Lyme Disease Controversy: Use and Misuse of Language
Authors: Andrew Lautin
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Letters5 November 2002Lyme Disease Controversy: Use and Misuse of LanguageAndrew Lautin, MDAndrew Lautin, MDNew York University; New York, NY 10010Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-137-9-200211050-00026 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:In his article on use and misuse of language in Lyme disease (1), Dr. Sigal argues that a rationalist versus empiricist dichotomy lurks at the heart of the Lyme debate. Dr. Sigal polarizes his suggested dichotomy by asserting, “I prefer to call them [the disputants on both sides of the Lyme disease debate] proponents of ‘reality’ and ‘alternative reality.’” In Dr. Sigal's bifurcated world view, members of the empirical school (devoted, among other things, to the care of the patient) are conflated with the “alternative reality” group, which prefers delusion to truth.Regarding the empirical approach to ...References1. Sigal LH. Misconceptions about Lyme disease: confusions hiding behind ill-chosen terminology. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136:413-9. [PMID: 11874324] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Gould SJ. Dinosaur in a Haystack: Reflections in Natural History. New York: Crown; 1996:38-52. Google Scholar3. Akiskal HA. The joint use of clinical and biological criteria for psychiatric diagnosis. I. A historical and methodological review.. In: Akiskal HA, Webb W, eds. Psychiatric Diagnosis: Exploration of Biological Predictors. New York: Spectrum; 1978:103-32. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: New York University; New York, NY 10010 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoMisconceptions about Lyme Disease: Confusions Hiding behind Ill-Chosen Terminology Leonard H. Sigal Lyme Disease Controversy: Use and Misuse of Language Edward L. McNeil Lyme Disease Controversy: Use and Misuse of Language Kenneth B. Liegner Lyme Disease Controversy: Use and Misuse of Language Raphael B. Stricker Lyme Disease Controversy: Use and Misuse of Language Leonard H. Sigal Duration of Antibiotic Therapy for Lyme Disease Raphael B. Stricker and Edward L. McNeil Metrics Cited byUpdate on Lyme DiseaseCounterpoint: Long-Term Antibiotic Therapy Improves Persistent Symptoms Associated with Lyme DiseaseLyme Disease: The Quest for Magic BulletsChronic infection in ‘post-Lyme borreliosis syndrome’Inaccurate Information About Lyme Disease on the InternetLyme disease: point/counterpointDuration of Antibiotic Therapy for Lyme DiseaseRaphael B. Stricker, MD and Edward L. McNeil, MDThe Lyme Wars: time to listenLyme disease without erythema migrans: cause for concern? 5 November 2002Volume 137, Issue 9Page: 775KeywordsCardiovascular therapyClinical laboratoriesForecastingLyme diseasePatientsResearch laboratoriesSigns and symptoms ePublished: 5 November 2002 Issue Published: 5 November 2002 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2002 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...