAFP?) Perhaps it went back and forth for a while. Maybe different people wrote different paragraphs. In any case, my argument is: now that the letter is a done deed, and the election is in the past, it is in CBJ's self-interest, and arguably the medically ethical thing to do, to say no more about it.

omomma
5/13/2011 07:07:45 am

This is a great interview. A point that everyone seems to have missed, but is noted by the doctor here, is that information regarding the candidate's reproductive history--or the part of it that has generated so much heat--was unnecessary in any report regarding her general health and physical condition.

If her reproductive history DID seem important, why the focus on only one pregnancy and delivery when there were [allegedly] at least two miscarriages along with four other uncomplicated events?

Sarah Flailin
5/13/2011 07:08:41 am

Well done, Laura!

Palin will go down in history as the first mother to be kicked by her baby three years after it was born.

Laura Novak link
5/13/2011 07:18:40 am

LOL, Ms. Flailin!

Just found this on HuffPo:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/10/princess-diana-death-pictures_n_859915.html

Al Fayed's theory is that many, many people played a part in the conspiracy. Not of her death, but of the coverup.

And thanks, Chris, for that link. I read through all the comments and how fascinating they are in hindsight.

rubbernecking
5/13/2011 07:28:11 am

I know many (or most) people here feel very strongly that CBJ's letter must be forged or must contain false information.

You may all be correct. But this assumption seems to have led to an investigative dead end, despite the efforts of many people.

Pretend the CBJ letter is true. Pretend. Now consider the investigative channels this assumption presents. e.g., Can we ask McCain staffers about the decision-making process for releasing McCain's records vs Palin's records? Why so different? What are their thoughts on improving the process of releasing candidate health information?

Sometimes more is revealed when we are less accusatory.

omomma
5/13/2011 07:34:41 am

As to Dr. Johnson being either "incompetent" or "a liar" there is probably at least third alternative. From here it looks more like a family physician caught in an event that would have been small potatoes in a small town, but was overtaken by national events. Any charges of incompetence or lying should be directed to the incompetent, lying ex-Governor of Alaska.

Ginger
5/13/2011 07:34:53 am

@Chris...excellent observation. I agree totally and would like to mention one thing. Over at PD (Palins Deceptions), the letter was scrutinized thoroughly. It was determined the letterhead had been cut and pasted. I'm sure DR. CBJ had nothing to do with this letter.

@V...There is absolutely no evidence that Bristol gave birth to a preemie in Jan. or Feb., 2008. That theory involves too many people. When the RNC announced Bristol was five months pregnant, they put out two rumors. One was just that she was pregnant and that satisfied people that did not use the internet. For those of us on the internet who knew she faked a pregnancy, it was the theory you discribed. The bloggers went along with this and still have everyone convinced Bristol gave birth to two babies in 2008.

The e-mail is not...a rumor...a theory...but an actual piece of evidence admissable in a court of law. It is evidence Sarah sent invoices/bills to her insurance company for the birth of Trig. My point is not to accuse Dr. CBJ of fraud. It is to prove Bristol gave birth on April 17/18, 2008. I've always thought she got pregnant the last week of July, 2008, while Sarah was in Kuwait.

No one I know can wrap their mind around the fact Sarah faked a pregnancy. How can anyone believe her daughter did too? The RNC banked on that.

Palintologist
5/13/2011 07:40:36 am

It might prove interesting for someone to compare the font and font size used in the body of the Palin letter to other letters that CBJ and Palin have written.

Chris
5/13/2011 07:42:16 am

okay.....after re-reading articles surrounding the release......I think Sarah stalled the campaign as long as she could, then came up with the letter which the campaign wasn't thrilled with, so they stalled even more.

I take back my earlier theory that Sarah released it. I now think Schmidt may have released it at the 11th hour on purpose, just to give Sarah a poke, to let her deal with it, for being so impossible and so much trouble.


Everyday the campaign was asked about the med record, they must have gotten sick of that embarrassment, they had to protect her the whole campaign.

Sorry to take this little side jaunt.

Chris
5/13/2011 07:46:28 am

@ Ginger......so the letterhead could have come off anything sent prior to Sarah from Dr. Baldwin, hmmm, I get letters from my doc about blood work, mammo and gyno tests, Sarah would have plenty of those.

Alaskan Medicine at its best
5/13/2011 07:51:22 am

I don't think that Dr. Cathy can be criminally prosecuted for her false statements in her medical letter that Sarah gave birth to Trig. The letter was not signed under oath of penalty of perjury. Nor am I aware of any civil law consequences that could befall Dr. Cathy for her false statements in the medical letter. (If she lied to an insurance company that would be a whole different matter).

Nor could Dr. Cathy be criminally prosecuted for her statements to the Anchorage Daily News that she induced Palin at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center on April 18, 2008.
http://www.adn.com/2008/04/22/382864/palins-child-diagnosed-with-down.html
Again, Dr. Cathy's statement to the press was not under penalty of perjury.

Laura might want to ask her doctor contacts whether or not Dr. Cathy lying in her medical letter and in her statements to the press would be of interest to a hospital credentialing committee. I'm not sure if hospitals care one way or the other about having liars on their medical staffs. Probably yes if it involves the falsification of medical records and/or the hospital is going to get sued for malpractice. Probably not if no actual medical records were falsified and the hospital is not being sued for malpractice.

DebinOH
5/13/2011 07:55:51 am

I agree with Laura, why put it out at the last minute when it should have been put out much earlier? Since we have had way too much time to examine how she works (unfortunately - really if she had just gone away never to be heard from again I really could care less) it is entirely possible that she did "go rogue" releasing this?

It does sound like something she would do. She wanted to PROVE to us that she was the mother of Trig and this was her way of doing it & it really was half-assed if you ask me. She reminds me so much of a spoiled brat who has to say na na na boo boo! I think that is why so much time was spent on this one birth too. All they had to do was list her children with their birth dates. They didn't have to mention anything about prenatal testing.

Do you really think McCain's camp would have waited until the last minute? Something had to have been up or they would have released this way earlier. It would have been in THEIR best interest to let this story die and prove that Sarah was his mother for once and all.

It just seems way to amateurish, but you think if she was in on it she would have listed Piper's birth year correctly. You would also assume that if professionals had a hand in this it would have been done better.

I don't know what to think about CBJ. After knowing so much about how SP works she could have railroaded this woman or signed her name on fake letterhead. I know that if something wasn't wrong you do not need a lawyer to show up with you.

Thanks Laura, another great article. So glad to see that all of us in on this from day one aren't crazy. A few simple things could have nipped this crazy thing in the bud..........

Dr. Cathy is an Enabler
5/13/2011 08:00:26 am

Re Ommoma
"As to Dr. Johnson being either "incompetent" or "a liar" there is probably at least third alternative. From here it looks more like a family physician caught in an event that would have been small potatoes in a small town, but was overtaken by national events. Any charges of incompetence or lying should be directed to the incompetent, lying ex-Governor of Alaska."

Sorry, I think we should focus on those who are enablers and Dr. Cathy is an enabler. People cannot get away with lies without the help of their enablers. Plus, I'm not convinced there wasn't insurance fraud involved.

