Statement by Veronica Atkins on the Illegal Distribution of Personal Medical Information Regarding Her Late Husband Dr. Robert C. Atkins

NEW YORK, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- I have always assumed that my husband's personal medical history is private and of no concern or relevance to the media or general public. Prior to today, I have not seen any reason to share Dr. Atkins' private information with the public. I am sure that any one of you would be offended and perhaps even horrified to have complete strangers intrude into your personal family matters, especially with regard to something as intimate as your medical records or those of your loved one.


It has now become clear to me that if I don't speak out, unscrupulous individuals will continue to twist and pervert the truth in an attempt to destroy the reputation and great work of my late husband. These individuals have gone so far as to obtain my husband's personal and confidential medical information from the New York City Medical Examiner's office for distribution to news organizations in direct and knowing violation of federal law. Obviously such people will have no trouble picking and choosing bits and pieces of fact and supposition to mislead the world.


But here is the truth: my husband's medical records have been reviewed by knowledgeable doctors and his medical condition discussed with cardiac specialists. It is clear that Dr. Atkins developed a condition called cardiomyopathy approximately three years prior to his death. It is also true that when Robert developed cardiomyopathy his coronary arteries showed only minimal and clinically insignificant signs of coronary artery disease, consistent with what would be expected in a 69-year old man. Cardiomyopathy is a serious and progressive condition and was, I have been told, in Robert's case, caused by a viral infection. Though this condition significantly weakened his heart, its cause was clearly related to an infection and not his diet.


All of this was well documented and openly discussed by Robert himself on national television. Additionally, as Dr. Atkins explained on Larry King Live and other public appearances, he did have a witnessed cardiac arrest in April of 2002. All accounts and records related to this event, and the insight of his treating cardiologist, are consistent with conditions arising from his cardiomyopathy, rather than a lack of blood flow. While Robert did have some progression of his coronary artery disease in the last three years of his life including some new blockage of a secondary artery that was remedied during this admission, he did not have a heart attack.


There is no evidence to suggest otherwise and for any physician to suggest so would be irresponsible, unethical and represent nothing more than an attempt to tarnish the reputation of a man who dedicated his life to solving one of medicines greatest challenges -- the obesity epidemic. Let me state emphatically that I have been assured by my husband's physicians that my husband's health problems late in life were completely unrelated to his diet or any diet.


It is also clear that my husband's death resulted from a serious head injury that occurred April 8th, 2003. Hospital records obviously and unequivocally detail the unfortunate clinical course that transpired following arrival of Emergency Medical Services through the entirety of hospitalization, confirming that after losing consciousness en route to the hospital, Robert's condition failed to improve despite emergency neurosurgical treatment for bleeding within his head. In life, Dr. Atkins was adamant about not wanting life support and when his wishes were honored, and ventilator life support was withdrawn on April 17th, he passed away as has been widely reported in the media.


But it has become clear to me that something as simple as the truth will be perverted and manipulated by dishonest individuals who will stop at nothing and will proceed without any regard for medical ethics or the previously private medical history of Dr. Atkins in an attempt not only to discredit my husband's work but to profit from his death. Work, I might add, that has been consistently and repeatedly vindicated by 18 independent scientific studies over these past three years. I now find myself in the uncomfortable position of having to relive his horrific accident and defend my late husband from people who would convince you that stolen and irrelevant bits and pieces of Dr. Atkins' medical history carry more validity than published scientifically controlled and peer reviewed research out of Harvard, Duke University, the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health.


It is for these reasons that I realized that I must put aside my grief and pain and speak out. Make no mistake about it, Dr. Atkins, at the end of life, was struggling with the effects of his cardiomyopathy and did not hide that fact. Despite repeated, often pathetic and now even illegal attempts by his most bizarre and extreme detractors to make the health of this 72 year old man THE central issue in the all important obesity debate raging in this country and around the world, it is not and never will be relevant. It is a sad and distracting sideshow, taking time away from an intelligent debate of the known science. We should all ask, is caring about what someone else eats so important that some doctors are willing to betray their most basic of oaths, to protect a patient's dignity and confidentiality? It is time to forget the myths and urban legends perpetuated by extremists like those who acted unethically in disclosing my husband's records and pay more attention to the real issues and all available peer reviewed science. I will do my utmost to put an end to this nonsense so that responsible physicians can focus on a debate rooted in fact and moderation and objectivity. We will not engage in espionage, tabloid journalism, or try to shout louder than these shameless individuals and I look forward to the day when Dr. Atkins' soul can rest in peace and I can grieve uninterrupted.


Source: Veronica Atkins

[This message was edited by LCandrea on 02-10-04 at 01:24 PM.]

