1) the difficulty that you found in getting diagnosed and treated, and
2) if you have had to travel out of network or out of state for treatment.
3) If long-term treatment has helped you, please let them know that also.
You might state that you want physicians to be allowed to use their own clinical judgment in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease, including long-term treatment, without fear of prosecution.
You might also tell them that two standards of care for Lyme disease have been published, and that you want better access to physicians who are willing to treat according to a standard of care that rejects rigid and unrealistic guidelines.
Please limit your letters to one page and remember DO NOT include the name of your LLMD or any treating physician or any personal medical information that you would not want to be made public.
1. Specify in your letter that you are writing about HB 1148 and ask that your letter be entered into the public record as written testimony.
Be sure to include your name and address (or town).
2. State that you support the INTENT of HB 1148.
This is important, because the exact wording of the bill may be edited along the way, and we want to make sure that it remains true to our goal.
3. Send your testimony to:
the two co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Health (Senator Susan Fargo and Representative Jeffrey Sanchez) and
copy each of the 15 other members (see contact information posted below).
We appreciate the Lyme community coming together and helping the MA Legislators get a bill passed that will make a difference for patients and physicians throughout Massachusetts!
If you have questions about any of this, please feel free to contact us:
The Honorable Susan C. Fargo Co-chair Joint Committee on Public Health Massachusetts State Senate State House, Rm 504 24 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02108
The Honorable Jeffrey S�nchez Co-chair Joint Committee on Public Health Massachusetts State House of Representatives State House, Room 130 24 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02108
I am writing to you today about HB 1148. Please enter my letter into the public record as written testimony.
I support the intent of HB 1148. If the wording of the bill is edited along the way I want every effort to be made to keep it true to the original goal, to protect doctors treating their patients Lyme disease with long-term antibiotic therapy. 1. Tell about the difficulty that you found in getting diagnosed and treated. 2. Have you had to travel out of network or out of state for treatment? 3. If long-term treatment has helped you. I want physicians to be allowed to use their own clinical judgment in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease, including long-term treatment, without fear of prosecution.
Two standards of care for Lyme disease have been published. I want better access to physicians who are willing to treat according to a standard of care that rejects rigid and unrealistic guidelines.
I believe without the HB 1148 amendment many doctors will continue to be reluctant to treat Lyme with long-term antibiotic therapy for fear of disciplinary action against them. Include your name and address (or at least your town/city).
____________________________________
The hearing for the Physician's protection Bill 1148 will be heard Tues. Sept. 22nd @ 10 am, please arrive by 9am.
There will be a 150 people allowed in the hearing room only.
All others will be allowed to have a rally on the front stair's of the State House.
I know everyone would refer to be inside, but being outside to have the Rally is just as important to show how many of us are affected by Lyme.
The Rally will have to be very "controlled", meaning no screaming and and showing severe frustration as I know we all feel.
We are allowed signs, and there will be news media present to interview us.
PLEASE COME HELP US BY SHOWING UP THAT DAY AND SUPPORTING OUR BILL!