B
5/13/2011 08:08:16 am

When that letter was released I thought that its author had used Obama's medical letter as an example to follow.

I figured CBJ gave a letter to Sarah and Sarah revised it before releasing it. CBJ decided to keep her mouth shut about the revisions unless forced to testify.

I'm inclined to think CBJ was involved in pairing Sarah with an adoptable DS baby (could be Bristol's) but was totally surprised when Sarah lied and announced she was pregnant.

CBJ's letter has been critical in convincing many doubters that Sarah gave birth to Trig. I don't know of any way to get CBJ under oath & resolve this.

B
5/13/2011 08:17:18 am

Laura, before you have your "Is this a newborn?" conversation, I suggest you Google around to look at some pictures of reborn dolls. The baby presented at MatSu and then at the office could be a reborn. He doesn't look like Triggybear or the current Trig. He certainly doesn't look like he was pushed out a few hours earlier during induced labor. (The PalinPeytonPlace site has done several baby comparisons, though it may be best known for explaining how the rapid growth of Palin's pregnancy should have ruptured her uterus.)

Alaskan Medicine at its best
5/13/2011 08:41:32 am

Is anyone really surprised that Stan Tucker, of Wasilla's Pilgram's Baptist Church, is on the Board of Directors at Mat-Su hospital?

Is anyone surprised by this?
"WASILLA — Before each meeting, Wasilla Planning Commission Chairman Stan Tucker calls on one of his fellow commissioners, Greg Koskela, to pray."

Wonder if Rev. Tucker knows anything about Trig's "birth" at Mat-Su on April 18, 2008?

Chris
5/13/2011 08:57:25 am

@ Alaska Medicine.......very tied together aren't they, they've got their little Wasilla monopoly, or should I say widespread christian mafia family.

Alaskan Medicine at its best
5/13/2011 09:07:03 am

Sorry, Rev. Tucker is on the Board of Trustees for Mat-Su Hospital, not the Board of Directors.

I'm sure they're all prayin at the hospital that the truth never surfaces.

Laura Novak link
5/13/2011 09:32:51 am

Sounds like it, huh? I wonder how many people know the truth? Are we talking a dozen? Fewer?

The DOC says that any Rh factor would have been known before and apart from an amnio. That would not have been the reason for that invasive test.

curiouser
5/13/2011 09:44:51 am

This is important and I don't think anyone has mentioned it.

Sarah Palin herself sat on the Valley Hospital Association (VHA) board of directors. This is documented in her State of Alaska financial disclosure forms, Schedule B for the years 2001-2004. We don't have disclosure forms prior to 2001 or for 2005 so she may have been on the board in other years.

Sarah Palin:
VHA, Assoc. Board Member (unpaid) - years 2001-2003

VHA Volunteer Board Member (unpaid) - 2004

Thanks to Regina (Palingates) for having the forms available!
http://www.box.net/shared/c8xu7p94fb

Up
5/13/2011 10:19:36 am

laura, may I suggest you interview blogger Phil Munger who personally knows CBJ? I'd be curious to know what might have happenned to her practice if she outed Palin as a liar & fraud. Would she have lost all her patients?

Curious to me that Palin would ding fr the rooftops about the birth without.allowing the hospital or physician to confirm she was there.

rubbernecking
5/13/2011 10:26:03 am

Laura, it probably doesn't matter but there is documentation showing that amnio may be used for diagnosing hemolytic disease in a fetus whose mother has RH antibodies. Some credible links are here:

National Institute of Health:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/rh/rh_diagnosis.html

Encyclopedia of Nursing:
http://www.enotes.com/nursing-encyclopedia/amniocentesis

rubbernecking
5/13/2011 11:13:45 am

I respect Prof Scharlott's advice on the Spiral of Silence and don't want to be a wet blanket on competing ideas. But I can't understand how the Matsu Christian Mafia theory plays out.

If Palin's church/board connections are so powerful, why didn't Matsu quickly reinforce Palin's birth announcement info? e.g. put out their own press release, list his birth on their website, etc.

If CBJ and Matsu were so willing to participate in records and insurance fraud, wouldn't Palin have a birth cert that supported the Wild Ride saga?

Why didn't Matsu protect CBJ's active status for helping Palin?

If anything, Palin's influence seems pretty limited. Aside from the photo-op in a hospital hallway, what else did she get that other mortals couldn't?

What would happen if Joe McGuiness invited photographers to meet him in a hallway of Matsu Regional to discuss the fake treatment of his fake broken leg? Would Matsu Regional issue a press release denying it?

comeonpeople
5/13/2011 11:36:05 am

Rubber necking said:
anything, Palin's influence seems pretty limited. Aside from the photo-op in a hospital hallway, what else did she get that other mortals couldn't?

Matsu couldn't protect CBJ . Perhaps they were sanctioned by JCAHO and CBJ was the sacrificial lamb.?
I can't imagine any physician, who is truly innocent, not speaking up for their professional reputation. CBJ is associated with ridiculous medical advice and taking ridiculous medical risks by alledgedly delivering Palin at MatSu. Why, if she did not do any of these things,does she remains silent? Imagine a physician stating that it is not unreasonable for an overweight man with known blocked coronary arteries who is having radiating chest pain down his left arm and a crushing sensation in his chest, that it is OK to fly home 10 hours and then get checked out. Imagine a hematologist telling his patient with hemophilia who is exsanguinating from a broken nose that it is not unreasonable to fly home before getting medical attention?
There is NO CIRCUMSTANCE that any innocent physician would want such ludicrous advice to be associated with their professional name. None. CBJ is protecting Palin. She has to be. If she speaks out the whole house of cards collapses. She is willing to risk her professsional reputation. WHY??

Diane
5/13/2011 11:50:03 am

I have never read anywhere that her MD, had privileges at Anchorage hospital so how could she deliver palin's baby there.

You know, I don't know if palin is Trig's birth mother. What I get angry about is the wild ride. Why would any mother, who supposedly want this baby so much, endanger that baby.

Ginger
5/13/2011 12:53:28 pm

@rubbernecking...When a liar tells a lie, sometimes part of the lie is the truth. How many times have we heard Sarah say..."I showed the birth certificate?" Now ask yourself to whom would she have shown the birth certificate? We certainly know it wasn't the media. The only answer I could come up with was the RNC and Steve Schmidt.

They only had two months to work with Sarah and she didn't even know there was a North Korea and a South Korea. Everyone was screaming about P.Obama's birth certificate and with all the trouble Sarah was causing them, if they had Trig's birth certificate, I don't blame them for not using it and saying..."Bristol is five months pregnant."

Actually, it was brilliant. I've even read where it was the most brilliant tactical maneuver used in political history. It sure kept everyone quiet. That was until we saw Bristol on the GVS show with her rent-a-baby, Tripp.

I'll be looking forward to your response.

FrostyAK
5/13/2011 01:45:34 pm

On the insurance:

Bristol was a teen and under her mother's medical insurance - she could have used it either in-state or out of state for a delivery in Jan/Feb. That insurance inquiry could have been for TriG, if Bristol was the mother as well as if Sarah was the mother. OR it could have been an inquiry asking about the newly adopted palin baby.

