I’ve studied the Weitzel medical charts and I agree with Dr. Perry Fine and Dr. Laura

Fisher (June 24: Tribune Editorial Lacked Adequate Understanding of Weitzel Case).

No crime was committed. The State’s suppression of evidence is unethical conduct, and

underlines the bankruptcy of their case. It’s unfortunate that the UMA chooses to bury its

head in the sand rather than deal with the issues. Nowhere do they substantiate that there

is no chilling effect on patient care due to the Weitzel case. Fortunately, many Utah

physicians have come to support Weitzel's care and decry these lawyers making normal

medical care a crime.

The suggestion that Dr. Weitzel strike a plea bargain with Davis County is preposterous.

His care was within textbook guidelines. The fact that the prosecution withheld the

testimony of Dr. Perry Fine speaks to the dishonesty throughout the trial headed by Davis

County Attorney Mel Wilson and his cronies. Judge Thomas Kay realized that this lack

of disclosure was a crucial aspect of the trial, and had the courage and wisdom to do the

right thing and order another trial. The state lawyers act like this is some kind of

technicality. It is not. Judge Kay, by reversing a tainted trial, protects us all from being

crushed by the enormous power of the state if prosecutors are given free rein to break the

rules with impunity.

This ongoing saga persecution of Dr. Weitzel has outworn its welcome. Dr. Weitzel

provided compassion and good medical judgment. Throughout this horrendous two-year

ordeal, he has maintained professionalism and an exemplary attitude. He has traveled the

high road throughout, and to allow the very lawyers who are now being investigated on

his charge of misconduct to continue to bedevil him is wrong. An end to prosecution of

Dr. Weitzel, allowing him to proceed with his life free of these homicide allegations, is

the right thing to do now.

Jan Smith LaBard