Letters

I Study Life

This is a response to your article “Scan Diego?” (August 30). Please afford me the right to defend my reputation by publishing this response.

I hope your article does not interfere with me keeping the LifeScore Clinic open, where lives are saved every month. First, to clear up some of the misinformation in your article; I did not establish the LifeScore Clinic in 1999; Michael and Tabitha Wright did. It is my understanding that their clinic was very successful and accumulated almost 20,000 patient records until I took it over at the end of 2007. They were well-funded, and quite successful. I have been a student and promoter of preventive medicine, incorporating new technologies and evidence-based, patient-centered medicine, early detection, and nutrition my entire career. We based the new LifeScore Clinic on the same principles as the Wrights: Early detection with low-dosage CAT scans, plaque and cancer-risk identification, and education of patients to health, longevity and vigor.

I never practiced at Heart Check America. They were businessmen who, prior to opening, vowed to help me keep the Clinic open, then took over my clinic and went on without me. David Haddad is not part of my reopened LifeScore clinic, but we use some of his successful marketing techniques to increase our ability to reach more people and educate them on health, common diseases and prevention, plaque reversal, weight loss, and nutrition.

We offer a free ultrasonic (no radiation) assessment of the plaque in their carotid artery, and then we have a free educational program. There is absolutely no pressure here. If clients are interested in any of our health screenings, or other services, they have that option. I am developing modules for food allergy testing, rheumatoid and auto-immune diseases, genomics, antigens, tumor markers, and altogether 22 new modules, not offered elsewhere, to detect disease at the earliest stages, and refer to specialists in all areas when high risk or disease is detected. This is something not done in the usual healthcare model, but I believe that an individual has the right to know about his own body, and to receive low or no risk testing if they desire. Then, when the test results are back, the patient spends some time with me going over their results in relation to their own health history. I do not charge for this service. Many patients elect to continue their relationship with me as their advocate in health and nutritional guidance in a concierge-type association, or as a provider of anti-aging and laser procedures, in which I have an expertise as a practitioner and educator for the last 32 years.

I terminated Dan Gallagher. I have the letter to prove it. I will not discuss the issues, as he has threatened legal action. We constructed a business model under legal advice, which is adherent to all policies of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Business and Professions Code, Stark Act, and other considerations. I signed that contract. When he saw that he could not use the LifeScore Clinic name without my participation, he did not sign. I terminated our relationship immediately.

I am a student of life, and strive for humility, learning, sharing what I have learned, and service to others. That is how I practice medicine. Any patient with whom I interface knows that. Your article lumps me with the bad guys.

Phillip Milgram, MD

Don Bauder’s column of August 29 said that Dr. Phillip Milgram had launched LifeScore Clinic in 1999 with another physician. This is incorrect. Dr. Michael Wright started LifeScore in 1999. Milgram acquired the clinic in 2007. — Editor

It’s Like A Parable

Regarding Ina Weitzman’s August 30 letter concerning Name Withheld’s letter of August 16 concerning the “Sheep and Goats” interview with Rabbi Cain, both people are wrong. Jesus was not a Jew who preached Judaism, like Ina thinks, nor did he preach “freedom is found in rejecting the slavery of Judaic racism,” as Name Withheld says. If you look up in the Bible Mark 1:15, or Matthew 4:23, or Luke 13:20, it says that he came to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God, and there are many times where he referenced, “What shall I compare the kingdom of god to? It is like...” and then he goes into a parable.

Name Withheld
via voicemail

Ignore It, Guys

Re: “Guys Are Gross,” August 30 cover story

I just hope that fewer guys prove to be the same sort of grievance mongers as wrote in response to the “Afro Puffs” story. That would be pretty gross.

Daniel Kian Mc Kiernan
via email

Why, You..! I Oughtta..!

You oughtta be ashamed! I was shocked and appalled by what I saw on the cover this week (“Guys Are Gross,” August 30). I was truly offended to see such slander blaring out at the world in giant, white boldface. As a “guy,” I do not consider myself gross. Furthermore, some of my best friends are “guys,” and I hate to think of what your cover has done to their self-esteem. It is your writing staff who is gross, irresponsible, and downright mean. I did not bother to read the article, as I don’t believe in context or judging a book by anything other than its cover. But after this unforgivable slight, I plan to continue not reading your magazine.

Name Withheld
via email

Joe Kills

Being a critic of movies most of my life, I was reading the review by Scott Marks about Killer Joe. It’s one of the great films of all time. I have no idea what he’s talking about giving it one star. The other one is Savages, giving it one star. I can understand Ted one star, but really, Killer Joe? Where are you coming from?

Name Withheld
via voicemail