For the person who said the Xtian mafia could not have such a hold over this town, they would need to live here to know the truth. ANY hoax could have been pulled off by that crowd and then 'prayed away' (like the African witch hunter who prayed the witches out of/away from palin - he obviously did a terrible job).

Linda Menard is a board member at Mat Su Regional and mother of palin's old flame (and possibly Track's father) Curtis Menard Jr; she is also the senator from this district. Getting more involved?

Think Peyton Place and you'll be on the right track...

rubbernecking
5/13/2011 01:56:38 pm

@comeonpeople, I don't think CBJ has much to gain by talking. She's not running a celebrity maternity practice. She's trying to help sex abuse victims. Her patients really need to trust her confidentiality.

People either think the Wild Ride is admirable, or a total crock, or they don't care. The number of people who actually believe CBJ failed Palin in some fashion is small. Forced to choose, CBJ prefers to maintain the trust of abuse patients rather than salvage her reputation among anonymous bloggers.

@Ginger, I felt the Sept press release announcing Bristol's pregnancy was cruel. Palin knew in April that people questioned Trig's maternity. It was disgusting to make her daughter's sex life (count the months everyone!) the shiny distraction from the missing birth certificate.

It's mind boggling that she would pursue a VP nomination and the national spotlight on her family in these circumstances.

The Christian Mafia in Wasilla
5/13/2011 02:08:34 pm

Re the Wasilla Christian mafia, the recent post of Phil Munger (who lives in Wasilla) is illuminating.

http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2011/05/dwight-probascos-side-of-bohemian.html

"An important point that Dwight Probasco raised in our talk was what he calls his record at WHS as an administrator who has done everything possible to create a welcoming atmosphere for LBGTQ kids who had felt less comfortable at other Valley secondary schools. I know that to be a fair assessment, based on many friends who either have worked with Dwight, work with him now, or have had kids there.

And I watched Dwight, from his first day as principal at Wasilla, until May 2007, when I gave up the baton of the Mat-Su College Community Band, an ensemble that had met in the WHS band room every Monday for the 13 years I directed it. The main reason I stepped down from that post was the feeling I got from the increasingly strident fundamentalist and evangelical constituency in the Valley - not so much from within the band itself - that unless one has been born again, one isn't a real person. The pressures on educators and administrators in our school district from these kinds of people is relentless and could wear down any administrator.

In the wake of Sarah Palin's selection as John McCain's running mate in 2008, our schools were put under even more pressure by these people, and by locals who were fervent Palin supporters. I know from listening to kids during the fall of 2008, that the bullshit kids who did not support Palin went through was not as bad at WHS as it was at Palmer High School, for instance. There, one of the teachers went so far as to create a Palin shrine in his classroom, and was backed by the administration there when kids and their parents complained about the stifling atmosphere in his class. None of that was reported to be happening at WHS."

I think that about sums up Wasilla -- "the increasingly strident fundamentalist and evangelical constituency in the Valley,"

Dr. Cathy is an Enabler
5/13/2011 02:29:58 pm

Re Rubbernecking, who I'm begin to think is one of Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson's good friends.

"I don't think CBJ has much to gain by talking. She's not running a celebrity maternity practice. She's trying to help sex abuse victims. Her patients really need to trust her confidentiality.

. . . The number of people who actually believe CBJ failed Palin in some fashion is small. Forced to choose, CBJ prefers to maintain the trust of abuse patients rather than salvage her reputation among anonymous bloggers."

So, now Dr. Cathy is a saint saving victims of sexual abuse rather than just a garden-variety liar and enabler.

Nah, sorry, I think she is just a big liar. Don't believe she gives a rat's ass about sex abuse. Probably had grandiose fantasies of being the White House doctor.

B
5/13/2011 03:03:13 pm

@Ginger. "if they had Trig's birth certificate, I don't blame them for not using it and saying..."Bristol is five months pregnant.""

Well I blame them. Bristol was only 17. They should have left her out of it.

And they would have if they had a b/c that showed a birth at MatSu on April 18. But they didn't.

I also disagree that Tripp is a rent-a-baby. He actually looks like Bristol & Levi's picture as a little kid. I do suspect he was born a month later than was announced, but pictures showing her in Oct. 2008 at WalMart (wearing a tight fitting top, not scarves and jackets) and postpartum at the Iron Dog 2009 convinced me that Bristol was pregnant.

Anon55
5/13/2011 03:21:41 pm

Just found this analysis of the Cathy Baldwin-Johnson letter, which I think is excellent.
http://shesnohockeymom.blogspot.com/2010/09/real-reason-for-cbj-letter-and-why-it.html

The linked post points out a number of oddities in the letter.

The letter said Sarah had no risk factors for her pregnancy other than her age. Wouldn't two prior miscarriages be considered risk fators?

The post also very cogently points out that the only actual medical information regarding Palin herself is at the end of the letter and consists solely of stating:

Her blood pressure and pulse at the time of her last office visit with no mention of when that visit was.
She had a breast biopsy in 1992 for what turned out to be a benign lesion.
She takes no prescription medications regularly.
She has no known drug allergies.

As the linked post points out, the entire rest of the letter is about Trig, although Trig was not a candidate for office. As the author of the post points out: "

The letter also reports that at the time of Trig’s last office visit he was growing and developing normally for a child with Trisomy 21. Good to know but what does Trig’s health have to do with the issue this letter is supposed to be addressing? Nothing."

I think it is abundantly clear that the letter was released for the sole purpose of trying to put the Trig story to rest to enable Palin to run in 2012.

The linked post also includes handwriting exemplars from prior signatures of Dr. Cathy. The handwriting exemplars very clearly show that the signature on the medical letter is completely different than Dr. Cathy's normal signature. Based on the handwriting exemplars, I think it is fairly clear that it is not Dr. Cathy's signature on the letter. That doesn't mean that Dr. Cathy didn't authorize the letter -- I have no doubt that she did since she hasn't disavowed the letter -- but I think it is clear that she didn't personally sign the letter.

voiceinwind
5/13/2011 03:26:54 pm

Great post and great comments.

After that medical letter was released, I found an article via internet that stated CBJ only delivered three babies the year before.

During her interview, CBJ stated that it was not unreasonable for Palin to travel. Having experienced amino fluid leakage with two pregnancies while in my 20s, I thought that statement was ridiculous and a cover up. Palin covered for the doctor during that wild ride interview by saying it was Palin's decision to give a speech. And the doctor covered for Palin not seeking immediate medical attention, traveling thousands of miles with alleged ruptured tissue. To induce at 35 weeks would support alleged amino fluid leakage as well as Palin's assertion that she was not in labor.

Also, the letter stated that other than age, Palin did not have any other risk factors. But according to Palin's book, she experienced two miscarriages. That information was omitted from the letter and, if true, would have made such statement questionable. Once again, the doctor was covering Palin's wild ride story. And the letter went into detail regarding Trig, even stating that he went home at two days of age. Why was that pertinent information? To substantiate that wild ride was a-okay? See, nothing happened? To stop the rumors?

