Dr. Richard Murray

Richard Murray, M.D.

Dr. Richard Murray, president of the Lee County Medical Society, is unconvinced of the significance of those numbers, especially in certain fields.An obstetrics-gynecology specialist, Murray said the county has seen a net increase of only one similar doctor in the past five years.

"And we haven't had a new surgeon in four years," he said."If Florida has 8,000 more doctors, they aren't coming here."

Murray echoes an overall concern that hasn't relented in the past year.

"It's the first vaccine ever to prevent cancer," says Dr. Richard Murray, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Fort Myers.

These targeted therapies and prevention methods are just the beginning.With constant advances in technology, applications of cell-specific treatments are limited only by our understanding of biology."It's unprecedented, ground-breaking," says Murray.

Richard Murray, M.D.Past PresidentObstetrics/ Gynecology 15641 New Hampshire CourtFort Myers275-4300

Fort Myers obstetrician Dr. Richard Murray advises patients in pre-pregnancy counseling to avoid fish on the FDA list.

For some women, however, such information has been difficult to find, even with a lot of research.

...
Murray said once his patients hear some fish are high in mercury, many take a very conservative approach.

"Once they hear that they say, ŒWell, I¹m not eating any fish at all.¹

"That¹s a very common reaction," Murray said.

According to calculations done by the Environmental Working Group, a consumer protection group based in Washington, D.C., not eating fish may be the safest course.

To determine which fish would be safe to eat for women in the risk categories, the group started with the safe blood level of mercury for pregnant women.Those blood levels were determined by a Congress-ordered review of scientific studies of children with nervous system deficiencies whose mothers were exposed to mercury in fish.

The calculations determined the safe level of mercury in fish is .04 parts per million, a level at which 99.9 percent of women eating recommended amounts would remain below the blood level of mercury at which no brain impairment was noted.

Dr. Richard Murray, president of the Lee County Medical Society, is unconvinced of the significance of those numbers, especially in certain fields.An obstetrics-gynecology specialist, Murray said the county has seen a net increase of only one similar doctor in the past five years.

"And we haven't had a new surgeon in four years," he said."If Florida has 8,000 more doctors, they aren't coming here."

Murray echoes an overall concern that hasn't relented in the past year.

Fort Myers obstetrician Dr. Richard Murray advises patients in pre-pregnancy counseling to avoid fish on the FDA list.

For some women, however, such information has been difficult to find, even with a lot of research.

...
Murray said once his patients hear some fish are high in mercury, many take a very conservative approach.

"Once they hear that they say, ‘Well, I'm not eating any fish at all.'

"That's a very common reaction," Murray said.

According to calculations done by the Environmental Working Group, a consumer protection group based in Washington, D.C., not eating fish may be the safest course.

To determine which fish would be safe to eat for women in the risk categories, the group started with the safe blood level of mercury for pregnant women.Those blood levels were determined by a Congress-ordered review of scientific studies of children with nervous system deficiencies whose mothers were exposed to mercury in fish.

The calculations determined the safe level of mercury in fish is .04 parts per million, a level at which 99.9 percent of women eating recommended amounts would remain below the blood level of mercury at which no brain impairment was noted.

"OB/GYN for the first time ever didn't fill all its residency slots," said Fort Myers obstetrician/gynecologist Dr. Richard Murray, president of the Lee County Medical Society."Same thing in general surgery.

Dr. Richard Murray, Past President installed the new Board of Governors.The new 2006 Board is: President, Julio Rodriguez, M.D.; President-elect, M. Erick Burton, M.D.; Secretary, Cherrie Morris, M.D.; Treasurer, Dean Traiger, M.D.; Members-at-Large, Larry Hobbs, M.D.; Raymond Kordonowy, M.D.; Craig Sweet, M.D.; Howard Barrow, M.D.; Stuart Bobman, M.D.; Kenneth Towe, M.D.; Michael Kim, M.D.; Shahid Sultan, M.D.; Past President, Richard Murray, M.D.