What a brave and gracious lady - I'm sure Dr. A would be proud of her.

Connie

[img]//www.lowcarbeating.com/lcesupporter.gif[/img]

I feel bad for Veronica. It seems as if certain individuals are taking it upon themselves to destroy her husband's good name, and it seems as if she cannot grieve for her husband. Why must people do this?

I agree with Connie....Veronica is a very brave woman, and Dr. Atkins would be very proud of her. Bless you, Veronica.

"It's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!"

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cowgirl1973:
I feel bad for Veronica. It seems as if certain individuals are taking it upon themselves to destroy her husband's good name, and it seems as if she cannot grieve for her husband. Why must people do this?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bread companies, orange juice producers, and the list goes on and on. I can only hope the REAL truth gets out to the public and this bogus report on Dr Atkins turns around to bite them on the butt. Dateline, 60 Minutes, please investigate.

What a courageous woman. Again, the Atkins have risen above their shrill detractors with a quiet, deliberate voice.


"Do, or do not. There is no 'try'."
- Yoda ('The Empire Strikes Back')
Start Atkins 9.1.03
225/198/130ish
Valentine's Day Goal: 180

I only hope Mrs. Atkins' words can be heard around the world.
I also hope she can grieve without intrusions, my heart goes out to her.

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Don't newspapers and news agencies use fact checkers any more? Or do they just go for sensationalism now? It appears that most news sources these days just repeat stories that have been published in other papers without even checking if they're printing the truth or not. It seems highly irresponsible to me that supposedly reputable newspapers printed this stuff with out checking the facts.



Always eat your veggies first!
LCE member since March 2002

I was just coming to post about this outragious story I heard on the CBS Evening News tonight!
I see everyone knows.

I feel so bad for Veronica! She is a very strong woman. How wonderfully she stated her feelings and facts on this matter.

Jen

Atkins since 11/11/03

5'3" 140/128/115


I used to be indecisive...But now I'm not so sure!

Heard this today on the news and could not believe it. We live in a world that is declining in character. Greed is the motivating factor and I don't think we have seen the last of it yet. Dr Akins was right all along and now that his discovery is racing around the world it is effecting people who will do anything for the loss of "their" money. My support and prayers are with his family...still!
God Bless the Akins Family!
Mary

If your life is free of failures, your're not taking enough risks -- Unknown

I was disgusted how the news covered this tonight, saying something like (as their INTRO to Atkins), "The Atkins approach is heavily reliant on high-fat foods..." I enjoy eating eggs and cheese IN MODERATION but I also enjoy my spinach, broc, cauliflower, strawberries...need I continue? Most Americans live on bagels and cookies and don't eat nearly as many veggies as I doing LC-ing.

Let alone the breach of personal privacy. I'm beyond disgusted and feel for the Atkins family.

I'm just so glad we get these press releases!

My cousin, the nutritionist, sends me copies of every anti-Atkins piece that hits the press.

It was so nice to come home tonight and just paste Mrs. Atkins' and Dr. Trager's respective press releases into an email and shoot it back to her.

Maggie
5'1" ~~ Atkins since '98 (160+)
Maintaining nicely (110 +/-)
~~ Couch Fauxtato for Life, Redhead until further notice! ~~

Anything to destroy the truth
...absolutely anything!

I feel so hurt for Mrs. Atkins.

Take care~
Susan

LCE Member since 01/02

Cardiomyopathy is very rarely a viral illness...It is way more likely that the cardiomyopathy was caused by diet than by a viral illness considering his diet history.

follow link for cardiomyopathy or do your own research on it. After all, it is your health at stake.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/publ...r/cardiomy.htm

Manatee,
Thank you for the link, but i think you need to go back and re read it.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle. The heart loses its ability to pump blood and, in some instances, heart rhythm is disturbed, leading to irregular heartbeats, or arrhythmias. Usually, the exact cause of the muscle damage is never found.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>In most cases, the disease is idiopathic (results from an unknown cause)--a specific cause for the damage is never identified.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Other factors are: various infections, mostly viral, which lead to an inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis); toxins (such as cobalt, once used in beers, for instance); and, rarely, heredity.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

And you are right, my health is at stake...That is why I am on the Atkins way of life!

Jen

Atkins since 11/11/03

5'3" 140/128/115


I used to be indecisive...But now I'm not so sure!

Rare or not, Dr. Atkins history of cardiomyopathy was well documented by several doctors, including the medical examiner. And it is not something that is caused by one's diet. As a "personal trainer", you should know this.

To the rest of our members, Manatee's post is an obvious effort at trolling, please don't respond.



Always eat your veggies first!
LCE member since March 2002