Newsgroups: alt.med.cfs
Date:         Sun, 20 Dec 1992 11:23:39 EST
              <CFS-L@NIHLIST.BITNET>
From:         Roger Burns <BFU@NIHCU.BITNET>
Subject: Re: Lyme Disease/Garlic-Vit.C 'Cure' ...

Please keep in mind while reading my comments below that I am completely new
(inexperienced) w.r.t. Lyme Disease issues.  As List-owner, I'll mention that
since Lyme disease is quite similar to CFIDS/CFS in many of its symptoms and
most physicians have difficulty in diagnosing or distinguishing between either
condition, it is worthwhile for us to discuss Lyme issues here.  (Also, this
list has otherwise had light traffic of late.)

To proceed with my personal comments & questions:

> Date:         Sat, 19 Dec 1992 20:43:00 CST
> From:         DAVID NYE <NYEDA@UWEC.BITNET>
>
>   [TEXT REGARDING DR. SIGAL'S RESEARCH DELETED]
>
>    ... So why the flames in the first paragraph?

From his earlier post it seems that Mr. O'Donnell has had a direct experience
(and a very disappointing one) with Dr. Sigal's actions which, according to
O'Donnell's report, strongly undermined a long-term effort to reform
insurance company behavior through a legislative process.  I'm not about to
form a solid opinion about Dr. Sigal based on the messages I've read here
but I *can* imagine that an M.D. (hopefully few) might decide that his
personal and professional interests coincide with those of a powerful interest
group (e.g., insurance companies) and act accordingly; I can imagine that what
Mr. O'Donnell is reporting *might* be true.  Also, given that O'Donnell is a
patient, is a victim of Lyme disease then if there were a basis in substance
for his perceptions that our imperfect medical system is giving insufficient
and/or malappropriate attention to Lyme, his occasional use of emotional
language is quite understandable.  (By medical system I mean research, clinical
practise AND the insurance system.)

However, I would rather that we focus on the more purely medical, or
scientific, questions that have been raised here.  Does the medical literature
in fact makes it clear that early treatment of Lyme is urgent and vital?

>    ... please post the references (something more than a
> reference to an abstract).

I did notice that the references that were posted were in a form that I did not
recognize.  However, the sizable number of references given, along with their
descriptions, was impressive.  I'm not familiar with the issue of the
desireability of "abstract references" vs. more direct references but I would
like to see clarified what the references are.  And more particularly I'd like
to know whether there is a preponderance of references in the literature
(whether regarding articles already cited here or not) that support the essence
of what Mr. O'Donnell is saying.


> Date:         Sat, 19 Dec 1992 22:36:26 PST
> From:         John Setel O'Donnell <jod@EQUATOR.COM>
>
>   ... Please cite a single reference which refutes
> the papers I have cited showing persistent infection.  Explain how
> your position is based on fact rather than emotion or prejudice.

I agree with your call for more facts.  However I believe that we can make
progress, perhaps even greater progress, towards gaining more information
without replying upon an adversarial tone.  I thank you very much for the
valuable information you've provided here about Lyme research and about how the
politics and ethics of medical insurance does and doesn't work.


Roger Burns      bfu@cu.nih.gov / bfu@nihcu.bitnet / fidonet 1:109/432
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