ME/CFS -rectify this inequity

[Guest guest]

Reference: *a Medical Morass ?* - by Margaret ;

Help ME Circle, 19 November 2006 - Co-Cure:

http://listserv.nodak.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0611c & L=co-cure & T=0 & P=5530

Dr. Enlander MD is the author of The CFS

HandBook, which is written for both patients and doctors.

It is also of value for relatives and employers who do not

understand the disease. The book is easily readable and

contains massive information in a concise manner. He is

in practice in New York; has a large following of devoted

patients from across the country and from Europe. He has

great experience in CFS.

Dr Enlander is a former virologist who specialises in

ME/CFS, previously Assistant Professor at Columbia

University and then Associate Director of Nuclear

Medicine at New York University; currently

Physician-in-Waiting to the Royal Family and to members

of HM Government when they visit New York

~jvr

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from Dr Enlander

" I've treated over 900 CFIDS ( CFS, ME) patients. My patients

are mostly adult female with a small percentage male and

adolescent. They complain about treatment and diagnosis in

centers where the staff are ignorant about the condition.

They are told that the disease does not exist, they are imagining

that they are sick, they are suffering from primary depression

and they should " exercise hard and tone their bodies " , this is

the worst advice and will lead to relapse.

Trivialization of the disease was seen shortly after the medical

expert group allowed the term CFS to be used, in the same era

Newsweek used the term Yupppie Flu again marginalizing

patients.

It seems that insurance companies use this marginalization to

deny benefits in treatment and disability cover. Government

action is sorely needed.

We must prevail on legislators to act and rectify this inequity.

Enlander, M.D., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.

New York

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