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Rita Stanley sent a wonderful letter to our Cape Cod Times! I would like to thank her but do not have her email. If someone has it, I'd appreciate it if you could PM it to me. Thanks...her letter is below.
Letter to the Editor:
Medical politics defines patient care In your Nov. 20 article ''Lyme guidelines outrage sufferers,'' Diana Olson of the Infectious Diseases Society of America says she believes her agency's guidelines on Lyme disease ''represent the best science currently has to offer.''
Basically, IDSA contends chronic, persisting infection cannot occur in patients who receive a limited course of antibiotic therapy. In fact, published scientific evidence counters this contention. However, this body of data is actively ignored and written off by authors of the updated IDSA guidelines without a valid explanation or references.
Such statements - '' extrapolated from limited scientific research - '' and the consequences to patients are entirely unacceptable from authority figures who profoundly impact public health.
Few outside academia understand how biased the interpretations and conclusions from published research can be when the stakes of position, prestige and power are high. Few understand the high-stakes politics of medical research where the focal point is not necessarily patient care.
Sorely lacking is a thorough, unbiased review of the literature about Lyme disease and why chronic persisting infection is, indeed, feasible. Face all the data, explain them and draw reasonable interpretations and conclusions. I expect no less from those who contend that patient welfare is foremost in their interests.
Rita L. Stanley
Co-author, ''Confronting Lyme Disease: What Patient Stories Teach Us''
Portland, Ore.
-------------------- nan Posts: 2135 | From Tick Country | Registered: Oct 2000
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Sent you a PM (but forgot to mention here afterwards...sorry, lyme brain drain).
Thanks for letting us know about Rita's article. She is an incredible lady and her knowledge and experience regarding lyme are only out done by her strength of spirit and character.
I spoke with her when I was first diagnoised, and she was very supportive and giving of her time and experience.
Her article definately reflects the depth of her experiences and knowledge of what is happening in our community. Thank you Rita for your efforts and thanks again Nan for letting us see/read her efforts.
JavaBeing (saying a quick hello after being gone for awhile)
Posts: 208 | From Portland, OR USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Ann-OH
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2020
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Here is the website for the book "Confronting Lyme Disease" You will be able to contact Rita from there
AND you can see a really great website with great links to all kinds of important stuff.
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
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