Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
Practice Perfect Editor
Mountain View Medical &
Surgical Associates,
Madras, Oregon

FOOTLOOSE or Foot In Mouth? (Follow-Up)

In last week's Practice Perfect, Issue 186 - FOOTLOOSE or Foot In Mouth, I expressed my extreme disagreement with the recent New Yorker article by popular journalist Jeffery Toobin, in which he issues a general indictment of the professional integrity of all podiatrists.

We've gotten very good response in the PRESENT Podiatry's eTalk on the topic, including an explanation (not the apology or a retraction we asked for) from none other than the ”reputable” high profile attorney/journalist himself, Author Jeffery Toobin. After Mount Sinai podiatrist Bryan Markingson, DPM diagnosis and treatment of his Mother’s melanoma. Which he admists saved her life—he still felt the need to characterize the podiatry industry as criminal by association with a few bad apples. At least Mr. Toobin responded to our letters, even if his response is considerably more diluted than his mis-representative article. Well, you decide. I've posted his response below and you can also follow the entire eTalk here, where his response appears as well.

Hello everyone,

It's Jeff Toobin, the least popular journalist in the podiatric field. To start with, I'd just like to say that I respect and admire podiatrists, who have provided (literally) life-saving services to members of my family. Indeed, the premise of my story was that it was unlikely -- it was surprising -- that podiatrists would commit crimes, because people assume that they are doing good things, not bad. As the story said, and as common sense suggests, most podiatrists are not criminals; far from it. That was and is obvious, but I also quoted Dr. Gastwirth to that effect.

One of the costs of being in a profession is that people will have a little fun at your expense from time to time. I don't have to tell any of you that lawyers (my former profession) are unpopular and often mocked. I've done it myself, in print and otherwise, many times. The New Yorker publishes entire books of cartoons about lawyers, doctors, and psychiatrists, among others. My piece was written in that tradition.

I don't expect that I will persuade many of you of my views. But I at least wanted you to know that I listened, I take your views seriously, and I respect podiatrists.

—Best, Jeff Toobin

Please feel free to join in and keep the eTalk discussion going. Just follow this link or click on the image below.

Toobin to be Interviewed by Podiatry Success' Bret Ribotsky.

Don't miss the interview on Tuesday Night, March 30th at 9pm (est) (for the 1st 10 minutes).

Sometimes action is needed !!!

This is how I felt when the article written by Jeffrey Toobin in the March 8thissue of “The New Yorker” was shown to me by a patient from this magazine found in my reception area. In this article (reprinted below), Jeffrey Toobin ATTACKED the profession I love so dearly. Mr. Toobin the senior legal analyst with CNN and former Good Morning America star, defamed the Podiatric Profession and I was pissed-off.

Being determined and focused on my objective, I secured a ten minute interview with Mr. Toobin directly in response to his article.

This interview will only air ONCE next Tuesday, March 30th, so don't miss it.
Just go to https://www.podiatricsuccess.com to register for free.

FPMA Member's Son Scheduled to Appear on Tonight Show this Evening

On a lighter note, we received this fun news item from the Florida Podiatric Medical Association today. Tune into the Tonight show with Jay Leno tonight at 11:35 pm on NBC to see a Florida podiatrist's son show why his youtube video has gone viral !