____________________
DIRECTIONS
Directions to the Massachusetts State House
For special assistance unloading busses, call the MDC Rangers at (617) 722-1188. Roadways throughout Boston are currently under construction. These directions are accurate to the best of our knowledge, but may change with little notice. Please be sure to verify your route. By car from the North Take Interstate 93 SOUTH to Exit 26, Storrow Drive and North Station. Stay in the LEFT lane and follow signs to Storrow Drive. Once out of the tunnel stay in LEFT lane and take the first exit on the LEFT towards Government Center and Kendall Square. Stay LEFT; at the blinking red light enter Charles Circle. Turn RIGHT onto Charles Street at the CVS. At the fifth light turn LEFT onto Beacon Street. The State House will be on your LEFT. By car from the South Take Interstate 93 NORTH to Exit 23, Government Center. Stay in the LEFT lane onto North Street. Go through one set of lights. At the second set of lights, turn LEFT onto Congress Street. Take the first RIGHT onto State Street. State Street turns into Court Street. Turn LEFT onto Tremont Street. At the third light turn RIGHT onto Park Street. Follow Park Street up the hill to the State House. By car from the West Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) EAST through the Boston tolls. Take Exit 22, Copley Square/Prudential. Stay in the RIGHT lane and follow the signs for Copley Square. This will lead you to Stuart Street. Continue straight through five lights. At the sixth light, turn LEFT on Charles Street South. Continue through two traffic lights passing by Boston Common. At the third light, make a RIGHT on Beacon Street. The State House will be on your LEFT. By car from Logan International Airport Follow signs to the Sumner Tunnel to Boston, stay in the LEFT hand lane of the tunnel. Upon exiting the tunnel, follow the signs for Government Center. Take a LEFT at the first light. At the first traffic light continue straight onto New Chardon Street. Go through the next traffic light, (a Mobil gas station will be on your RIGHT). Continue straight, and at the next light make a LEFT onto Cambridge Street. Continue through three traffic lights. At fourth light, make a RIGHT on Park Street. Follow Park Street up the hill to the State House. By car from the Northwest Take Route 2 EAST into Cambridge, MA. This will lead you to the Fresh Pond Parkway. (This is a winding road.) Follow signs for downtown Boston and Storrow Drive EAST. Take Storrow Drive for approximately 5 miles. Get off at the exit for Government Center and Cambridge Street. At the end of the ramp at the traffic light, turn RIGHT onto Charles Street. At the fifth light turn LEFT onto Beacon Street. The State House will be on your LEFT. The Massachusetts State House does not have public parking facilities. We recommend using public transportation, as it is more convenient and less expensive, however, the nearest parking facility to the State House is the Boston Common Garage, operated by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. Information can be obtained by calling them at (617) 954-2096 or visiting their website at _http://www.mccahome .com/bcg_ con.html_ (http://www.mccahome .com/bcg_ con.html) .
By Public Transportation (MBTA) Red Line (from Alewife, Ashmont or Braintree Stations) Take train to Park Street Station. Once outside the station walk up Park Street toward the State House. Orange Line (from Oak Grove or Forest Hills Stations) Take train to Downtown Crossing. Walk up Winter Street (away from Filenes and Macy's) and turn RIGHT onto Tremont Street. Take first LEFT onto Park Street. Walk up Park Street to the State House.
Blue Line (from Wonderland or Airport Stations) Take train to Government Center Station. At Government Center Station, take a LEFT onto Cambridge Street, which turns, into Tremont Street. Take first RIGHT onto Beacon Street. The State House is on the third block on the RIGHT.
Green Line (from the Riverside, Cleveland Circle, Boston College and Arborway Lines) Take train to Park Street Station. Once outside the station walk up Park Street toward the State House.
Commuter Rail (take train to either South Station or North Station)
From South Station, take the Red Line to Park Street Station. Once outside the station walk up Park Street toward the State House.
From North Station, take the Green Line to Park Street Station. Once outside the station walk up Park Street toward the State House.
Enter the State House via the General Hooker entrance on Beacon Street. If you are facing the State House, this is just to the right of the main gate. For handicap access, please proceed around the corner to Bowdoin Street (Bowdoin Street is the first street on the left) to access the Ashburton Park entrance. Once inside, take the elevator to the second floor and look for Doric Hall. The State House Tours & Information Desk is located in Doric Hall on the second floor. For more information on handicap accessability please call 617-727-3676.
CT just passed a law, RI has one I think. Not sure about California...my memory isn't the greatest.
Posts: 571 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2008
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Please share your story & write a letter, folks~ this weekend!
To protect our doctors......
Posts: 571 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2008
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Amanda
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14107
posted
California also has this law.
-------------------- "few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example" - Mark Twain Posts: 1008 | From US | Registered: Dec 2007
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Write what you can. Even a few sentences, Massachusetts residents! ________________________________________
This press release was issued by Rep. Hargraves' office earlier today:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives State House, Boston, MA 02133-1054
Robert S. Hargraves STATE REPRESENTATIVE First Middlesex District Telephone: 617-722-2305 _Rep.RobertHargrave [email protected]. ma.us_ (mailto:Rep.RobertHargraves @hou.state. ma.us) Contact: Jane Morriss 617-722-2305
An Act Relative to the Treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease, scheduled for a hearing before the
Joint Committee on Public Health at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22 in Hearing Room A-1 on the first floor of the State House.