Photo evidence has shown that Palin was not the biological mother of that baby. So, CBJ lied and I don't think she should be given a free pass because she's a doctor. I believe she was as much a part of the hoax as the Palins.

Palin, CBJ, and Menard are members of a church with a doctrine to take over this country, the seven mountain agenda, i.e., business, government, media, family, arts and entertainment, education, and I think the last one may be banking. Being the GOP VP candidate put Palin a heartbeat from the highest office in this country, and the most influential position in the world had McCain won.

I believe Palin faked that pregnancy for political gain, to entice pro-life voters. I don't believe Palin covered for a daughter because she told the world her unmarried teenage daughter was pregnant to cover up her lie rather than bowing out. Win at any cost. I wouldn't be surprised if that baby was actually born in Texas since toadie indicated he didn't want a fish picker born in Texas.

Anyway, keep up the good work!

rubbernecking
5/13/2011 03:56:45 pm

To the person who keeps ranting about the doctor (Fri 21:29:58):

Yes, I agree. CBJ was an enabler. If she had refused to participate in the ADN interviews, the birth story would have fallen apart much sooner.

I still don't think CBJ has any incentive to reveal what she knows. So why keep wheel-spinning?

comeonpeople
5/13/2011 08:52:33 pm

@rubbernecking who wrote:
People either think the Wild Ride is admirable, or a total crock, or they don't care. The number of people who actually believe CBJ failed Palin in some fashion is small. Forced to choose, CBJ prefers to maintain the trust of abuse patients rather than salvage her reputation among anonymous bloggers.

Well, unfortunately this may be a big mistake for CbJ. As more and more people across the globe are exposed to the hoax that is Palin, CBJ's actions/inactions will be widely questioned. As long as Palin goes quietly into her good night, then CBJ is safe. The more Palin makes noise in politics, this whole hoax remains fair game, as do those who enabled it.I plan to keep spinnning these wheels as long as it takes and until they hold gravel..CBJ is a disgrace to the medical profession. Sure, she is needed as a sexual abuse MD in Alaska because apparently sexual abuse is a huge problem up there. However, this deos not make her a saint or any less culpable for her part in the hoax. Suggesting otherwise is equally ludicous.

Lidia
5/13/2011 09:54:36 pm

<i>"why not release a simple medical letter early when everyone's asking for it? Because it's too "hot." Wait for when the die is cast, when they suspect they'll lose, and toss it out to the wolf pack for good measure. By then, who cared?" </i>

Laura, PALIN cared… because Palin always has to have the last word. She is mentally ill.

You can't ask "why" she does what she does… which is what is wrong with 99.99% of the MSM commentary on her. Whether they are intentionally complict or just profoundly stupid, they still keep analysing her with the assumption that she is sane.

I bet the "McCain campaign" did not release that letter, Sarah did. Remember the concession speech that she was going to give at all costs, as Chris points out. She almost had to be physically constrained from doing that. Sarah can never NOT respond!!!


In a small town, dealing with a poisonous energy like that, it's no wonder CBJ would keep silent. I know that the dr. *could* be involved in some other fashion, but I just don't see this letter coming from her.

Lidia
5/13/2011 09:58:22 pm

rubbernecking, you crack me up!

Yes, by all means let's just ignore the lies and falsifications and just worry about "improving the process of releasing candidate health information".

Lidia
5/13/2011 10:00:59 pm

<i>In 'Going Rogue', Sarah confirms the medical letter's inference that CBJ delivered Trig. Sarah names the people in the room when Trig was allegedly born: Todd, their daughters, an unnamed nurse, and CBJ. </i>

Where was Creepy Chuck? He said he was there when Trig "popped out". Also, where was Levi? HE claimed to have been there, and the Palinbots claim that a picture of him wearing a hospital bracelet and holding a newborn is of him and Trig.

Pretty crowded in that delivery room!

Lidia
5/13/2011 10:07:48 pm

@Ginger: the State of AK HR asking for Trig's birth certificate has nothing to do with any INVOICES. It's just standard operating procedure to put new family members on the existing plan, which requires paperwork and documentation. This was just the HR person doing their job proactively on the employee's (Sarah's) behalf.

As far as Bristol faking a PG is concerned, I'm not sure whether it is a coincidence or not that she was intimidated just at the point where she started questioning things about Bristol.

Lidia
5/13/2011 10:21:15 pm

Oops! I meant to write "I'm not sure whether it is a coincidence or not that AUDREY (of Palin's Deceptions) was intimidated just at the point where she started questioning things about Bristol"

As far as the hospital not being part of the Christian Mafia by keeping silent: of course they are not going to confirm Palin's delivery there, because that would be an actionable lie—something that I assume would affect their accreditation if discovered. Better to say nothing and allow people to assume that what their "Queen Esther claims is true.

william
5/13/2011 10:53:37 pm

Why was Levi living with Sarah & Todd?Doesn't make sense for a "Christian" family to allow that to happen.

Laura Novak link
5/14/2011 01:56:45 am

Thank you ALL! I love how Palintologist (great name!) asked if we'd seen any other evidence of CBJ's signature or letters and Anon55 found the earlier link with a post about exactly that. This truly is a virtual conversation! And one that allows different opinions to float forth freely.

But I don't understand the theory behind the campaign knowing he truly was her son, but letting this all hang in the wind. Run that by me again? My brain isn't tracking on that.

rubbernecking
5/14/2011 02:16:26 am

Jaded securalist here. So anyone who wants to advance in Wasilla must march to the cultural values of the Christian Mafia. Got it. They've been effective at squashing critical speech of Palin and intimidating educators on the wrong side of the culture debate. They imposed abortion restrictions at MatSu similar to those at every Catholic hospital in the US.

But the Christianists at MatSu don't appear willing/able to break the law on Palin's behalf. NOT EVEN when it involves the most exciting and inspiring pro-life story in the US. Hmmm.

MatSu never publicly denied Palin's story and they didn't stop her hallway photo-op. But that's the limit the Christianists at MatSu were willing or able to help her. It must be so painful for them. ;-)

But why focus more research efforts on them? Their most impressive skill is keeping people in Wasilla from talking.

Why not focus attention on people who might be more willing to talk...such as McCain staffers? Find out what caused the delay in getting the letter. Find out how many drafts they worked on.

comeonpeople
5/14/2011 02:41:38 am

Interesting. At work this saturday I had to complete many hospital mandatory educations. One is on "Compliance" which is a committment to ethical conduct throughout the organization. We have an anonymoud hotline in which we can report conduct we Reasonably beleive is illegal, unthical, immoral or otherwise questionable. Without worry of termination. I wonder if MatSu has this? Boy. If they do, what a perfect opportunity for a suspicious employee to make a complaint. If there is any patriot from MatSu out there reading this, who has concerns with the probable hoax, see if MatSu has a compliance website or go to mycompliancereport.com and let her rip!!

