What a fiasco. Run amok prosecutors. Laws designed to catch mafiosos used to ruin the lives of hard working Americans. How an honest judge would let this into a court room bewilders me. There is not one doctor who has not subsidized this broken system in every state. I can assure you that it cost Dr. Shelburne far more to treat those indigents than he made. Shame shame shame on that prosecutor.

I attended a seminar this Friday (June 6th) and heard about this from the speaker, Dr. Morin. My heart and prayers go out to Dr. Shelburne and his family. I will spread this news to other dentists I know.

I heard of this a few days ago and since then have learned of similar cases. I work two days a week in a practice that takes medicaid . These practices cannot possibly avoid all clerical errors and they will happen. All the cases I've seen or heard are all based in clerical errors that can happen in any practice. It is clear to me that this system is broken and I cannot possibly risk MY future on this. I cannot or don't want to quit immediately but have formulated a plan to get out of it soon. I may volunteer at the free clinic for a few hours a week instead. I decide to use an alias just in case if my state also has an attorney that is looking to get elected and on the prowl for a case. I hope and pray for Dr. Roy's family.

I am the X-sister-in-law of Roy and the mother of 3 of his nephews. I just wanted to say that in my eyes Roy, Debbie and children are some of the finest. I divorced his brother but not the family and they have always been kind to me so if you judgemental busy bodies would quit casting your opinion and get on your knees to pray for this family you would feel much better!!!!

BTW, I am a dentist practicing in Pennsylvania and accepting a limited # of Medicaid patients. After this story, I will no longer be. This was the nail in the coffin.

I am appalled. I have written to Bill O'Reilly (if he takes this up, people WILL hear about it, whether you like him or not) and will contact my state ADA contacts to see what, if anything, the ADA knows about this. These are very new developments so don't be so hard on ADA/AGD for not hearing about, or not making a position about a case in which they don't have BOTH sides of the story. Dr. S, are you a member of the ADA/AGD? Have you contacted them for help? Note to Dr. Kraby (May 15 post): If you are happy to not be forced to accept a DHMO and if you are happy that Hillary-Care wasn't passed, you may write you letter of thanks to the ADA at www.ada.org. It was not individual complainers (did you even write your congressman concerning these issues?) that killed these things, it was that great "communist organization" that lobbyed Washington on your behalf without your dues. My guess is that it is the dues you resent...just a guess.

have personally know Roy for about 10 years. We have been to Honduras several times on Medical/Dental Missions. I have spent time with his family at their home and abroad in Honduras. I sat in the courtroom for nearly 2 days and heard testimony form the state medicaid officers and cross examinations from the state. I was their when Roy's own mother had to be on the stand. This was a disgrace. Roy has a good heart and does truely care for the people in his area. I practice dentistry in rural southwest Mississippi. I was audited over 10 years ago by MS Medicaid. After paying a $1500 fine for their poor recordkeeping I dropped out of their program. I do not know how anyone could be prosecuted for the errors of the state agency. As dentists we should not be prosecuted for having a certain lifestyle. Being there in that courtroom and looking into their eyes as I gave my testimony as a witness for Roy I believe that they only saw a so called rich man being brought down to justice. This was not justice and a good man will most likely be going to prison for this. I feel so sorry for our country at this time. Mark "Andy" Dillon, DMD Tylertown, MS

I am the Mother of a Child with Down Syndrome Who is a Medicaid/Medicare receiptant, I was guided today to the internet in surch of a Virginia Dentist that could help me with my son and this is what I find. I AM NOT PROUD TO BE AN ANERICAN... and I HAVE shed tears for Dr.Shelburne and his family GOD BLESS YOU ALL !

my hopes and prayers go out to this good doctor and his family

It doesn't sound like the ADA is attempting to do anything on his behalf. They should be! For me, it is proof positive why I haven't joined the ADA. For some reason they keep sending me literature. The last piece was on the national ADA conference in San Antonio. Within the literature, several articles championed higher reimbursement rates for entitlement programs. My message to the ADA...If you get in bed with the government you always end up playing the harlot. No exceptions. Just look at the way medicine is being run. The ADA wants us to share in their misery. The ADA's socialist agenda does not sit well with me. Think I'm over-reacting? The keynote speaker for this years ADA conference (drum roll, please)....Mikhail Gorbachev! Apparently, he's everyones favorite communist. I believe that the ADA's inaction highlights their tacit approval of the situation. Hope those annual dues are worth it.