The Hearing will be preceded by a Press Conference at 9:30 a.m. outside the hearing room.
For Immediate Release
Their patients are sick, but doctors are forbidden to treat them. The patients' symptoms can represent the spectrum of human affliction, but the cause of all of their suffering may be one:
The miniscule deer tick (no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence) whose bite can inject the dreaded borrelia burgdorferi into its victim.
Although Borrelia burgdorferi is recognized by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the cause of Lyme disease, the chronic version of Lyme Disease often sends its victims on an endless odyssey to pediatricians, neurologists, cardiologists, psychiatrists, and back again.
Misdiagnosed and untreated, those afflicted with chronic Lyme disease (and their loved ones) watch helplessly as their health becomes more and more precarious. Some of the chronic Lyme victims are so ill they ultimately succumb to their mysterious malady.
They leave heartache, frustration, and financial ruin in their wake. ``I never realized how political the practice of medicine could be until I got involved in drafting this legislation,'' said State Representative Robert Hargraves, (R) First Middlesex District.
Rep. Hargraves is the primary sponsor of House Bill 1148, An Act Relative to the Treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease, scheduled for a hearing before the Joint Committee on Public Health at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22 in Hearing Room A-1 on the first floor of the State House.
The Hearing will be preceeded by a Press Conference at 9:30 a.m. outside the hearing room.
Rep. Hargraves district which covers the towns of Ayer, Devens, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, and Townsend are some of the hardest-hit communities in the Commonwealth.
``At first I couldn't believe what I was hearing,'' Rep. Hargraves said. ``
My constituents were getting sick, but their doctors were afraid to treat them for fear of losing their licenses or even of going to jail.
All of these people started coming to me and their stories were the same. Then I spoke to a few doctors and after that I knew that I had to do something.''
So Rep. Hargraves is proposing legislation that will protect physicians who prescribe long-term antibiotic treatment for their patients who have chronic Lyme disease from prosecution.
His bill is expected to be very similar to the bill that was signed into law by Connecticut earlier this year.
An Act Relative to the Treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease, has attracted broad support with 28 members of the House and Senate signed on as co-sponsors of the bill.
[Among them is Rep. James Arciero (D) Fifth Middlesex District, who represents the towns of Chelmsford, Littleton, Westford. ``The spread of Lyme disease throughout the United States, and especially in New England is epidemic.
We need to take the lead and pass this legislation which will allow for the long-term dispensation of antibiotic treatment for those suffering from this awful illness.
We have learned that the infections can take some time to control and we need to provide the necessary treatment in order for suffers to fully recover,''
said Representative Arciero, who has worked with Donna Castle of Mass Ticked Off, a Lyme Disease support group dedicated to spread awareness about this disease.]
[Among them is Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D) whose district covers the towns of _Ashburnham_
``I have heard from many of my constituents who suffer from Lyme Disease or have family members who have been diagnosed and I have realized what a huge impact it has on their lives.
The advanced stages of the disease are extremely debilitating so appropriate treatment and early detection are vital.
It is time that we start paying attention to Lyme Disease and I am proud to be a co-sponsor on this bill.'']
[Among them is State Representative Jennifer Benson (D) 37th Middlesex District, who represents the towns of Acton, Boxborough, Harvard, Shirley, Lancaster and Lunenburg.
``There has been a large increase in Lyme disease cases, particularly in my district. This legislation will allow doctors to treat this growing number of patients to the best of their ability,'' Rep. Benson said.]
An Act Relative to the Treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease has gained the support of several local groups including Ticked Off.
The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, Inc. is also endorsing the bill,
saying in a letter dated September 1, 2009 and signed by Jane M. Orient, M.D., executive director of AAPS:
``AAPS wholeheartedly supports MA H 1148,
which sensibly restrains the state medical board from penalizing or punishing a physician based solely on his treatment of Lyme disease in accordance with his best professional judgment.''