Prosecute CBJ to the full extent of the law!!!
5/14/2011 02:56:53 am

I don't know whether CBJ is a saint or not - among recent Americans, the one I'm most certain a saint is tv host Fred Rogers (http://blogs.static.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/20005.html). Most likely, CBJ commits some mixture of good and bad actions. Her involvement to whatever degree, willingly or by coercion, by acts of commission or omission, in the Babygate hoax is among the bad actions. The most obvious part of that involvement is this letter, issued over her [forged?] signature, and her appearance at the Anchorage Daily News accompanied by her lawyer - the latter being the only action that we can be sure was really taken by her.


I'm semi-serious in suggesting that Dr. Baldwin-Johnson be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Her name is connected to one of the biggest political hoaxes of the early 21st century electoral process, but are there crimes she has committed? What are they? She either wrote or allowed others to state she wrote a letter that gives false information about the circumstances of Trig Palin's birth - but this letter was not sworn testimony, and it certainly had no effect on the 2008 election. I am persuaded that it was issued to bolster the false Trig origin story, to promote future activities by Sarah Palin.

If there's a crime by Cathy Baldwin-Johnson here, then let her face a judge and jury about it. And if not (and my guess is, not) then I suggest we forgive her her trespasses, as we would wish our own trespasses to be forgiven. The principal enemy of truth, justice, and the potentially sentient way in this matter, the one who may yet harm people on a grand scale, is Sarah Palin, and the money men behind her who wish to use her as an instrument to manipulate the gullible public, to "milk, shear, and slaughter the sheeple" - speaking metaphorically, except for the "slaughter" part.

with best wishes,
mistah charley, ph.d.

comeonpeople
5/14/2011 03:22:02 am

There is a corporate compliance officer at MatSu and there is a hotline. So, those of us who feel there has been something not quite right that went on at MatSu are free to contact the compliance officer. I'll let you know if I get a response. Anyone else, please join in!
Corporate Compliance Officer
2500 S. Woodworth Loop
Plamer Alaska, 99645
Hotline 1-800-345-8650

Ivyfree
5/14/2011 04:27:32 am

People don't seem to consider another option, the one I think most likely: Sarah quite possibly had CBJ's letter edited before it was released.

At risk of sounding like an Obama birther, we've only seen the letter reproduced on blogs. Some news agencies have seen the fax of the letter. Where is the original Of the fax?

CBJ might quite reasonably have written a letter recounting Sarah's medical history, and faxed it to Sarah at Sarah's request. I suspect that if a patient becomes a candidate for national office, her doctor might realize that such a request would be forthcoming.

As far as CBJ realizing the letter is edited: that letter is not a medical record. There would be no penalty for CBJ in letting it stand, and no requirement that she report it to anyone. Remember when Sarah returned to Alaska, most of us thought she'd do what most other VP candidates have done: fade into the woodwork. CBJ might quite reasonably have thought: least said, soonest mended. And Sarah's a hugely vindictive person: we read that over and over. Why even bring it up?

And as I've pointed out on numerous occasions, we don't know what has been reported to which regulatory agency. A hospital employee might have reported suspected unethical behavior to a hotline. Members of the public might have reported suspected unethical/medically unsound practice to the medical society. People might have contacted JCAHO regarding Mat-Su ignoring its own policies on high-risk deliveries. We would have no way of knowing. JCAHO and hospital authorities might have the full story on what happened the night of April 17-18, 2008, at Mat-Su, and we'll never hear about it because it's covered by confidentiality practices.

Another comment, about CBJ delivering a high-risk infant: it's entirely possible that nobody knew about the Down syndrome until after the baby was born. It might not have shown up on ultrasound- that "thick neck" is pretty iffy. CBJ might have gone into that delivery room expecting a small but reasonably healthy infant and been handed a surprise.

I've always believed that CBJ got stuck between a rock and a hard place dealing with Sarah. I think she knows that Sarah is lying about the pregnancy, and may even suspect some fraud with the insurance company, but hasn't enough evidence (or courage) to risk her career being open about it. Because it WOULD jeopardize her career, to make an accusation about Sarah Palin like that. Palin isn't as popular as she used to be, but when Professor Scharlott wrote his article, people jumped forward to defend her. Undoubtedly the same thing would happen if CBJ made any public statement. Assuming that she could, assuming that it wouldn't violate HIPAA. Heck, Kim Chatman got shot at. I don't think we can overrate the danger facing anyone openly opposed to Palin.

I think Sarah surprised both Bristol and CBJ when she announced her "pregnancy." I think Sarah cajoled CBJ into reluctantly going along with it- come on, this way Bristol will be able to take care of her baby and it's all in the family and we can afford it and I want to protect her reputation.. and CBJ said, well, just keep it quiet.

Only Sarah can't keep it quiet.She's constitutionally unable to keep anything quiet. CBJ may have her own opinions of Sarah's behavior, but if Trig is getting taken care of, that really is the important thing, right? Until suddenly Sarah is the VP nominee.

I can see CBJ reluctantly writing a letter about Sarah's health for the campaign, and then realizing that Sarah changed it... what, exactly, COULD she do? At that point, McCain/Palin had lost. Things should return to status quo ante.

It's interesting that when ADN wants to confirm Trig's parentage, CBJ shows up with an attorney. Presumably, if a reporter asked for an appointment to question a doctor about a patient, the doctor would consult the patient to get permission (if she wanted to do it). Or she could refuse.

I'd really like to see a discussion of what that meant, legally and medically, to take an attorney to the interview. I'm trying to understand the situation. CBJ gets asked, and she would either say No straight out, or get permission and say Yes. I don't see a doctor saying "Yes, I'll meet you to talk about my patient," and not confirming it with the patient. So even to have gone to that interview, CBJ must have checked with Sarah.. and then CBJ brings a lawyer. Why? To hear the questions, or to vet the answers? Attorneys are expensive. A lunchtime meeting. Presumably, one to two hours of attorney time. Five hundred, minimum? You think?

A person doesn't go to that kind of expense without thinking seriously that there may be problems. If CBJ were completely clean, the attorney wouldn't be necessary... and if CBJ were actively complicit, why would she have gone? That's why I think she's gotten herself trapped. I think she went along with Sarah, and said as little as possible. She trusted Sarah to keep something

Anon55
5/14/2011 05:13:54 am

Uh, uh, looks like Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson and her lies are going down.

http://politicalgates.blogspot.com/2011/05/investigative-book-about-babygate-sarah.html#disqus_thread

Laura Novak link
5/14/2011 05:44:23 am

I can see all of that, Ivy Free. What do you think Sarah would have changed?

The first doctor I spoke to felt strongly that CBJ brought an attorney to the newspaper in order to keep the paper on the up-and-up. Not out of fear of what she would be asked, but to make sure she was not quoted out of context etc.

But did we ever see the result of that interview? That's not the Lisa Demer "I let her fly" "I didn't let her fly" article announcing the birth, was it? That would have been too early to lawyer up.

Despite Mrs. Palin's ambition, and whatever the true story here, none of them probably imagined that this would blow up to such huge proportions later on.

(And I wonder who the author will be? I would hope it's one of the bloggers who has worked so long and hard on this story.)

