[msalanius]

I think we all need to remember that just because we see something on the news does not mean we have all the facts. Until Dr. Hamnik is proven guilty in a court of law why convict her in the court of public opinion? I don't know her personally but I have heard more good things than bad about what she has brought to The Villages. And let's face it, just because someone has "Dr." in front of their name, does not mean they are not excluded from making mistakes. Yes, she is being held, and should be, to a higher standard but if she is a good Doctor then why don't we wait and see how all of this pans out before crucifying her. She and her family are in my prayers.

[msalanius]

I had another thought...I carry my prescriptions in one of those little pill holders...not in the original container...I think they need to give you time to produce the prescriptions because I bet that's how most of us carry them! I admit I don't have as many but I would still be held accountable.

[brostholder]

Originally Posted by Posh 08

If she can produce prescriptions that were written for her prior to this charge, it will probably be dropped. The DUI is another matter.

Not necessarily. If she was "doctor shopping" to obtain that many pills, charges will not be dropped. If she was writing prescriptions for controlled substances for herself, charges will not be dropped. If she wrote prescriptions for non-existent patients so she could keep the pills herself, charges will not be dropped.
Of course all this is speculation. If she is an impaired professional, let's just hope she gets the help she needs. Addiction is a very treatable disease.

[graciegirl]

But someone brought up that one of the local police departments was corrupt. I still don't understand why she was arrested and what that has to do with Fruitland Park Police Department which I know nothing about. If some are Klansmen, that would be very shocking indeed.

If someone has dire need of a neurologist, and they have seen she was arrested for DUI, most people would choose someone that as far as they know wasn't arrested for DUI. I myself made the point early on in this thread that her education was excellent and the work that she has gone through to get to this point is truly remarkable. I hope she isn't having trouble and that this was an isolated instance. I hope that it was a grave error and she is completely o.k.

So someone tell us the dirt on the Fruitland Park Police?

[Graytop]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

But someone brought up that one of the local police departments was corrupt. I still don't understand why she was arrested and what that has to do with Fruitland Park Police Department which I know nothing about. If some are Klansmen, that would be very shocking indeed.

If someone has dire need of a neurologist, and they have seen she was arrested for DUI, most people would choose someone that as far as they know wasn't arrested for DUI. I myself made the point early on in this thread that her education was excellent and the work that she has gone through to get to this point is truly remarkable. I hope she isn't having trouble and that this was an isolated instance. So why would I be wrong to choose someone else for my dear Sweetie or my Helene if they needed the delicate and extremely complex services of a neurologist. People act like people most of the time. Is this profound Graytop and Bimmert? I was trying to be sincere. I have to be myself. Everyone else is taken.

So someone tell us the dirt on the Fruitland Park Police?

Ooooohhh!.....got me !

[jhamnik]

Grace, I have been her husband of 9 years. I have know her for 10 years.

I went though a battle with colon cancer in 2006/2007 with her, while she was going through her residnecy.

Watched her work 60-70 hours per week during her 4 years of residency, 1 of those years with a Chemo-Therapy pump strapped to her body eating her life away.

Witnessed her recovery from a nearly fatal car accident (she was broad sided by a car running a red light) in 2006, that left her with trama to her neck and back.

After going through all of what I just descirbed and clinically being dead on the operating table after giving birth to triplets daughters...and having those daughters die days later...she has never wavered from her purpose/passion in life...to be a Nuerologist and to love her patients as she loves her family.

Watching a person go through these near life ending experiences you really get to experience and understand who a person really is....and she is NO drug addicted like what was sensationally protrayed by the police & media. Unless, you believe everything you read...then you and I have nothing further to discuss.

However, if you are educated, fair-minded and believe there can possibly be two sides to a story... then you will know her as I do....a smart, beautiful, loving and compassionate person. That always puts the needs of others before hers...sometime too much. She loves her patients as she does her family and those who are her patients can better tell you than I.

Has she made mistakes, yes...just like the rest of us. All I ask is for you and others to be patient on drawing conclusions about her. There is more that will come out over the next few days/weeks on this matter and you will have a better understanding.

...so YES I KNOW HER....ask yourself...how do you know her?..and is it possible to know the whole story from a single news event..

Joseph Hamnik

[ceejay]

Thank you for sharing this story, Joseph...you will both be in my prayers.

[renielarson]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Just got the new 2012 physician directory and Sheri E. Hamnik, MD is listed under neurology.

Medical School; University of Illinois College of Medicine.
Internship; Mount Sinai Hospital
Residency; Loyola University Medical Center.

The photograph in the article is so different from the one in the book. Drugs are awful.

Where can I get that book?

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by jhamnik

Grace, I have been her husband of 9 years. I have know her for 10 years.

I went though a battle with colon cancer in 2006/2007 with her, while she was going through her residnecy.

Watched her work 60-70 hours per week during her 4 years of residency, 1 of those years with a Chemo-Therapy pump strapped to her body eating her life away.

Witnessed her recovery from a nearly fatal car accident (she was broad sided by a car running a red light) in 2006, that left her with trama to her neck and back.

After going through all of what I just descirbed and clinically being dead on the operating table after giving birth to triplets daughters...and having those daughters die days later...she has never wavered from her purpose/passion in life...to be a Nuerologist and to love her patients as she loves her family.

Watching a person go through these near life ending experiences you really get to experience and understand who a person really is....and she is NO drug addicted like what was sensationally protrayed by the police & media. Unless, you believe everything you read...then you and I have nothing further to discuss.

However, if you are educated, fair-minded and believe there can possibly be two sides to a story... then you will know her as I do....a smart, beautiful, loving and compassionate person. That always puts the needs of others before hers...sometime too much. She loves her patients as she does her family and those who are her patients can better tell you than I.