The legislation has also garnered the attention of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society of Bethesda, MD,
that has gone on record to support this legislation written to protect doctors who specialize in treating Lyme disease from prosecution for using long-term antibiotics.
-30- Robert S. Hargraves Representative First Middlesex District The Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives rep.roberthargraves @hou.state. ma.us 617-722-2305
As you know we are having a hearing for Bill 1148, the Physician Protection bill on Sept. 22nd at 10 am at the State House in Boston.
Please arrive early and do not come with backpacks and a lot of things because you will have to go through security and it will take longer to get through the line.
Hopefully you have written your testimonies by now and if not please foward them to me by Sunday Sept. 20 at lymebill@gmail. com.
The day of the hearing there will be 150 people allowed into the hearing room. Hopefully we will have more than that able to come to show their support!
We have been allowed to have a very controlled rally outside on the State House stairs. It is just as important to be out there showing your support of the Bill.
There will be news and TV media there and they will be looking for people to interview. Please keep in mind that we must attend this rally in a very courteous way.
As hard and frustrating as our stories can be, we must stay in total control and keep our focus on the purpose of this Bill.
We are allowed to carry signs in support of the Bill. Green ribbons worn by everyone will show our unity in this effort.
Hope to see you there on this very important day for the Lyme community.
Posts: 571 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2008
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My word of advice is to take the train and get off at either North Station or Park Street (the Red Line) and walk over. Parking is very scarce AND EXPENSIVE). There is parking over at North Station as well. If people are not able to walk, then they can take a cab for about $5.00 from North Station (a cab from South Station may be slightly more). (The above link will provide an orientation)
People can come in at either the General Hooker Entrance facing Beacon Street (it's the entrance to the right), or they can come in the Ashburton/Bowdoin Street entrance in the back. Hearing Room A-1 is on the first floor in the main part of the building. They can follow the signs. They can also ask any of the Park Rangers for directions, or anyone else.
Rally AND The Press Conference are scheduled for 9:30 outside the Hearing room.Posts: 571 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2008
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
ANYONE GOING FROM CT/STURBRIDGE MA AREA I CAN GO WITH??????
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
My letter from my business:
September 20, 2009
To the Members of the Public Health Committee:
I am writing of behalf of Sunrise Counseling Center of Sturbridge, Massachusetts in support of HB 1148, and ask that my letter be entered into the public record as written testimony.
As the owner of a busy counseling center which treats many patients who are afflicted with Lyme Disease and other tick borne diseases, I strongly support the intent of HB 1148.
All too often, patients are referred to our center for psychological services due to undiagnosed medical conditions that are finally deemed to be ``all in their heads.'' Once their stories are heard, we often recognize they may be suffering from Chronic Lyme Disease, a disease that is very hard to diagnose and treat.
Unfortunately, due to the fact that two standards of care for Lyme disease have been published, it is extremely difficult to gain access to physicians who are willing to treat according to a standard of care that rejects rigid and unrealistic guidelines.
As a result, thousands of Massachusetts residents live with this chronic, debilitating illness and are unable to receive appropriate care, resulting in them ending up on disability, and often becoming a drain on state resources as they are unable to be productive members of society.
Furthermore the suffering they must live with is nothing short of criminal. Many of our patients are in extreme pain all of the time, experience debilitating fatigue, and have little to no quality of life any longer. The number one cause of death for Lyme patients is suicide, as the disease becomes unbearable to live with any longer and appropriate treatment cannot be found.
With the passage of HB 1148, more qualified physicians would be able to practice without fear of unfair retribution. This would result in the healing of many extremely ill Massachusetts residents. Please support the intent of this bill. Literally, thousands of lives are depending on it.
Sincerely,
Tracy A. Will, MSW, LICSW Owner/Director Sunrise Counseling Center 35 Main Street Sturbridge, MA 01566
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
My personal letter:
September 20, 2009
Dear Representative Hargraves:
I am writing to you today about HB 1148. Please enter my letter into the public record as written testimony.
I support the intent of HB 1148. If the wording of the bill is edited along the way I want every effort to be made to keep it true to the original goal, to protect doctors treating their patients Lyme disease with long-term antibiotic therapy.