I am currently a fourth year dental student. This story has spread through my school quickly and I don't see any of us accepting Medicaid in the future. I assume it is the same in other dental schools. If they think their is a shortage of dentists who accept Medicaid now, give it a few years and I'm sure it will be much, much worse because of prosecutors like this. An interesting note, in 2001 Donald Rumsfeld admitted that the pentagon could not account for 2.3 TRILLION dollars. That is $8,000 dollars for each citizen of the USA. Nobody was prosecuted.

This exact same thing happened to one of my closest friends just three years ago. The Federal Government ruined his life, ruined his dental practice, and destroyed his excellent reputation in the community. I lived through this experience with him. He avoided a trial by agreeing to claim admission to only one of several hundred allegations. He spent three months in jail and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and on his defense - destroying his finances. He no longer practices dentistry. He is a phenomenal dentist and person, and is only in his late 30's. My heart and prayers go out to you Dr. Shelburne. This Medicade witchhunt and unthinkable abuse of government power must be stopped.

It is a sad day for the children that desperately need dental care in this area of Virginia.

We are criticized for not accepting Medicaid in our small county. I salve my bleeding liberal heart by working ( too little) at a free clinic in our little town. Worked 4 years in 2 federal clinics ( US Navy and BIA) and swore I would do pro bono before ever getting involved with the gov't again. My heart goes out to Dr Shelburne and his family. If we truly have an ADA they should be fighting this decision tooth and nail and all of us ought to get behind Dr. Shelburne to show what we are made of

Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Both my wife and I are sick to our stomachs after reading about this injustice. How can the dentist who testified against this man sleep?? Please remember this when someone asks you to critique a fellow dentist. May Justice and some peace be found in this...... and keep faith and hope. Don't surrender to despair, in spite of the injustice.

The letter I've written, and the letter my colleague Joe Greenberg has written have been sent. I've also contacted my brother who is a partner in a high powered DC firm to see if there's an interest in taking this on. Where is the ADA AGD in all this?

It is incredible for a non american to read this story of abuse of power that resembles more the midle ages. How can anyone decide and be allowed to ruine the life of great man without anyh concrete proof is beyond comprehention.

I have been a provider for our state's version of medicaid for about 5-6yrs. There have always been both positives and negatives when dealing with this government funded program. Regardless, i have always felt that i was helping a lot of kids that otherwise may not recieve the proper dental care. However, this story scares me as well. If this could happen in VA, it could happen in TN as well. I cannot(and will not) put myself (and my family's) livelihood at risk. I, too, will soon remove my name as a provider for medicaid. It is sad that it has to be this way, but todays risk far outweighs the rewards.

I am a relatively "new" Dentist. 5 years out of school. I have been taking my state version of Medicaid for 3 years now. I have heard about things similar to this in the past, but usually just figured that the offending dentist was engaging in overbilling. But now, I am terrified. Even if I stop taking medicaid payments, how much time must pass before I am in the clear? I just wish that we still lived in a free country with civil liberties. America is gone.

Dr. Shelburne I just wanted to give you my support in your case. I assisted with you for two days during the 2007 Wise County MOM project (a free dental clinic) and feel horrible after finding out about this. I've seen first hand how you handle patients of low income and worked hard for their betterment. I have seen a man get out of a chair and hug you while tearing up because he said he could finally smile for the first time in years. Anything I can do for your case/support please let me know. Also, know that you have touched a future dentist and impacted a career.