What is missing in this New York Times article is any reference to the consequences for those many claimants who engaged in the fraud, and the management and employees of the Long Island Rail Road, who clearly were aware that such fraudulent claims were the norm. Perhaps they were only counting the days until their own disability retirements. How many of those who Dr. Ajemian helped obtain benefits have been criminally charged for fraud and how much of the millions of dollars of ill-begotten compensation has been returned to the public from which it came?

What this doctor did, based upon the article, was reprehensible, but let’s not kid ourselves. The culture of disability is alive and well in the public and private sector. Well intended efforts to addresses excesses and distortions in the system may lead to personal attacks on those who try.