The discussion on the ATS board started with the alternative treatment using bismacine, however it has evolved into a discussion on diagnosing Lyme.
I think it is an interesting exchange, and if you have time, please take a look at it.
I enjoyed reading the humorous thread on this board about the things doctors said to patients and thought about posting a link to that thread at the ATS forum, as an example of what people go through to get diagnosed.
Someone on the ATS thread believes that getting diagnosed for Lyme disease is a straight-forward process.
Also, at the same ATS forum is a long thread on Morgellons which also includes Lyme disease. It started with a news article on Morgellons and evolved from there:
Experts say an area patient died from treatments for a disease she never had. Dr. John Toth faces a murder charge in the death of his 56 year old patient Beverly Wunder, but 13 News found out, what she took to save her life may have led to her death, which has revealed a secret world of questionable cures.
It all started when two people ended up in the hospital, both patients of Doctor John Toth, both receiving the same treatment for Lyme Disease. He is accused of treating them with injections of Bismacine, which contains a chemical that can be poisonous, but that's all.
"There was evidence to show that the patients did not have Lyme Disease, the inital test was probably a false positive. A false positive might indicate something, but on further investigation would find that it is not true," said Mark Stafford with the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts.
13 News obtained a copy of transcripts from the Board of Healing Arts investigation. Doctor Charles West testified he did not believe either of patients had Lyme Disease and neither required treatment. He goes on to talk about the dangerous and deadly effects of Bismuth, a chemical used in the treatment and says he has no way to explain why Bismuth would've been thought to benefit the patients.
The Board of Healing Arts oversees licensing for doctors and immediately suspended Doctor Toth's, who later gave up his right to practice. A practice that some say used alternative medicine. One person who interested him was professor Robert Bradford, who's diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Disease isn't accepted in the medical field.
"When you practice outside of that standard of care there is not a body of evidence, a body of knowledge to support that it's a safe treatment," said Bradford.
If Toth is found guilty of the charges, he'll lose his license for good, unless two thirds of the board votes to allow him the possibly of getting it back.