Has she made mistakes, yes...just like the rest of us. All I ask is for you and others to be patient on drawing conclusions about her. There is more that will come out over the next few days/weeks on this matter and you will have a better understanding.

...so YES I KNOW HER....ask yourself...how do you know her?..and is it possible to know the whole story from a single news event..

Joseph Hamnik

My heart aches for all of you. I hope it was a mistake, the arrest for DUI.

[duffysmom]

[QUOTE=jhamnik;458378]
However, if you are educated, fair-minded and believe there can possibly be two sides to a story... then you will know her as I do....a smart, beautiful, loving and compassionate person. That always puts the needs of others before hers...sometime too much. She loves her patients as she does her family and those who are her patients can better tell you than I.
Has she made mistakes, yes...just like the rest of us. All I ask is for you and others to be patient on drawing conclusions about her. There is more that will come out over the next few days/weeks on this matter and you will have a better understanding.(QUOTE)

Jhamik, thank you for telling us about your wife and her many life experiences. I believe you and all that you have shared about your remarkable wife. Nevertheless, I know many smart, loving and compassionate people who get caught up in Alcoholism and/or prescription drug addiction. If she was driving while impaired she needs help not enabling because of who she is and my prayer is that if she is quilty of a DUI she gets the help she needs and not a lot of excuses.

[swimdawg]

Originally Posted by duffysmom

Recently, especially here in Florida there has been a crackdown on Doctors prescribing narcotic medications. They are also checking into Pharmacies with high volumn narcotic distribution. If this phycian has prescribed narcotic meds to herself and if she is abusing them it will become apparent. Sometimes they write scripts to ficticious people and that too will be found out. Prescription medications kill more people than all other drugs combined. Our young people are becoming addicted to these potent meds almost instantaneously. Very serious problem and any physician who is drunk driving with a boat load of pills in here purse is someone in need of intervention. Perhaps the arrest will be the very thing she needs but in the meantime she should not be treating patients without being drug tested daily.
Drugs addiction is no respector of class or economic status, it's an equal opportunity killer.

Duffysmom....both your posts were excellent. First of all...in all fairness....we should use the word, "alleged" when referring to the charges she was arrested for. And I will be interested to hear all the facts. I understand she has had a multitude of stresses in her life....physical and mental. However, that is not an excuse for an excess of medication or alcohol.

We have a high-profile case here in WNY. Several months ago, a very prominent and well-respected gastroenterologist went to a country club and had too much to drink. On his way home, he allegedly hit a skateboarder and drove away. The teenager died. He later was arrested....and the story is ongoing now. He has the best lawyers.... We have a dead girl here...so very sad.....(and the waste of a formerly excellent doctor).

No, Gracie, I would not go to this physician. I want someone at the top of their game when I'm in need of care.

And yes, I do want to hear all the facts. I'm sorry for the physician and her family. I'm glad no one was hurt....or even worse.

[paulandjean]

I thought people jumped to quickly about her. You know taking her license away and all.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by paulandjean

I thought people jumped to quickly about her. You know taking her license away and all.

What people? It wasn't a public opinion vote if her license was revoked.

Nothing in life is simple. Here is a fine woman who has had major health problems and soldiered though them. A person who has worked very hard for years and attended fine schools and picked a loving husband and gained the approval of many villagers and had the job as head of the stroke facility. She certainly has so many admirable qualities. How could you not like her? How could you not be pulling for her?

But if she was driving impaired, she too would have the same laws applied to her as to anyone else. If she was driving impaired she was a danger to herself and to others.

No matter who we are or what we have accomplished, we are all subject to the laws of the land.

It is a sad, sad thing to hear about.

This is my sincere, but not profound opinion.

[Posh 08]

Some numbers from MADD.

MADD - Statistics

[natickdan]

Originally Posted by jhamnik

Grace, I have been her husband of 9 years. I have know her for 10 years.

I went though a battle with colon cancer in 2006/2007 with her, while she was going through her residnecy.

Watched her work 60-70 hours per week during her 4 years of residency, 1 of those years with a Chemo-Therapy pump strapped to her body eating her life away.

Witnessed her recovery from a nearly fatal car accident (she was broad sided by a car running a red light) in 2006, that left her with trama to her neck and back.

After going through all of what I just descirbed and clinically being dead on the operating table after giving birth to triplets daughters...and having those daughters die days later...she has never wavered from her purpose/passion in life...to be a Nuerologist and to love her patients as she loves her family.

Watching a person go through these near life ending experiences you really get to experience and understand who a person really is....and she is NO drug addicted like what was sensationally protrayed by the police & media. Unless, you believe everything you read...then you and I have nothing further to discuss.

However, if you are educated, fair-minded and believe there can possibly be two sides to a story... then you will know her as I do....a smart, beautiful, loving and compassionate person. That always puts the needs of others before hers...sometime too much. She loves her patients as she does her family and those who are her patients can better tell you than I.

Has she made mistakes, yes...just like the rest of us. All I ask is for you and others to be patient on drawing conclusions about her. There is more that will come out over the next few days/weeks on this matter and you will have a better understanding.

...so YES I KNOW HER....ask yourself...how do you know her?..and is it possible to know the whole story from a single news event..

Joseph Hamnik

Thanks for sharing! Far too many are willing to judge before all the facts are known. I've read many comments that began with "IF" and that can pretty much keep this thread going on for a very long time.

Having to deal with such a personal matter in a public forum has got to be painful for your wife on both a personal and professional level. I'm sure its also been difficult for you and your family.