Topic: Phil (the Pill) Baker- Knickers in an uproar?
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
If the toads spent 1/10 of the time working to HELP people as they do trying to tear them down and pick at their bones, the world would be a much nicer place.
Seems Phil the Pill still doesn't have anything better to do these days than jump up and down on your heads and carry on with the same old, same old. Maybe his business is slow because of that "3 weeks of antibiotics cures people" theory he keeps pushing? Ya think?
Public release date: 8-Sep-2011
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Chronic pain: Watch out before accepting diagnosis and treatment
New commentary in the FASEB Journal suggests that patients and physicians should take a different approach in diagnosing chronic Lyme disease and use only approved diagnostic tools
Bethesda, MD�A new commentary published online in The FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org) argues that patients should be diligent and demand proof of safety and benefit before beginning any treatment regimen for chronic pain, as some treatments have very little scientific evidence that they actually alleviate the conditions for which they are prescribed.
In the article, Phillip J. Baker, Ph.D., Executive Director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation, dispels myths surrounding chronic Lyme disease, using it as an example of why patients should ensure that diagnostic and treatment tools are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and not just recommended by other patients and physicians.
"Despite repeated warnings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, the diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease often is based on the false results of non-standard test procedures, not approved by the FDA," said Baker.
"This is inexcusable since 46 FDA-approved tests are available and used routinely by various state public health laboratories. A false diagnosis can result in patients being placed on prolonged antibiotic therapy or some other unproven and potentially harmful remedy."
Baker also says that before agreeing to undergo any treatment regimen for chronic pain, patients should ask their physician to provide results from published, placebo-controlled studies proving that the proposed remedy is both beneficial and safe.
Testimonials by previously treated patients�regardless of the number�are not sufficient proof of benefit and safety. Unapproved and undocumented treatments are usually not covered by health insurance and therefore result in a huge financial burden to the patient.
Chronic Lyme disease must be considered as part of a broad-based, multidisciplinary effort to understand the cause and treatment of chronic pain in general as outlined by the Institute of Medicine's report, "Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research"
"When doctors don't know what's causing a patient to experience chronic pain, desperation can set in," said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal.
"That desperation, however, is no excuse for pushing the boundaries of the Hippocratic Oath by diagnosing a patient with a poorly defined health condition, like chronic Lyme disease, for which the only remedies are unproven and may only cause more harm."
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
I like this quote the best...
"Baker also says that before agreeing to undergo any treatment regimen for chronic pain, patients should ask their physician to provide results from published, placebo-controlled studies proving that the proposed remedy is both beneficial and safe."
I'm sure that's going to happen! NOT!
The IDSA got one shot at the apple, and lives are being destroyed because it is not working.
I don't think Phil the Pill will be able to convince many patients to jump willingly out of the frying pan and back into the fire.
Oh, and is this new demand of his to be done before or after sick patients do his other list of things... like prove chronic Lyme is caused by active infection?
quote:Originally posted by Tincup: I like this quote the best...
"Baker also says that before agreeing to undergo any treatment regimen for chronic pain, patients should ask their physician to provide results from published, placebo-controlled studies proving that the proposed remedy is both beneficial and safe."
I'm sure that's going to happen! NOT!
--
So .. if I'm in pain, I want to ask for scientific studies proving that Vicodin will relieve my pain!?? That's pretty stupid!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
"That desperation, however, is no excuse for pushing the boundaries of the Hippocratic Oath by diagnosing a patient with a poorly defined health condition, like chronic Lyme disease, for which the only remedies are unproven and may only cause more harm."
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Poorly defined?? UH>.. what kind of stuff has he been smoking?
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
"UH.. what kind of stuff has he been smoking"
I was hoping it was just complete boredom causing his knickers to be in an uproar, or that some of the toads are being pinched on the nose by officials and this is just more retaliation.
But TuTu, you could be right! Might want to check his pipe!
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
HA! Good question.
My guess is the flurry of publications are being tossed out there before the IDSA releases its new Lyme guidelines.
Personally, I wouldn't publish new ones if I were them.
I'd have thought they took enough of a beating already than to try to pass more junk off on the public and other doctors. In my opinion, it wouldn't be worth it.
There are lots of other diseases to play with.. many much less nasty than this disease. And then they could go hang out in other patient chat rooms and torment them for a while. But really....
They need to have updated references to try to prove their points, so in my opinion, they are getting prepared.
I know, I know. It is using their own stuff to back up their own stuff, but it looks good to the average viewer when they have a HUGE pile of duty to add to the end of their work.
And they may be thinking it will take the heat off them when they are looked at for more conflicts of interest, anti-trust, fraud, etc violations?
Who knows what they are thinking? Not sure we want to know!
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Oh, and when we get done telling docs to provide that evidence that Phil the Pill wants us to ask for... here are some of his other c-r-a-z-y demands and comments.
"Some Lyme disease activists continue to make the astounding claim that this overwhelming consensus of independent expert opinion is the result of conflicts of interest and/or a vast conspiracy by a cabal to suppress the truth."
"Instead of casting doubts on the reputation of distinguished scientists and the organizations to which they belong,
-- [this next part is the part I like, the chewing us out like we are little kids part]--
those who disagree would be well advised to do the following if they wish to gain acceptance from the scientific and medical community for their unproven views:
1) Develop a precise definition of what is meant by �chronic Lyme disease� so that it can be distinguished unequivocally from other medical conditions with similar symptoms.
2) Provide direct and unequivocal evidence that a patient suspected of having chronic Lyme disease really has a persistent B. burgdorferi infection that justifies antibiotic therapy.
3) Demonstrate, from the results of published, peer- reviewed, randomized, placebo-controlled trials, that extended antibiotic therapy is beneficial and safe for the treatment of chronic Lyme disease."
Is that all? HA!
Actually, our response should be.... if the NIH, where he worked, hadn't had him and other toads involved with Lyme and research, maybe someone besides the toads could have been funded to do the work he wants US to provide for him before we can be treated.
posted
) Develop a precise definition of what is meant by �chronic Lyme disease� so that it can be distinguished unequivocally from other medical conditions with similar symptoms.
Funny how Dr. Baker is willing to use CDC pos WB for initial diagnosis........ but if you were previously WB positive with Lyme, than CDC/WB is completely "useless" for diagnosis. No matter what your CD 57 level is. Talk about double standard. I have gone over this round and round with Steere's staff and even e-mailing Baker. It's like the black whole of infections, ounce you have tested positive for Lyme, you will NEVER EVER be Lyme positive again. Now thats science!
Posts: 65 | From oregon | Registered: Jun 2011
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
jk.... HA!
Hammond... RIGHT!
The circular logic is something else, isn't it? I guess we are kind of like fox news tackling this situation, because as they say, the spin stops HERE.
I really can't believe they are that stupid. I really can't. I try, but it just won't sit well.
So the only thing I can figure is they think they are so far smarter than everyone else that we won't notice these things, or they are just plain old evil.
Neither one should be allowed in the medical world, in my opinion.
Jen- They "expire" in 5 years from the date they were published. The last dreaded copy was put out in 2006, so they are due to come out anytime now. They may miss the deadline, as they did last time, or maybe not?
I believe I heard Shapiro say something about next year, so who knows?
IF they decide to publish any... my suggestion would be to call them...
The IDSA's Free Ticket for a Boat Ride on the Titanic
I am sure you can come up with some fun names too!
In fact, we should have a contest to see who can come up with the best name. Check over in general.... and let's have some fun.
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That's pretty stupid!
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