"Family physician Lou Sanner, 59, of Madison, said he had given out hundreds of notes."

Yahoo ^ | 2/20/2011 | ODD RICHMOND and JASON SMATHERS

[GreaterSwiss]

Doctors from numerous hospitals set up a station near the Capitol to provide notes to explain public employees' absences from work. Family physician Lou Sanner, 59, of Madison, said he had given out hundreds of notes. Many of the people he spoke with seemed to be suffering from stress, he said.

"What employers have a right to know is if the patient was assessed by a duly licensed physician about time off of work," Sanner said. "Employers don't have a right to know the nature of that conversation or the nature of that illness. So it's as valid as every other work note that I've written for the last 30 years."

[GreaterSwiss]

This is part of a larger article. However this paragraph is key. Should Lou Sanner lose his license for doing fraud?

[clearcarbon]

I’m guessing that these doctors are
Madison Schools civics class allumni.

[dila813]

Medical Fraud — They are assisting in defrauding the state of money because sick days are paid, unexcused absences aren’t.

So what you have here is a criminal violation.

[A_Former_Democrat]

Yes. Take away the SOBs license.

[Nickname]

Well it does call in to question the validity of all the other notes he’s written over the past 30 years.

[Tempest]

I'm guessing that it's not actually fraud since the doctor isn't gaining anything out of his services. He's merely providing a note that states that he saw the patient, as he mentions he doesn’t attempt to establish a diagnosis. This would be like normal time of for a doctors visit for a check up even if you weren't actually sick.

[Nickname]

This guy’s from UW’s Department of Family Medicine, too.

Seems to me there is a conspiracy among their staff to commit fraud.

http://www.fammed.wisc.edu/directory/105

[Krankor]

If the sole purpose was to set up a stand to write excuse notes so strikers who were acting illegally got paid, then it has to be fraud. From what I understand, there signs that actually read, “Need a note. I’m a doctor” and there were videos of people with bullhorns directing the strikers to these doctors for just that purpose.

[Myrddin]

It's a conspiracy to commit fraud with the union members and doctors as principals and accessories to the fraud. The employee is committing fraud because sick leave compensation is being paid, but the employee isn't sick. The doctor is an accessory to the fraud. Make the doctor sign a declaration under penalty of perjury that the "sick notes" were the consequence of a legitimately diagnosed illness that prevented the employee from working. If the doctor refuses to sign such a declaration and pleads the 5th, that is prima facie evidence that the note was fraudulent. Terminate the employee.

[richardtavor]

“Employers don’t have a right to know the nature of that conversation or the nature of that illness. So it’s as valid as every other work note that I’ve written for the last 30 years.” You don’t have the right to commit fraud, so I hope Governor Walker goes after your sorry a$$...

[kcvl]

Louis Sanner, MD, MSPH, received his MD degree from Stanford University in 1983. He completed a family practice residency at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1986 and stayed on there as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Practice Fellow from 1986 to 1988, earning an MS degree in public health. He joined the DFM in July 1988 and was the Madison Program Director from 1996 through June 2002. He teaches and practices at Northeast Family Medical Center. His academic interests center around resident education, particularly training for underserved rural and urban practice. He serves as a national consultant to Family Practice residencies for the AAFP. Lou received the Baldwin E. Lloyd, MD Clinical Teaching Award from the residents in June 1993.

[kcvl]

Has he been standing on the street corner for 30 years handing out "medical sick notes"?

HIPPA is not absolute, like when committing FRAUD. Does he think he can also hide behind HIPPA if he double bills MEDICARE/MEDICAID or does that only apply to his "sick notes"?

[kcvl]

I think you are right!

I think a thorough investigation of that clinic is in order to see what else they think they can illegally do in the name of medicine.

[kcvl]

http://punditpress.blogspot.com/2011/02/physicians-betraying-their-oath-and_19.html

[ArmstedFragg]

He's wrong about employer's rights. The employer is entitled to know if the illness is sufficiently debilitating that the employee will be unable to perform his job. It's highly unlikely that an individual who visited a doctor at a public protest event wasn't able to spend a day in the classroom. Mostly what these notes are is verification that the employee attended a protest rally while collecting sick pay. An employee who turns one in will be admitting fraud.

Looks to me like the Dems have engaged in the one intellectual pursuit at which they have a demonstrated record of success: outsmarting themselves.

[kcvl]

Phil Sanner, president of the union, said that for some reason the city has taken a hard-line approach and will not budge 

Must be related...

[kcvl]

Lou Sanner email: lou.sanner@fammed.wisc.edu

[Cementjungle]

Should Lou Sanner lose his license for doing fraud?

At a minimum, yes.

[screaminsunshine]

Wait til the people get the bill.

[Bellflower]

I'm guessing that it's not actually fraud since the doctor isn't gaining anything out of his services.

He is gaining the mental satisfaction that he is promoting a beloved cause. And who is to say that he is not being bank rolled by the dems or some such like.