Story of false child abuse allegations again disturbs local doctor

Story of false child

abuse allegations again disturbs local doctor

It was with some degree of

shock and disbelief that I read John Munford's article on the front page

of your Friday, Jan. 19 edition. I am asking for your assistance in whatever

way in clearing the record. As you know, I have previously written to

you, as well as to your reporter, Monroe Roark, with regard to these false

allegations which were made against me over two years ago. I am at a loss

to understand why at this time Mr. Munford chose to reopen this story

in a way that is so potentially damaging to me and my family. In particular,

I am unclear as to why Mr. Munford chose to go to press with this without

any sort of interview with myself.

While admittedly the legal

issues raised in association with my ex-spouse's request for these records

are academically interesting, I suspect that the reason why this article

appears on the front page is because of the sensationalism associated

with the issues of a physician having been charged with child molestation

and his "wife" requesting records of the investigation. This

type of pandering to the "Jerry Springer instinct" is something

which I would hope that your editorial staff could resist, but the publication

of this story suggests this is not true.

While I appreciate the paper

reporting accurately that I was "cleared" of the charges, seeing

my name mentioned again in association with the charge of child molestation

on the front page of a local newspaper is nonetheless something which

I perceive once again potentially damaging to my personal reputation.

In fact, it is this type of potential for damage which motivates divorcing

wives from [sic] using this type of false allegation as a threat or technique

in attempting to influence divorce litigation.

In our case, thanks to my good

fortune in having a tremendously supportive family, excellent legal counsel,

and significant financial resources, I was able to weather the adverse

effect of these false allegations on my professional practice, and to

wade through all of the legal battles, and after a year and a half to

win primary custody of both of my children, including the alleged victim

of this crime.

Subsequently, Judge Caldwell

stated in open court that the allegations brought against me were "frivolous."

I am sure that you and your

staff are well aware of several other relatively high-profile cases of

false allegation related to divorce litigation which have littered your

front pages over the past several years. While this type of story may

have a positive impact on your circulation and may prove to be stimulating

to some of your readers, it may be important to consider the damage which

it inflicts on innocent parties, including the children who are the subject

of the custody dispute.

Once again, I have to sit down

with my children to explain that mommy and daddy are fighting publicly,

a circumstance that could have been avoided if Mr. Munford had been a

bit more circumspect about going forward with this story.

I do not seek to hang my family's

laundry in public view. I would seek your help and guidance in editing

this letter for the purpose of the letters page to provide some balance

to this story, and I would appreciate some restraint on behalf of your

editorial staff in the publication of the fallout from nasty divorces.

I anticipate further attempts to attract negative publicity. Such publicity

can only be damaging to my children's best interest, and I am not certain

how it serves the public in any way.

Kenneth J. Lazarus, M.D.,

Ph.D.