FW: [LymeInfo] [advocacy] Action Alert #4 from Lyme Disease Association

[Guest guest]

This is disheartening news albeit not unexpected. Long term low dose

antibiotic treatment for Lyme's and RA gave me back my life. These panels

are dangerous entities to our medical freedom. Licensed Doctors should be

able to practice medicine as they see fit and not in fear of 'panels' that

believes they knows what's best and threatens to revoke medical licenses or

assess fines for independent thinking and action.

_____

From: LymeInfo [mailto:LymeInfo ] On Behalf

Of Rick Laferriere

Sent: Friday, April 23, 2010 9:35 AM

LymeInfo

Subject: [LymeInfo] [advocacy] Action Alert #4 from Lyme Disease Association

Action Alert #4 from: Lyme Disease Association

April 23, 2010

IDSA PANEL VOTES AGAIN TO DENY PATIENTS LYME TREATMENT

The new IDSA review panel released their vote today to uphold the same 2006

guidelines that recommend against clinical judgment by physicians, against

antibiotic treatment for chronic Lyme, and against alternative treatments

and supplements.

Action Needed - EVERYONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Please contact Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal now, tell him

he needs to ensure this process has been properly carried out. Tell him this

affects your health and your family.

CONTACT INFORMATION AND SAMPLE BLURBS

Please fax the Attorney General, or if no fax, email, or call the

Attorney General.

(860) 808-5387 Fax

(860) 808-5040 Phone

To send an email to CT Attorney General:

attorney.general@ <mailto:attorney.general%40po.state.ct.us> po.state.ct.us

- Sample Letter Blurb

Dear Attorney General Blumenthal,

The IDSA panel upheld all the recommendations in their 2006 Guidelines. They

provided lists of items that need to be considered in the " next " upgrade of

their guidelines, thereby relieving themselves of responsibility of

acknowledging that changes are needed to these current guidelines.

A crucial statement on testing, the essence of which appears throughout the

guidelines and is most often used by doctors and insurers to prevent

patients receiving diagnosis and treatment, generated a 4-4 vote, not

meeting the supermajority required to pass it. To thwart the process, IDSA

characterized the testing issue as a non recommendation, and dismissed the

statement from consideration through the process.

The IDSA received a large volume of case reports & case series that attested

to clinical improvement with long term treatment. However, it dismissed the

reports based on clinical judgement submitted by experts in the field that

would normally carry significant weight. Additionally, the IDSA discounted

the controlled studies which indicated improvement after long term

antibiotics.

The Lyme patient community cannot wait for the medical establishment to

address the problems with this disease. We need treatment and relief now.

The ratification of these guidelines by IDSA Panel members becomes another

nail in the coffin for those afflicted with Lyme disease. We call upon you

to examine the entire process to determine compliance with your stated

requirements and to take further action should grounds be found to do so.

Your name, address, city and state

- Sample Phone Blurb

I am calling today because an injustice is being done to Lyme patients

throughout the country, and you are in a position to rectify this wrong.

The Lyme patient community cannot wait for the medical establishment to

address the problems with this disease. We need treatment and relief now.

Please continue your investigation of the IDSA.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more details about the decision go to the Lyme Disease Association

website:

http://www.LymeDise <http://www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org/>

aseAssociation.org/

and the blog Lyme Policy Wonk:

http://www.lymedise <http://www.lymedisease.org/news/lymepolicywonk/>

ase.org/news/lymepolicywonk/

[Guest guest]

OMGoodness I am sending this to my AP doc and will definitely get going

against this. Thanks for the heads up.

cooky

From: rheumatic [mailto:rheumatic ] On Behalf

Of ehgooding

Sent: Friday, April 23, 2010 4:59 PM

ehgooding

Subject: rheumatic FW: [LymeInfo] [advocacy] Action Alert #4 from Lyme

Disease Association

This is disheartening news albeit not unexpected. Long term low dose

antibiotic treatment for Lyme's and RA gave me back my life. These panels

are dangerous entities to our medical freedom. Licensed Doctors should be

able to practice medicine as they see fit and not in fear of 'panels' that

believes they knows what's best and threatens to revoke medical licenses or

assess fines for independent thinking and action.