Lawyer
5/14/2011 06:05:22 am

Nah, Cathy didn't bring a lawyer to her interview with the ADN to keep them on the up and up. If she didn't want to be misquoted, all she had to do was to tape the interview herself. Here, I have this tape recorder and will be recording our interview. She brought a lawyer because by that time she had lawyered up.

By the way, was the doctor who speculated that Cathy brought a lawyer to keep the ADN on the up and up the same "genius" who told you that doctors never lie?

As a lawyer who routinely represents doctors in revocation proceedings before our state's medical licensing board, I can tell you that doctors do lie (or they wouldn't have gotten caught by the medical board for some lie or misdeed and need my services). Do all doctors lie? No. Do all people rob banks? No. But someone keeps criminal lawyers in business and someone keeps lawyers like me in business.

comeonpeople
5/14/2011 06:11:35 am

And, I do hate to write this, but it needs to be said. Let's Not discount the fact that CBJ may be one of the Wasilla dominionist 7 mountain people for whom the ends justifies the means. It is a real possibility that she was complicit because, sadly , she believes that the Tri-G hoax would help guarantee Palin being a heartbeat away from the presidency of the USA. A part of me hopes this was the case, because her strong convictions led her to her crazy actions/nonactions. At least she stuck to her principles. I just can't see a professional getting hoodwinked as she did for any other reason. Even now, she is a medical doctor who should be believed over Palin, what with all the evidence accumulated. If it is a hoax out of hand, come clean now. Unless you are OK with your part in it, for the good of God......or it was the greatest miscalculation of your spiritual life and you are really in the shit.....

Mhurka
5/14/2011 07:01:51 am

A while back ago I read about an interview wherein Levi Johnston and his lawyer (Rex Butler) were asked about the birth of Trig. Before Levi could reply Rex interrupted and stated that (I'm paraphrasing): We cannot state as a fact that Sarah gave birth to Trig.
(This was really odd because I thought Levi was supposedly present at the hospital). Certainly somethin' to think about again.

Laura Novak link
5/14/2011 07:05:34 am

Yes, Mhurka, I recall that as well as the story about SP wanting to adopt their baby. If it's not one strange thing with this saga, it's another. For having had a very complicated pregnancy and delivery, man, my story is clean and simple compared to this!

Laura Novak link
5/14/2011 07:09:26 am

Okay Lawyer, let's talk. I can, and likely will one day, look for someone with your expertise to talk to. But that's going to take some time. And it's hard enough to keep up with all of this. Help me out here. Talk to all of us through an interview the way DOC has, as well as the first specialist. Send me a note on my contact page. Then we can go from there, once I determine that you are who you say you are. I keep confidentiality. I've been doing this a long, long time.

curiouser
5/14/2011 08:27:44 am

Do we really know that CBJ took a lawyer to an interview with Lisa Dermer?

I've traced the idea as far as to Patrick's babygate summary PDF but there's no reference. Where did this idea originate? Is it documented fact or rumor?

Lidia
5/14/2011 08:38:10 am

Laura. it's obvious that those who did the earliest, unpaid, work on this story will profit the least.

It's not been made entirely clear whether Lisa Demer is the one who was slated to do an article about CBJ (the one where CBJ showed up with a lawyer). Those who know have chosen not to say.

No, we did not see that interview; I read only that the article was scuttled after the encounter with CBJ and her laywer.

-----
"Lawyer" is right, and you are being somewhat naive here.

Don't ask: "what would Sarah have changed" on CBJ's letter. ANY of it, all of it that has been put before her…

Sarah Palin is mentally ill. Nothing she says, does, or even remotely touches is safe.

You've been doing *something* a long, long, time, but it hasn't been keeping track of Sarah Palin. Why does all this interest you only now?

"But I don't understand the theory behind the campaign knowing he truly was her son, but letting this all hang in the wind. Run that by me again? My brain isn't tracking on that."

I can't even see where you get this, from this comment thread.

First, read all of "Palin's Deceptions" then read "Palingates" then read "The Immoral Minority" then read "Politicalgates" etc. etc.

We're just re-inventing the wheel, here.

JR
5/14/2011 09:04:33 am

Laura, I saw up thread your comment about the virtual conversation. I don't suspect that you could ever find the time to go through Palins Deceptions, Palingates, Politicalgates and Immoral Minority & read all of the posts and comments - it would be nearly impossible. I have followed the Babygate portion of Sarahs world for over 2 years (I find it fascinating!) and am still blown away by the amount of information that has been gathered. Any journalist willing to look could have a book written for him or her in no time flat.
I think it is vital that you have readers/posters from those sites visiting here - sometimes what seems to be a question or problem has already been hashed over. (I can tell you are fascinated too - thanks for the great posts!)

voiceinwind
5/14/2011 09:07:41 am

I saw the interview on video. One question, one snip, that was it. I don't remember the question or if I watched it on the internet or teevee. But the guy was standing right next to the doctor.

curiouser
5/14/2011 09:32:27 am

The ADN interviewed CBJ for the article published April 22, 2008.

http://www.adn.com/2008/04/22/382864/palins-child-diagnosed-with-down.html#ixzz1LKIpoOun

After that, I believe the following excerpt from the ADN Editor's Blog, Jan. 8 '09, is the only information we have about any continuing ADN investigation:

"Lisa Demer started reporting. She received very little cooperation in her efforts from the parties who, in my judgment, stood to benefit most from the story, namely you and your family. Even so, we reported the matter as thoroughly as we could. Several weeks ago, when we considered the information Lisa had gathered, we decided we didn't have enough of a story to accomplish what we had hoped. Lisa moved on to other topics and we haven't decided whether the idea is worth any further effort."

Read more: http://community.adn.com/adn/node/136415#ixzz1MN0DNjdR

It's probably annoying for me to belabor this point; but, unless there's documentation that CBJ took a lawyer to an ADN interview, it shouldn't be stated as fact. If it's hearsay or if a reference to documentation can't be provided, can we please use qualifying words or phrases?

:)

Amazed
5/14/2011 09:42:09 am

Laura, (if you get down this far in the comments -- 141 at this time) a topic that has been mentioned in your interviews is Trig's heart. I've read conflicting comments about it from Palin (that's not a surprise, is it?). In some places she said it was fine, in others she said it had a defect. Would you please gather all the references so we can see what it might have been?

Did she or didn't she?
5/14/2011 11:31:38 am

I believe the story is that Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson appeared at an interview with Lisa Demer from the Anchorage Daily News with a lawyer. I don't know whether or not that is an urban myth.

Lisa Demer can be reached at ldemer@adn.com. One could simply ask Ms. Demer whether or not the good doctor appeared with a lawyer. Ms. Demer's editor at the ADN decided not to pursue the story about the rumors that wouldn't die about Palin faking a pregnancy because it was "nutty nonsense."

History will tell whether or not Patrick Dougherty, the ADN editor, was correct or not to drop the story. Is there an un-Pulitzer prize for cowardice? You can contact Mr. Dougherty at editorsblog@adn.com.

Up
5/14/2011 12:00:22 pm

i asked a nurse today a out HIPAA. Since CBJ was already Palin's physician, she is bound from speaking about her patient even if Palin lies about having had a procedure which she didn't. Only exception would be to defend herself from say, a malpractice suit over the non-procedure.