As a sufferer of Chronic Lyme Disease, I have gone from being a productive member of society to a disabled person unable to function most of the time. Although I currently reside in Connecticut, prior to becoming ill, I worked for ten years at UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester, Massachusetts, and lived most of my life in Massachusetts.
Since becoming ill, I have had an extremely hard time receiving care for my debilitating condition. I finally began treatment with a wonderful new physician in Wellesley, Massachusetts who had trained under one of the foremost Lyme doctors in the country. After being sick and primarily bedridden for years, within a short time I was functioning again under her treatment protocol.
Within six months of practicing in Massachusetts, complaints were made about her being ``too aggressive'' and ``unconventional'' with her treatment, and she promptly stopped treating Lyme patients for fear of losing her license. Since that time, several months ago, I have been unable to find adequate care in either Connecticut or Massachusetts, and my condition has yet again deteriorated to the point where I am bedridden and wheelchair bound a good amount of the time.
I have had to pay out of pocket for nearly all of my Lyme treatment, as physicians who do treat fear retribution by the insurance companies, and therefore practice on a self pay basis only. This, coupled with my inability to work most of the time, has forced me to go from an upper middle class wage earner to one facing bankruptcy, foreclosure on my house, along with my car and only means of transportation to medical appts being repossessed, among other things.
With the treatment of this skilled doctor in Massachusetts, I had hope for the first time in the five years that I would finally beat this catastrophic disease. The improvements in my condition were dramatic, and I have no doubt I would have gotten back to a functioning level had I been able to continue under the treatment of this physician.
It is imperative for the welfare of the residents of Massachusetts, and those like myself that travel out of state for treatment that only the skilled physicians in Massachusetts can provide, that physicians to be allowed to use their own clinical judgment in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease, including long-term treatment, without fear of prosecution. Better access to physicians is desperately needed, who are willing to treat outside of a standard of care that dictates rigid and unrealistic guidelines.
I believe without the HB 1148 amendment many doctors will continue to be reluctant to treat Lyme with long-term antibiotic therapy for fear of disciplinary action against them, as happened to me with the one doctor who was finally able to help me get well.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
My husband's letter: (Obviously similar to mine....)
September 20, 2009
Dear Representative Hargraves:
I am writing to you today about HB 1148. Please enter my letter into the public record as written testimony.
I support the intent of HB 1148. If the wording of the bill is edited along the way I want every effort to be made to keep it true to the original goal, to protect doctors treating their patients Lyme disease with long-term antibiotic therapy.
I have been afflicted with Chronic Lyme Disease for 11 years, after being grossly misdiagnosed despite having a large bullseye rash and all the classic symptoms in a Connecticut Emergency Room that should have clearly known to test me.
Since becoming ill, I have had an extremely hard time receiving care for my debilitating condition. I finally began treatment with a wonderful new physician in Wellesley, Massachusetts who had trained under one of the foremost Lyme doctors in the country. After being unable to work for years, and living in daily excruciating pain, she put me on IV antibiotics and for the first time I began to experience improvement in my condition.
Within six months of practicing in Massachusetts, complaints were made about her being ``too aggressive'' and ``unconventional'' with her treatment, and she promptly stopped treating Lyme patients for fear of losing her license. Since that time, several months ago, I have been forced to pay out of pocket for less than adequate care, and have been unable to find any doctor nearly as knowledgeable as the one I had been seeing in Massachusetts.
I have gone from being a Second Vice President at Traveler's Insurance Company in Hartford, CT to being unemployed for almost three years due to being so debilitated from Chronic Lyme Disease. I am facing bankruptcy, my house is in foreclosure, my children got no new school clothes, shoes, or backpacks, and we are rarely able to shop for food.
With the treatment of this skilled doctor in Massachusetts, I was getting better for the first time in 11 years. The improvements in my condition were dramatic, and I have no doubt I would have gotten back to a functioning level had I been able to continue under the treatment of this physician.
