Post by LymeEnigma on May 12, 2008 12:21:19 GMT -8
Full article: www.newstimes.com/ci_9231161
The IDSA's continued denial of chronic Lyme is a serious issue. I don't know why they can't accept that Bb are persistent, stealth bacteria, given all of the peer-reviewed material out there backing that stance ... and, if the antibiotic abuse/resistance issue is what is holding them back: admission that Lyme can go chronic is not any admission, whatsoever, that long-term antibiotic treatment is the answer; it is simply a stepping stone toward better research and viable treatments. No answers are going to be found, however, if they keep their heads in the sand like they have.
I pray that Dr. Donta is able to be a part of the panel, given the information above and what I've read about his stance. I think he is one of few exceptionally bright minds who really have a balanced and realistic view of our plight. I am not holding my breath that any changes will occur ... but we can always hold out hope that at least some reason might prevail.
Blumenthal said his investigation discovered many examples of conflicts of interest among the doctors who wrote the IDSA guidelines. He also said they refused to "accept or meaningfully consider" any evidence concerning chronic Lyme disease in writing the 2006 guidelines and blocked the appointments of scientists and physicians who differed with the IDSA view that all Lyme disease can be treated with two to four weeks of antibiotics and that chronic Lyme disease does not exist.
"Our focus has not been on medicine but the process," Blumenthal said. "There may have been violation of the law and it's my job to enforce the law."
Dr. Sam Donta, a Massachusetts-based infectious disease specialist, was on the panel that drew up the IDSA guidelines. Donta said he refused to sign off on the guidelines when the group refused to acknowledge that chronic Lyme disease is a problem.
--The issue should not be whether there's chronic Lyme disease, but why we're seeing these patients," he said
The review process established in the settlement, Blumenthal said, will be "fair, open and free of conflict." Donta said Friday he hopes to serve on the panel.
"Our focus has not been on medicine but the process," Blumenthal said. "There may have been violation of the law and it's my job to enforce the law."
Dr. Sam Donta, a Massachusetts-based infectious disease specialist, was on the panel that drew up the IDSA guidelines. Donta said he refused to sign off on the guidelines when the group refused to acknowledge that chronic Lyme disease is a problem.
--The issue should not be whether there's chronic Lyme disease, but why we're seeing these patients," he said
The review process established in the settlement, Blumenthal said, will be "fair, open and free of conflict." Donta said Friday he hopes to serve on the panel.
The IDSA's continued denial of chronic Lyme is a serious issue. I don't know why they can't accept that Bb are persistent, stealth bacteria, given all of the peer-reviewed material out there backing that stance ... and, if the antibiotic abuse/resistance issue is what is holding them back: admission that Lyme can go chronic is not any admission, whatsoever, that long-term antibiotic treatment is the answer; it is simply a stepping stone toward better research and viable treatments. No answers are going to be found, however, if they keep their heads in the sand like they have.
I pray that Dr. Donta is able to be a part of the panel, given the information above and what I've read about his stance. I think he is one of few exceptionally bright minds who really have a balanced and realistic view of our plight. I am not holding my breath that any changes will occur ... but we can always hold out hope that at least some reason might prevail.