_____

From: LymeInfo <mailto:LymeInfo%40>

[mailto:LymeInfo <mailto:LymeInfo%40> ] On

Behalf

Of Rick Laferriere

Sent: Friday, April 23, 2010 9:35 AM

LymeInfo <mailto:LymeInfo%40>

Subject: [LymeInfo] [advocacy] Action Alert #4 from Lyme Disease Association

Action Alert #4 from: Lyme Disease Association

April 23, 2010

IDSA PANEL VOTES AGAIN TO DENY PATIENTS LYME TREATMENT

The new IDSA review panel released their vote today to uphold the same 2006

guidelines that recommend against clinical judgment by physicians, against

antibiotic treatment for chronic Lyme, and against alternative treatments

and supplements.

Action Needed - EVERYONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Please contact Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal now, tell him

he needs to ensure this process has been properly carried out. Tell him this

affects your health and your family.

CONTACT INFORMATION AND SAMPLE BLURBS

Please fax the Attorney General, or if no fax, email, or call the

Attorney General.

(860) 808-5387 Fax

(860) 808-5040 Phone

To send an email to CT Attorney General:

attorney.general@ <mailto:attorney.general%40po.state.ct.us> po.state.ct.us

- Sample Letter Blurb

Dear Attorney General Blumenthal,

The IDSA panel upheld all the recommendations in their 2006 Guidelines. They

provided lists of items that need to be considered in the " next " upgrade of

their guidelines, thereby relieving themselves of responsibility of

acknowledging that changes are needed to these current guidelines.

A crucial statement on testing, the essence of which appears throughout the

guidelines and is most often used by doctors and insurers to prevent

patients receiving diagnosis and treatment, generated a 4-4 vote, not

meeting the supermajority required to pass it. To thwart the process, IDSA

characterized the testing issue as a non recommendation, and dismissed the

statement from consideration through the process.

The IDSA received a large volume of case reports & case series that attested

to clinical improvement with long term treatment. However, it dismissed the

reports based on clinical judgement submitted by experts in the field that

would normally carry significant weight. Additionally, the IDSA discounted

the controlled studies which indicated improvement after long term

antibiotics.

The Lyme patient community cannot wait for the medical establishment to

address the problems with this disease. We need treatment and relief now.

The ratification of these guidelines by IDSA Panel members becomes another

nail in the coffin for those afflicted with Lyme disease. We call upon you

to examine the entire process to determine compliance with your stated

requirements and to take further action should grounds be found to do so.

Your name, address, city and state

- Sample Phone Blurb

I am calling today because an injustice is being done to Lyme patients

throughout the country, and you are in a position to rectify this wrong.

The Lyme patient community cannot wait for the medical establishment to

address the problems with this disease. We need treatment and relief now.

Please continue your investigation of the IDSA.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more details about the decision go to the Lyme Disease Association

website:

http://www.LymeDise <http://www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org/>

aseAssociation.org/

and the blog Lyme Policy Wonk:

http://www.lymedise <http://www.lymedisease.org/news/lymepolicywonk/>

ase.org/news/lymepolicywonk/

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much! I just want to get the word out to as many people as

possible. I'm so concerned to hear how afraid doctors are to practice

medicine! El

_____

From: rheumatic [mailto:rheumatic ] On Behalf

Of Cooky Stonkey

Sent: Friday, April 23, 2010 5:16 PM

rheumatic

Subject: RE: rheumatic FW: [LymeInfo] [advocacy] Action Alert #4 from Lyme

Disease Association

OMGoodness I am sending this to my AP doc and will definitely get going

against this. Thanks for the heads up.