CA Guy
5/14/2011 12:46:39 pm

This is getting truly deep. Now, some 150 comments in, we are getting "shoot the messenger" posts because some detail, some tidbit is not followed properly in someones opinion?

This series of posts are valuable for several very simple reasons:
1. They are from a purely journalist perspective: i.e. NO AGENDA.
2. Laura is interviewing people who do have a fresh view on these issues and are bringing FRESH information and insight.
3. She's imminently qualified to be doing this and, as this now voluminous log attests, has brought new scrutiny on a very troubling subject in our political landscape.

Brad Scharlott
5/14/2011 12:51:52 pm

"Lisa Demer can be reached at ldemer@adn.com. One could simply ask Ms. Demer whether or not the good doctor appeared with a lawyer."

Demer will not answer the question. I tried.

Lawyer
5/14/2011 01:05:30 pm

Re Brad Scharlott - ""Lisa Demer can be reached at ldemer@adn.com. One could simply ask Ms. Demer whether or not the good doctor appeared with a lawyer." Demer will not answer the question. I tried."

Maybe Lisa Demer is prevented by HIPAA from disclosing whether or not Dr. Baldwin-Johnson appeared at an interview with counsel. Ha, ha, ha.

Seriously, that tells me everything I need to know. Dr. Cathy is lawyered up. If what Immoral Minority and Politicalgates are reporting is true -- "Investigative book about 'Babygate', Sarah Palin's faked pregnancy with Trig, about to be published by major US journalist" -- she well better be.

curiouser
5/14/2011 02:23:00 pm

Dr. Scharlott - Many thanks for commenting on your attempt to get confirmation from Dermer.

Everyone, especially Laura - I'm sorry for my intensity about the 'lawyer' details. I fully intend to chill going forward. I greatly appreciate the calm, intentional way Laura is approaching and illuminating babygate.

everspring
5/14/2011 03:47:18 pm

Taken from Lisa Demer's interview with CBJ - - "This was going to be her last flight anyway, her doctor said."

Last flight? This is NOT TRUE based on her previous released 3000 emails. So she was still planning to fly, in her 8th month of pregnancy!?!?

The entire family was planning to fly on the private plane on April 20, 2008.

1st Previously Scheduled Flight

Mason, Janice L (GOV) [janice.mason@alaska.gov]
Saturday, April 05, 2008 11:45 AM
ExternalEmailgsp
'fek9wnr@yahoo.com'; 'bristol_palin@hotmail.com'; 'pal in_22@hotmail. corn'; 'track-44
@hotmail.com'; Perry; Kristina Y (GOV)
Re: King Air
Yes - I will ask that it be reserved for April 20 - roundtrip. Janice
--------------------------
Sent using BlackBerry
----- Original Message -----
From: gov.sarah@yahoo.com <gov.sarah@yahoo.com>
To: Mason, Janice L (GOV)
Cc: Todd <fek9wnr@yahoo.com>; Bristol <bristol_palin@hotmail.com>; Willow <palin_22<br>@hotmail.com>; Track <track 44@hotmail.com="">; Perry, Kristina Y (GOV)
Sent: Sat Apr 05 11:41:30 2008
Subject: King Air
Janice: Possibly- do u think king air will be available for travel back to Juneau for Gov's Prayer
Breakfast in a couple of weeks? That may be most efficient way to travel for that event because I'm
determined to allow the whole First Family to attend at least one event together this year, this one
may be it. Thanks
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Cellular One

2nd Previously Scheduled Flight - what is Delta Airlines policy for over 8-month pregnant women?

From : Perry, Kristina Y (GOV) [kris.perry@alaska.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2:20 PM
To: ExternalEmailgsp
Cc: 'fek9wnr@yahoo.com'; Mason; Janice L (GOV)
Subject: DC Flights
Currently you are scheduled to depart for DC Friday morning and return late Sunday evening. If you are still planning to go, I looked at some other flight possibilities to shorten the duration of both the travel time and the stay. The event begins at 6pm on Saturday. I could not find any evening flights returning to Alaska after the event.
Depart Anchorage Friday night/ Saturday morning on red eye: 12:55 a.m. / arrive D.C. at 2:49 p.m. Delta Airlines (partner thru Alaska Airlines).
Depart DC Sunday morning: 8 a.m. I arrive ANC at 2:26 p.m.</track></palin_22<br></bristol_palin@hotmail.com></fek9wnr@yahoo.com></gov.sarah@yahoo.com>

comeonpeople
5/14/2011 10:29:04 pm

Up
Sat, 14 May 2011 19:00:22
i asked a nurse today a out HIPAA. Since CBJ was already Palin's physician, she is bound from speaking about her patient even if Palin lies about



Doesn't preclude CBJ from saying "I did not deliver Tri-G at Matsu on 4/18/08.
She is still under a medical ethical obligation to explain to the world why "it is not unreasonable to fly" for 10 hours with premature rupture of membranes.( if she really said that. )And if she never said that, she can certainly SAy she never said that. Again, what would Sarah do in that situation.
HIPAA does not preclude ANY of the above. If it did, well then Imagine the state of affairs we could be in...."my doctor told me it is ok to blah blah blah." (insert any piece of ridiculous meidical advice here )....and doctors couldn't defend themselves???
Then what would Sarah do?

rubbernecking
5/15/2011 12:52:50 am

There is no shortage of contractions to comment upon. The contractions are what drew us all to the story.

I realize people are passionate about the wrong-doing and worn down by months/years of effort in the story. Maybe Regina or one of the other blogs can keep an open post for those who understandly need to blow off a little steam.

Laura's blog is an opportunity to collaborate with a serious journalist. She has access to doctors willing to share their professional assessments of the limited data we have. This is no small feat. Let's try to stay focused on what her interviewers tell us. Let's try to think of angles an investigative journalist might reasonably pursue in a Cold Case like this.

Some of the other blogs have run polls from time to time. Maybe one of these blogs could host a poll that ranks the top three pieces of "evidence" we'd like Laura's medical sources to review.

Mhurka
5/15/2011 04:32:57 am

I have been looking at the big picture and it seems to me that in order to better understand babygate one might want to also consider babygate's sister story. This is the story regarding the entrenchment of the lunatic fringe of the evangelicals in certain parts of Alaska. The mixing of a certain type of religious fanaticism with a frontier/wild west type mentality can make for a disturbing cocktail.
Several weeks ago I read (in palingates)about a disturbing incident wherein a car,driven by a Ms. Kim Chatman, was shot at. The car was sporting an anti-Palin license plate. A police report was made but I wonder if even law enforcement at times feels intimidated. Time will tell.
(An interview with Ms. Chatman might be something to consider.)

Mhurka
5/15/2011 04:45:00 am

Correction: I read the story in a post by Patrick at politicalgates several weeks ago.

comeonpeople
5/15/2011 06:00:00 am

Thanks for your concern Rubbernecker, but perhaps let Laura set the rules on what is an appropriate comment??
Thanks!

