The Origin of the Term – D.I.T.I.
Dr William Cockburn, DC, FIACT, FABFE
Academic Dean - Academy of Medical Infrared Training
Back in 1986, a joint meeting was held in Austin
Texas to discuss the lawsuit against Medicare in an attempt to stop them from
removing thermography from the official Medicare fee guidelines. Asked to
testify before the State organization were Mr. Victor Yannacome, a trial
attorney from New York City who is famous for his defeat of the U.S. Military
and Dow Chemical for the use of Agent Orange, and Dr William Cockburn, a clinical
thermographer from Los Angeles, CA,
Mr. Yannacone was the brains behind the lawsuit,
which was at that time successful. Later
new policy changes at Medicare found ways around the decision and the fee
schedule was eventually dropped with no money available to fight on from the
thermographers of the day, over $600,000 having been spent to stop Medicare the
first time out of the hopper.
Following this meeting where Mr. Yannacone and Dr
Cockburn presented the evidence and the strategy to stop Medicare, a dinner was
arranged with two additional doctors who were also thermographers and very
active in state and national politics. They were Dr Greg Johnson of
Austin, Texas and Dr Charles Augubright of Corpus Christi,
Texas. Dinner that evening with these four spirited and
dedicated individuals was held at Mezzaluna's Italian restaurant in
Austin. It was a most intriguing and wonderful experience.
Near the close of the discussions, Mr. Yannacone put
a curious look on his face and suddenly blurted out with passion, "We must change the name of this industry.
The word Thermography has unfortunately become associated with workers comp and
personal injury fraud, and the industry will not likely survive that
association. I have come up with a solution and a new name - DITI -
Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging."
Soon the thermographic community, eager to foster new
relationships and improve the overall image of the industry, was publishing
many new scientific papers all using the term DITI.
While some individuals in the sales and marketing
communities have continued to claim the term DITI as their own construct, the
truth of the matter is that the term DITI was coined by a nationally renowned trial
lawyer who was interested in seeing this magnificent tool protected, and its
industry preserved.
We all, owe a great debt of gratitude to Mr. Victor
Yannacone and the early pioneers of Thermal Imaging.
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