The important thing is to have an accurate picture of what has happened and what exactly is being objected to.
A LEGAL PROCESS has been subverted. We CAN not participate in that subversion.
The US CONGRESS through their representatives instructed and mandated AN ARM OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (NIH) to covene an UNBIASED HEARING on Lyme disease and the state of the science, with full intentions of BALANCE of viewpoints.
THE NIH subverted this process, knowingly "subcontracted" the responsibility to IOM (Institute of Medicine) who has been Anti=Lyme in the past, and NIH knowingly is allowing the hearing to continue, knowing that this MANDATE FROM CONGRESS is not being LEGALLY COMPLIED WITH.
NIH "subcontracted" to this agency - IOM = Institute of Medicine - PRECISELY because there would be the perception of AN ABSENCE OF BIAS due to the way the organization is purportedly set up. PERCEPTION is the operative word.
"The Institute of Medicine is a not-for-profit, non-governmental American organization founded in 1970, under the ***congressional*** charter of the United States National Academy of Sciences"
"It works outside the framework of the U.S. federal government to provide ***independent*** guidance and analysis and relies on a volunteer workforce of scientists and other experts, operating under a rigorous, formal peer-review system. The Institute provides ****unbiased,**** evidence-based, and authoritative information and advice concerning health and science policy to policy-makers, professionals, leaders in every sector of society, and the public at large."
So in other words, there was a double mandate here. [definition of "mandate" = command or authorization to act in a particular way, see dictionary.com]
NIH was **mandated** by FEDERAL GOVERNMENT to hold an UNBIASED hearing. They subcontracted to IOM who was mandated by FEDERAL GOVERNMENT in the terms of their creation, (see stars above in the paragraph starting "It works")"
- - - "to provide ****unbiased,**** and factual information "to policy-makers, professionals, leaders in every sector of society, and the public at large."
That means, BTW, not just to provide Congress with a an unbiased report out of an unbiased hearing, that means provide YOU with an unbiased report from an UNBIASED hearing as part of that public-at-large that they [IOM] are obligated to!!
**Two** mandates above to provide UNBIASED hearing from Federal Government - to NIH and in terms of it's creation, to Intitute of Medicine (IOM).
FLUNKED TWICE!
The Cast of Characters, if you will, is totally, with few exceptions, **biased.**
The process is ILLEGAL.
The Lyme community can not knowingly participate in this type of illegality and deliberate subversion of the intent of the Hearing!!
The mandate [command, remember!] from Federal Government and from Congress is being deliberately subverted and suborned = and yes, I know the connotations of that last word and believe it to be correct for this situation. [suborned - see http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/suborned - "to induce or procure to commit an unlawful act")
These brave groups have no choice other than to act on behalf of the public and patient community and refuse to participate in this illegality, and to draw immediate attention to the PROCESS that deliberately brought about this EXTREMELY BIASED agenda which has SHUT OUT all who might provide the absence of bias.
To agree to participate and not to object to the illegal and subverted process - WHOA - I would have no respect for anyone who would cave like that, on behalf of patients, and sell out the Lyme community like that, just to have a primo seat at the table. I am grateful for what our leaders have done (withdraw from the process) and for their integrity.
* * Support Lyme Groups' Decision to Withdraw from IOM Lyme Workshop * *
* * * Support Your Lyme Community and Yourselves by Demanding the Fair Hearing You are Owed * * *
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Yes but we need someone there to report back the
lies we have to yet endure even longer,
as this will not change the peoples plight,
but it will be for all of history to see who told the tales.
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Some lyme groups think participating in a totally biased process, just like the IDSA panel thing, will help us. I think this is naive in the extreme and will give credibility to the IOM report. Do we want to do this? Too bad we can't have a vote. I vote no.
Posted by sometimesdilly (Member # 9982) on :
Opto-
Spot on, lady.
Never underestimate how enticing having a seat at the table is to some folks. Exploiting the eagerness to do so by the few is an age-old tactic used to undermine, discredit, subvert and/or destroy many a worthwhile cause.