Time doctors apologize

[Ian123]

Dr Charles Shepherd telegraph.co.uk/news/health...

[Effort]

“We just needed to put to rest, once and for all, the idea that this is just psychosomatic or that people were making this up, or that they were just lazy,”

Ellen Wright Clayton (IOM committee chair)

[Theresa60]

Responses seems full of psycho babblers saving lucrative careers against evidence from beyond their control. The years I have waited for a challenge on establishment propaganda against the patients it has a duty of care for.

I can scarcely believe my eyes are we watching history in the making here.

[Arianne]

October 2011

The Norwegian Directorate of Health has apologised for the way in which ME patients in Norway have been treated. This follows the publication of the ground-breaking research from Haukeland University in Bergen.

After the publication of the Rituximab study by Fluge et al (2011) and extensive media coverage since then the Norwegian Directorate of Health gave a short statement on TV2 channel, see TV2 Nettavisen. tv2.no/a/3618296

A statement from the Norwegian Directorate of Health has been received where they apologise for not having provided the necessary and proper health services to persons with ME.

Such a public apology from a governmental health agency has never occurred before.

Bjørn Guldvog, Deputy Director General of the Norwegian Directorate of Health made the following statement

"Jeg tror at vi, i for liten grad, har klart å møte menneskene som har kronisk utmattelsessyndrom på en god nok måte. Jeg tror at det er riktig å si at vi ikke har utviklet en god nok helsetjeneste for disse, og det beklager jeg."

"I think that we have not cared for people with ME to a great enough extent. I think it is correct to say that we have not established proper health care services for these people, and I regret that."

[Onceagain in reply to Arianne]

In November 1987 ME was recognised as an organic disease by the Department of Health (Hansard: 27th November 1987:353). The ME Sufferers’ Bill was presented to the House of Commons by Jimmy Hood MP on 23rd February 1988 and passed its first reading unopposed.

The second reading was on 15th April 1988 and the Bill was ordered to be brought in and to be printed (Bill 99). The Bill required an annual report to Parliament:

“It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State (for Health) in every year to lay before each House of Parliament a report on the progress that has been made in investigating the causes, effects, incidence and treatment of the illness known as ME”

Official British government position has been repeated by ministers of each elected party since without medical professionals swerving from agenda dictated by the Wessely school.

Who runs the health service if not elected representatives ?

[Emmaril]

Thank you for this.

[Fire-brand]

Disbelief neglect or bad treatment long since time for stopping.

[ringading in reply to Fire-brand]

A history dating back over 30 years takes some stopping when careers are based on views that have prevailed without question. I am not say this is perfect but a realistic assessment of position at this time.

[oncewasactive in reply to ringading]

Berlin wall stood as long and that came down.

[carch520 in reply to oncewasactive]

Party hearty when the walls down I want an invite.

[Len607]

Well done. It’s just a shame it won’t be front page in all the papers like all the PACE nonsense was.

[KMC442]

Were there ever an apology can someone suggest a practical use for such a thing.

paperweight, doorstop, trophy .........

[Bethco in reply to KMC442]

Educating NHS staff.

[carch520 in reply to KMC442]

propping up my wonky table one leg is shorter and makes a wobbly table

[zzzzleeeper in reply to KMC442]

make a flag/banner

[readerlist]

A positive description on BBC bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06r13q6

An opportunity for stating a case for improving treatment/education amongst society the climate is truly changing .

[valj352 in reply to readerlist]

In ten years of living with this disease I can not remember greater changes than have happened this year.

[Jonesbones]

The argument is with a simplistic and seriously flawed model of causation that patients know is wrong and which has seriously delayed progress in understanding the underlying cause of ME and developing effective forms of treatment.

Thank you Dr Charles Shepherd.

[CheshireKatz]

Highlighting the British tax payer has been swindled of £5million by spinning results places more pressure for an independent review of PACE trial data soonest.

[Seascape]

A surreal feeling when something expected for years finally happens is it dream or reality. A tempting illusion emotions wish were true or really the beginning of a new chapter in a shared history.

Applauding the bravery of Dr Shepherd that asks his fellow doctors improve understanding as that could make him an unpopular figure and crossing my fingers he is not ignored as the patients have.

[rocketronnie]

Dr Shepherd says in the comments that the Lancet Psychiatry have agreed they will publish a letter from ME Association this I must see !

[pandemic in reply to rocketronnie]

Richard Horton at the Lancet obviously knows which direction the winds of change are blowing publishing such a letter.

[Theresa60 in reply to pandemic]

Blowing strongly investinme.org/Documents/La...

[Babylon5 in reply to Theresa60]

Open letter mecfsnsw.org.au/research/op...

[Onceagain in reply to rocketronnie]

How heavily edited that letter is remains to be seen.

[Len607 in reply to rocketronnie]

A right of reply letter from psychiatrists involved no doubt crying crocodile tears at the hands of patients unwilling to accept mental illness.

[KMC442 in reply to rocketronnie]

Peasants at the gates and they are still revolting. Horton claimed only a vocal minority were seeking disruption of science they did not agree with now time is showing that opinion misjudged.