It is imperative that physicians to be allowed to use their own clinical judgment in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease, including long-term treatment, without fear of prosecution. Better access to physicians is desperately needed, who are willing to treat outside of a standard of care that dictates rigid and unrealistic guidelines. These physicians who treat Lyme disease do so because they are the most caring, committed, dedicated group of physicians that there are. They are not in it for the money or the glory, and put their licenses on the line every day to help one of the most disenfranchised group of sick people that exists.
I believe without the HB 1148 amendment many doctors will continue to be reluctant to treat Lyme with long-term antibiotic therapy for fear of disciplinary action against them, as happened to me with the one doctor who was finally able to help me get well.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
This is my letter, with spaces so people here can read it more easily:
Thank you for allowing me to provide testimony in support of Bill #1148.
Please enter my letter into the public record as written testimony.
I support the intent of HB #1148 as it will provide Massachusetts doctors protection so that they can treat Lyme Disease patients to the best of their ability, using their clinical judgment without fear of retribution.
To write to you today is a struggle for me but I believe so strongly that this bill should be passed that I am motivated and will persevere in order to contribute to the testimonies in front of you today.
And that which motivates me as well, is the realization that I am writing on behalf of many thousands of Lyme disease patients in this state too debilitated to be writing testimony of their own.
Like so many other Lyme Disease patients (as this is an endemic area, so there are many) I am unable to work due to Lyme Disease's debilitating effects.
Ten years' worth of misdiagnoses, delayed then improper treatment unfortunately has let the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria (Lyme disease) proliferate, disseminating throughout various systems in my body, especially affecting my brain.
I am a magna cum laude college graduate whose Lyme-induced encephalopathy has left me failing cognitive tests with flying colors and a brain Spect scan showing significantly limited blood flow to many areas of my brain.
I've become increasingly impaired over the last ten years, unable to work for the last two and a half years.
I applied for Social Security Disability Insurance and earlier this year learned that they had accepted my application, deeming me officially disabled from Lyme Disease.
Although becoming a burden to the system is disturbing to me, I am deeply grateful that there is such a program in place, and grateful as well for my family's generosity so that I am able to pay for both food and my exorbitant medical costs. I know that others in my situation are not as fortunate.
The IDSA treatment protocol (of 10 days to a maximum of 21 days of antibiotics) which is specifically for Lyme disease that is caught early, does not apply in my case.
It is my understanding that most doctors currently lack the knowledge of how to best treat late disseminated Lyme Disease and usually follow this early-caught standard for all cases they encounter.
The doctors who do have the necessary expertise in cases such as mine are the ones who have determined that an aggressive treatment approach is necessary (and this is supported by sound medical research).
From what I have learned in many cases the current political climate surrounding this treatment restricts these expert doctors from putting into practice their experience and knowledge for these late stage Lyme Disease cases.
I am fortunate to have had several rounds of IV antibiotic treatment which improved some of my symptoms immensely, curing some, while others only improved while on the IV, returning while off of the IV treatment.
At this point, even though told by a doctor that I definitely need several more months of IV in order to see further improvement in symptoms, I have found no doctors willing to prescribe this for me.
Understandably, the climate in this state is ``hands off'' to do with Lyme Disease, because of this controversy. It is bewildering though, given that this is an endemic area.
I honestly cannot understand it as thoroughly as I would like. But I do know that doctors are fearful to treat patients like myself because of threat to their medical licenses.
And I do understand the doctors' dilemma as I truly do not want them to have to risk losing their very livelihoods so that I can recover from this disease.
I find it deplorable and depressing that there is even a need for this legislation.
By approving this greatly needed bill you can start the wheels of change in this state. Massachusetts will join California and Connecticut which already have similar legislation, providing protection to doctors granting them freedom to do their jobs, to treat Lyme Disease using the whole of their knowledge, their judgment derived from clinical expertise.
Patients as well will benefit greatly from this bill as we will finally gain access to proper treatment allowing us the opportunity to overcome debilitating symptoms so that we can stop being patients and once again return to leading active and productive lives.
Please remember us the current Lyme Disease patients and future patients as well, when considering your vote on this bill. Thank you.
Posts: 366 | From MA | Registered: Apr 2006
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