Ellen J Harper RR # 3 Tweed ON Canada K0K 3J0 Telephone: 613-478-1818
May 29, 2007 PATIENT KATHERINE HARPER THOMSON
Dear Lymnet Members ,
My daughters, Jessica Harper Thomson, Katherine Harper Thomson, and I desperately need your help.
Katherine was bitten by a tick in cottage country (Muskoka) north of Toronto in 2002 at the age of 23. Katherine was lucky in that she presented with a bull's eye rash, which means no further testing was required to confirm lyme (ILADS). However, after 12 months, countless Elisa tests, being refused other testing & treatment beyond doxycycline, refusing to consult with other doctors who treat lyme, and still seeking an answer to Katherine's declining health, I had to take her to the US for diagnosis and treatment.
Katherine has since been diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease, Human monocytic Erlichiosis, Human granulitic Erlichiosis, and Morgellan's disease.
Katherine is a Canadian citizen and yet she is now on Medicaid and classed as severely disabled which entitles her to medications, too numerous to count, and in-home care because she cannot take care of herself. She cannot live alone and is currently residing with her father in the US.
Approximately 18 months ago I tried to bring her home to live with me but again I could not get medical care for her and had to send her back...
Katherine's life is ruined. She was an extremely talented and bright, award and scholarship winning music senior at the University of Toronto. She lost her degree to this illness and her future post grad doctorate and career as composer, classical guitarist, songwriter, and performer.
Katherine was a beautiful young woman inside and out, who now struggles with excruciating pain, baldness and permanent scarring from Morgellan's disease, and the countless other symptoms of lyme and its co-infections. Katherine is alone, socially and professionally isolated, with a very uncertain future. She cannot read, play her guitar, or do anything other than struggle to get through each day with a modicum of dignity.
Our lawsuit cannot proceed without an expert report on Katherine's diagnosis, testing, treatment, the effects of a 12 month delay in the aforementioned to her prognosis for future recovery (life expectancy, having children... lyme passing to fetus), and the severity of her illness over the past 4 years (the number of co-infections & other systems involvement).
I am on my 3rd year of disability from the stress, I sold my house & moved to the country to save costs, my & Jessica's additional debts pertaining to Katherine's care are $100,000.00 & $75,000.00 respectively.
I have until July 2nd to present an expert opinion, or request an extension pending the completion of a promised expert opinion, to the judge in Toronto. If I fail to do so the case will be dismissed with all court & legal costs of the defendants charged to me, Jessica, and Katherine.
We would never have taken legal steps except for the fact that Katherine was dismissed by specialists in Toronto, while her condition continued to worsen. No one tried to get to the bottom of her failing health. They knew of other tests and other treatments but refused same when asked directly. They knew of other doctors who treat lyme and refused to consult when asked directly. Without an expert opinion we look as though there is nothing wrong with Katherine or her diagnosis & treatment. As such we will look as though we brought a baseless claim and will be punished financially for same.
Please write an expert opinion report for Katherine.
The defense states: 1. Katherine does not have lyme 2. Suffers from fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue 3. Diagnosis using Western Blot does not meet the criteria of competent authorities in US or Canada 4. Elisa is best for diagnosis 5. No further testing is required if Elisa negative 6. Western Blot to only be used if Elisa positive, to RULE OUT false Elisa positive 7. Treatment for lyme is 100mg Doxycycline twice a day for 14-21 days.
Please please write this report for Katherine.
As it is, the only expert facts before the court are the 7 untrue facts listed above.
Katherine wants this case to move forward to raise awareness in Canada, so that her lack of treatment & compassion would not befall another. Without your expert opinion it cannot.
I am trying to get new legal counsel but cannot without an expert opinion.
Please help us. I must receive some compensation for myself, Jessica, and most importantly for Katherine who needs acknowledgement for her suffering and humiliation that continues since 2002 and leaves her dependent & vulnerable for her future.
Sincerely Ellen Harper
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
I am assuming you are asking for a medical professional to write this opinion. Correct? Can't see that it would do any good for patients on this forum to write anything for you. The people who read this forum are patients, not doctors.
My suggestion would be for you to contact support groups in the state where your daughter was treated and see if they know any medical professional who would do this. It would more than likely have some cost attached.
It isn't that some people on this forum could not speak accurately about the points you raise, it is that their opinions would not count with a court, no matter how much scientific support could be quoted from the medical literature.
You might also want to contact the Canadian Lyme people, who also have a lyme internet forum, and may have some suggestions.
If you find out that the opinion does not have to come from a medical professional, then there might be other options.
I am also offering another idea via private message.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
As lou stated, there aren't any medical professionals on this site.
Wish I could help!!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
^^
Posted by ellenharper (Member # 11991) on :
lou thankyou for your replies and advice, which i will follow. FYI, i just found out from canlyme that there is no doctor in Canada willing to write an expert opinion ellenharper
Posted by ellenharper (Member # 11991) on :
lymetoo thanks for reading my plea...i was actually hoping that a patient on lymenet has had a doctor write an expert opinion for them that i could contact with my request...faint hope?? ellenharper
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Ellen,
I would try consulting the physician listed at the website below. Pretty sure I have read that he has testified as an expert witness before.
I wish you luck with your lawsuit, however I think you will have a very difficult time proving a case. Unless there is obvious negligence this is not a cut and dried case.
Many many Lyme patients have had similar run ins with standard AMA docs. Because there is so much controversy regarding testing and treatment it is very easy for a lawyer to argue against your case.
Bea Seibert
Posted by livinlyme (Member # 3773) on :
Bea you may have helped more people than you know thank you for the post !
still fighting this battle!
Posted by ellenharper (Member # 11991) on :
seibertneurolyme, thank-you for your reply...i know i'm fighting an uphill battle but this whole situation is so WRONG! It's beyond comprehension that doctors can say there is no lyme disease in the face of 80 symptoms and Igenix lab positive results for lyme and 3 co-infections. I will contact that source immediately! Thanks again, Ellen