cooky

From: rheumatic@grou <mailto:rheumatic%40> ps.com

[mailto:rheumatic@grou <mailto:rheumatic%40> ps.com] On

Behalf

Of ehgooding

Sent: Friday, April 23, 2010 4:59 PM

ehgooding

Subject: rheumatic FW: [LymeInfo] [advocacy] Action Alert #4 from Lyme

Disease Association

This is disheartening news albeit not unexpected. Long term low dose

antibiotic treatment for Lyme's and RA gave me back my life. These panels

are dangerous entities to our medical freedom. Licensed Doctors should be

able to practice medicine as they see fit and not in fear of 'panels' that

believes they knows what's best and threatens to revoke medical licenses or

assess fines for independent thinking and action.

_____

From: LymeInfo@group <mailto:LymeInfo%40> s.com

<mailto:LymeInfo%40>

[mailto:LymeInfo@group <mailto:LymeInfo%40> s.com

<mailto:LymeInfo%40> ] On

Behalf

Of Rick Laferriere

Sent: Friday, April 23, 2010 9:35 AM

LymeInfo@group <mailto:LymeInfo%40> s.com

<mailto:LymeInfo%40>

Subject: [LymeInfo] [advocacy] Action Alert #4 from Lyme Disease Association

Action Alert #4 from: Lyme Disease Association

April 23, 2010

IDSA PANEL VOTES AGAIN TO DENY PATIENTS LYME TREATMENT

The new IDSA review panel released their vote today to uphold the same 2006

guidelines that recommend against clinical judgment by physicians, against

antibiotic treatment for chronic Lyme, and against alternative treatments

and supplements.

Action Needed - EVERYONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Please contact Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal now, tell him

he needs to ensure this process has been properly carried out. Tell him this

affects your health and your family.

CONTACT INFORMATION AND SAMPLE BLURBS

Please fax the Attorney General, or if no fax, email, or call the

Attorney General.

(860) 808-5387 Fax

(860) 808-5040 Phone

To send an email to CT Attorney General:

attorney.general@ <mailto:attorney.general%40po.state.ct.us> po.state.ct.us

- Sample Letter Blurb

Dear Attorney General Blumenthal,

The IDSA panel upheld all the recommendations in their 2006 Guidelines. They

provided lists of items that need to be considered in the " next " upgrade of

their guidelines, thereby relieving themselves of responsibility of

acknowledging that changes are needed to these current guidelines.

A crucial statement on testing, the essence of which appears throughout the

guidelines and is most often used by doctors and insurers to prevent

patients receiving diagnosis and treatment, generated a 4-4 vote, not

meeting the supermajority required to pass it. To thwart the process, IDSA

characterized the testing issue as a non recommendation, and dismissed the

statement from consideration through the process.

The IDSA received a large volume of case reports & case series that attested

to clinical improvement with long term treatment. However, it dismissed the

reports based on clinical judgement submitted by experts in the field that

would normally carry significant weight. Additionally, the IDSA discounted

the controlled studies which indicated improvement after long term

antibiotics.

The Lyme patient community cannot wait for the medical establishment to

address the problems with this disease. We need treatment and relief now.

The ratification of these guidelines by IDSA Panel members becomes another

nail in the coffin for those afflicted with Lyme disease. We call upon you

to examine the entire process to determine compliance with your stated

requirements and to take further action should grounds be found to do so.

Your name, address, city and state

- Sample Phone Blurb

I am calling today because an injustice is being done to Lyme patients

throughout the country, and you are in a position to rectify this wrong.

The Lyme patient community cannot wait for the medical establishment to

address the problems with this disease. We need treatment and relief now.

Please continue your investigation of the IDSA.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more details about the decision go to the Lyme Disease Association

website:

http://www.LymeDise <http://www.LymeDise

<http://www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org/> aseAssociation.org/>

aseAssociation.org/

and the blog Lyme Policy Wonk:

http://www.lymedise <http://www.lymedise

<http://www.lymedisease.org/news/lymepolicywonk/>

ase.org/news/lymepolicywonk/>

ase.org/news/lymepolicywonk/