Doctor Stops Robocall For Zeldin After Patient Complaints

A local doctor has agreed to suspend a robocall he recorded for Rep. Lee Zeldin's re-election campaign after patients raised concerns about his political involvement.

In the call, Dr. Jeff Vacirca, the CEO of New York Cancer & Blood Specialists, attacked the agenda of Zeldin's Democratic opponent, Perry Gershon.

"Perry Gershon supports a socialist-style government controlled health care plan that will bankrupt Medicare for seniors and double taxes on the middle class," Vacirca said in the call. "Working with your doctors you should be empowered to control your health care, not politicians in Washington DC."

Multiple attempts to reach Vacirca were unavailing. Zeldin's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

After the issue was discussed in a two different Facebook groups, David Bamberger, a lawyer who grew up in Patchogue, emailed Vacirca and suggested he suspend the robo call.

In the email, Bamberger asks if Vacirca's office provided patient telephone numbers to the Zeldin campaign, noting if the call had reached patients, it could violate the American Medical Association's Code of Medical Ethics.

According to the code, physicians must "refrain from conversation about political matters when the patient or family is emotionally pressured by significant medical circumstances.”

Bamberger said "the great majority of patients coming to you and your practice for treatment fall within the category of persons in 'significant medical circumstances.'"

Vacirca's lawyer, Stephen H. Cohen, sent a letter to Bamberger yesterday and defended the doctor's right to have a political voice, but said Vacirca would suspend the call.

"Even though the use of the robocalls containing Dr. Vacirca's voice to support a political candidate is not a breach of patient confidentiality or of any AMA Ethics Opinion, Dr. Vacirca's ultimate commitment will always be to his patients," Cohen said in the email. "Because New York Cancer & Blood Specialists has received calls from patients expressing concern, the robocalls will be terminated as soon as possible."

Jessica Waterbury, a patient at New York Blood & Cancer Specialists, said she found Vacirca's relationship with the Zeldin campaign "troubling."

"Now that this information has come to light, I am more than dismayed, and do not want the money that paid for my treatment going to someone who is willing to take away protections for pre-existing conditions (like my cancer), and who voted against the individual market for health insurance," Waterbury said.

Last week, New York Blood & Cancer Specialists sent an email out thanking Zeldin for his support following a ground-breaking ceremony for a new cancer treatment facility.

"Congressman Zeldin has been a long-time supporter of community cancer care, and supporter of NYCBS," the email said. "It was a special moment for all the staff at NYCBS to have Congressman Zeldin there as shovels met dirt and was tossed, while looking to a future where cancer was conquered in the community."

According to federal records, Vacirca donated $5,400 to Zeldin in 2017 and $4,500 between 2015 and 2016. He also donated $3,700 to Zeldin during between 2013 and 2014.

Vacirca also expressed his support for Zeldin in a video the campaign released in 2016.

Photos: Youtube.com