[NFBF-L] ESA Doctor Under Investigation

[Debbie Malone]

Great job! Great advocacy!

On Wed, Oct 26, 2022 at 6:36 PM Alicia Betancourt via NFBF-L <
nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Thank you for sharing this. I have seen lots of jobs advertised for this
> fraudulent thing and I just scratch my head. I’ll be sharing this on the
> Facebook page for deaf blind and my personal page!
>
> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of
> marion.gwizdala--- via NFBF-L <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 26, 2022 1:38:49 PM
> *To:* 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List' <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>;
> flagdu at nfbnet.org <flagdu at nfbnet.org>
> *Cc:* marion.gwizdala at verizon.net <marion.gwizdala at verizon.net>
> *Subject:* [NFBF-L] ESA Doctor Under Investigation
>
>
> Please share this as widely as appropriate. For more information about the
> programs and services of Advocates for Service Animal Partners, please
> contact ASAP at
> advocacy411 at gmail.com
>
> ServiceAnimals.info
>
> office: 386-ASAP411
>
> Follow us on Facebook.com/asap411
>
> If you are experiencing an active accessibility denial, call our Hotline:
> 855-ASAP211
>
>
>
> *ESA Doctor Under Investigation!*
>
> Advocates for Service Animal Partners has been listening to the concerns
> of those who use service and assistance animals to mitigate their
> disabilities. One of the frequent complaints we hear is how the
> proliferation of fraudulent online certifications of service and assistance
> animals negatively impact our lives. Such bogus letters issued by online
> companies, signed by licensed health care practitioners, and issued to
> unscrupulous individuals who misappropriate our civil rights to bring their
> untrained animals into public places where pets are prohibited and dodge
> legitimate pet restrictions and fees by housing providers call into
> question our right to be accompanied by our service animals. ASAP has taken
> a stand on this issue and our position is being taken seriously.
>
> A few states have criminalized the provision of such fraudulent
> certifications. According to Pennsylvania statute § 405.5(1) entitled,
> “Misrepresentation of entitlement to assistance animal or service animal”,
> “A person commits the offense of misrepresentation of entitlement to
> assistance animal or service animal if the person intentionally
> misrepresents to another that the person has a disability or
> disability-related need for the use of an assistance animal or service
> animal in housing”. On July 29, 2022, Advocates for Service Animal Partners
> filed a complaint on behalf of a woman who received an Emotional Support
> Animal (ESA) certification letter from Dr. Frank J. Welch, a medical doctor
> licensed by the state of Pennsylvania after completing an online
> questionnaire on the Support Pets website. Dr. Welch never examined the
> woman and never even spoke with her. Nonetheless, within hours of
> completing the online survey, she received a letter signed by Dr. Welch
> stating, “I am a licensed doctor who has evaluated the emotional profile of
> [REDACTED] and has determined that [REDACTED] qualifies to have an
> Emotional Support Animal (ESA) for [REDACTED] psychological disability
> recognized by the DSM-V.” We have been notified by the Pennsylvania
> Department of State, Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation, Board of
> Medicine that they have opened an investigation of Dr. Welch for violation
> of their state laws and disciplinary action against Dr. Welch’s medical
> license. We are also urging the Pennsylvania Attorney General to
> investigate Dr. Welch and file the appropriate criminal charges against
> him.
>
>
>
>           Frank Welch is also a licensed medical doctor in Florida. In
> July 2020, Florida enacted a law criminalizing the provision of such
> fraudulent certifications. Advocates for Service Animal Partners has also
> filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Health, Board of Medicine
> against Dr. Welch for violating Florida’s law. We will keep you posted on
> how these complaints pan out!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> ADVOCATES FOR SERVICE ANIMAL PARTNERS INC.
>
> Marion Gwizdala
>
> President/CEO
>
>
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-- 
*Debbie Malone*
*NFB of Massachusetts, **At-Large Chapter President​*
*InclusionEducation.com <https://inclusioneducation.com/>*
Amazon Author Page <https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07RVCRR5R>
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