I can’t say that I am surprised, Lyme disease is once again being ignored and swept under the rug by the “powers that be”. But this time there should be jail time. I’ve had enough!
During an antitrust investigation of the IDSA guidelines development process for the 2006 Lyme disease treatment guidelines, AG Blumenthal’s office uncovered significant procedural deficiencies, including conflicts of interests of the panel members. A settlement was reached, and the IDSA is breaching it. The IDSA is manipulating the voting process to favor no change in the guidelines. The AG has sent the IDSA a letter requesting that they redo the vote in compliance with the agreement. [From lymepolicywonk.org]
I am very very angry. The Infectious Diseases Society of America – or at least the leaders – consider themselves to be untouchable. Like gangsters from a previous era. Or brazen criminals who have no thought or care for anyone outside of their own self-interest. To the general public, this may sound like an over-the-top emotional response. But how would you feel if the medical body with the greatest influence on cancer diagnosis, treatment and care decided to unilaterally ignore all relevant research and then proceeded to deny that cancer is really that serious, block treatment, obstruct the advancement of cancer research, and flout the law in every which way to maintain their self-serving status quo. So yes, I am very emotional. I have been ignored, sidelined, neglected, even abused by a medical system which rewards strict compliance to a worn-out code and punishes anyone who tries to help a patient outside of those tight boundaries.
So why am I so concerned, since I live in Canada? Shouldn’t I be minding my own business?
The IDSA essentially directs all lyme disease policies adopted in Canada. Everything that happens here regarding lyme disease recognition, diagnosis and treatment is in lockstep with the official IDSA policies to the south. My own lack of care and bedridden state are a direct consequence of the Canadian adoption of IDSA guidelines and policies.
See the link associated with the quote at the beginning of this post for further information, as reported by the California Lyme Disease Association. I hope that the gross injustice and utter contempt of the IDSA in reviewing their lyme treatment guidelines gets each of you worked up as well. If you live in the U.S., please let your elected leaders know what you think.
It appears that the only thing infectious about the IDSA, is dirty politics. One day very soon the dirty laundry will be aired, and then we will actually be able to see what it is that these people are afraid to let out. Until then, we can only assume that there is something very deviant about this whole Lyme disease burial thing.
It remains rather unfortunate that Canada cannot stand up for its self about anything. We claim we have the best health care in the world, but all we do is follow the inferior system around south of the Canadian border. So then why is our system better than theirs??? I think it is not. Ask any one of us Canadians who suffer from anyone of the “auto immune disorders” I doubt that anyone is happy with the diagnosis or treatment programs offered here if they are at all in tune with our inherent problems.
It is time for a change indeed, but until the IDSA in America comes forth and tells the truth, and starts to call a spade a spade when pertaining to Lyme disease. We will all continue to suffer at the hands of our almost communistic systems! Then Canada the innocent who cannot think for its self might start helping us!
How long do wait for this to happen?
Keith Poullos
@ Keith Poullos: I, too, look forward to the day that the IDSA coverup completely unravels. Unfortunately, politicians and media and even the general public are mostly all co-conspirators by swallowing the assertions of the IDSA that fly in the face of the hundreds of thousands of Americans and Canadians (plus Europeans, etc…) who suffer significant and even debilitating lyme disease symptoms.