Laura Novak link
5/15/2011 06:20:37 am

I think the record number of comments on this post, in my relatively new blog, indicate what someone said above, that experts such as DOC can and are offering some new details that are worth exploring. And I thank you all for continuing to do it with me.

This blog might be new, but unless you've been sitting next to me these past 2.5 years, make no assumptions about what I have been reading, closely studying or commenting on. I say this with a smile and a wink. I have been "reporting" for a very long time in my own career, as my website shows. And I usually do my background work quietly and approach my subjects cautiously.

I personally do not want to assume anything either about what a book on Babygate will conclude. That it is being written, that Joe McGinniss investigates it in his own book, these are good things. But that doesn't imply anyone's conclusion yet. They could in fact debunk the hoax. I'll look forward to any evidence.

I'm not sure I have rules so much as a request: that everyone appreciate and respect dissent. Critical thinking and robust exploration die without it. So too does polite society.

Again, many thanks to everyone for their ideas. More posts in the works. Onward!

KMiller
5/15/2011 12:24:00 pm

"How is it that CBJ was THE ONE who only ever took care of whatever Sarah and her family needed? Makes no sense."

Unless there was an family secret that needed to be handled v-e-r-y carefully.....and no, I don't mean Trig being Bristol's child.

Karen
5/15/2011 12:24:31 pm

It's worth pointing out how awful Todd's alleged comment is to the mother of his newborn child while his daughters are cooing and cuddling and swaddling their baby brother (puhleez): I heard him whisper to CBJ: “Hmmm, he doesn’t look Down."

What a turd.

KMiller
5/15/2011 12:43:00 pm

"what family practice doctor who specializes in abused children would assume sole responsibility for a high risk, premature, known special needs child birthing?"

A family practice doctor attempting to help cover up an abusive situation instead of reporting it (as required by law), perhaps?


Lawyer
5/15/2011 01:28:25 pm

You know, I keep going back to the fact that not one single official from Mat-Su will go on the record and confirm that Trig was born there on April 18.

Oh, as Palin's supporters and enablers keep telling us, the hospital would just love to confirm Trig's birth but HIPAA prevents this. The hospital would lose its accreditation and all the hospital staff members would be thrown into prison or a dungeon or whatever. Blah, blah, blah. (Anyone who works day in and day out with HIPAA knows this a joke. Here's an article by a lawyer about HIPAA prosecutions, citing only four HIPAA criminal prosecutions nationwide. http://www.law.uh.edu/healthlaw/perspectives/2007/%28DM%29HIPAACrimCharges.pdf The only ones I know of personally are where people were selling the information for financial gain).

But whatever. HIPAA, HIPAA, HIPAA (and Mrs. Palin and her enablers would probably add, hooray).

But just think of it. Palin invites a television camera crew into the hospital. Uh, uh, wasn't that a violation of HIPAA?

On April 22, 2008 -- 4 days after the alleged birth -- Lisa Demer of the Anchorage Daily News publishes an article, obviously based on an interview with Dr. Baldwin-Johnson, that reports that (1) the Palins landed in Anchorage at 10:30 p.m.; (2) they were at Mat-Su hospital an hour later; (3) that Dr. Baldwin-Johnson induced labor; and (4) the baby was born at 6:30 a.m.
http://www.adn.com/2008/04/22/382864/palins-child-diagnosed-with-down.html

Uh, uh, didn't Dr. Baldwin-Johnson violate HIPAA, and isn't she going to be thrown in jail or in a dungeon? Maybe she will be beheaded?

Anyone with half a brain would be asking why Tripp Palin's alleged birth at Mat-Su hospital on April 18 suddenly became classified HIPAA information when the proud parents previously were only too willing to invite camera crews into the hospital and the proud "delivering" doctor was only to happy to chat with reporters about the birth.

Ask yourself, does this make any sense? The reputation of the hospital has now been called into question, but suddenly Mrs. Palin is insisting on her HIPAA rights and that the hospital not dare confirm that Trig was actually born at the hospital on April 18?

If you think that makes sense, I have a bridge in Brooklyn for you.

Also, it is interesting that early on there were reports that Trig's birth was listed on the hospital's website and later disappeared. I don't know if those reports are true, but if they are, it certainly adds to the intrigue.

When this story is broken, as I believe it inevitably will be, the most interesting part for me will not be why Sarah Palin faked a pregnancy, but the complicity of the hospital and the doctor.

Lawyer
5/15/2011 01:34:12 pm

Oops, sorry, I meant Trig Palin's alleged birth, not Tripp Palin's.

V
5/15/2011 08:02:24 pm

Lawyer, I am surprised by some of your remarks. Sarah can say anything she likes about her health. But hospitals and doctors cannot.

However - of course it is odd to invite a TV crew to celebrate a birth, while not allowing the hospital to list it among the births that day. Unless, of course, Trig was not born that day.

Does anyone know if the Palins permitted hospitals to list the births of their other children?

KMiller
5/16/2011 12:38:26 pm

"On April 22, 2008 -- 4 days after the alleged birth -- Lisa Demer of the Anchorage Daily News publishes an article, obviously based on an interview with Dr. Baldwin-Johnson, that reports that (1) the Palins landed in Anchorage at 10:30 p.m.; (2) they were at Mat-Su hospital an hour later; (3) that Dr. Baldwin-Johnson induced labor; and (4) the baby was born at 6:30 a.m."

But look how all of this is worded. It might be basically "truthful" but could mean something very different than what it appears on the surface....

(1) flight time could well be correct; (2) Sarah & Todd could have gone to mat-su an hour after landing that night in April; (3) Dr B-J could have induced labor [not in Sarah, however--in Bristol! sometime between January and March of 2008]; and Trig might actually have *been* born at 6:30 am [although it was obviously in a month *prior to* April of 2008, since he is too mature to be a preemie in the photos released 4 days after his alleged April "birth".]

Up
5/17/2011 11:13:05 am

Lawyer, Mat-su and CBJ have nothing to refute.

The press release issued by Palin did not list the location of Trig's birth.
Palin herself, in the press conference, references neither hospital nor giving birth herself.

If you read the transcript of Palin's press conference she does not say "give birth" and she does not name the hospital. She says:

*they "drove out to the Valley",

*CBJ "met us at the hospital"

*"And it was smooth, it was relatively easy, in fact it was very easy, the easiest of all of them "

*"the logistics and everything else just worked out so perfectly"

Palin says CBJ " met us at the hospital, checked me out and said, ‘Um, Yea you look, you may have it um tonight or in the morning.’ "

(http://palingates.blogspot.com/2009/05/sarah-palins-wild-ride-in-her-own-words.html)

So there are no contemporaneous accounts by Palin that she gave birth at Mat-su,. Thus,the hospital has nothing to refute. Neither does CBJ.

All evidence is circumstantial. We have a photo of Palin's parents with a young baby in a hospital hallway. We have Sarah and Todd Palin giving a press conference. I guess we have Sarah's word for it, but what is her word worth? Oh yeah, $100,000.

I don't know whether Palin actually states that *she gave birth to Trig* at Mat-su (or elsewhere) in Going Rogue, as I can't bear to even look at her books.

I'd love to see the press release the governor's office distributed.


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