Dr. Bateman: “I think it is time to grow. Truth will prevail.”
Perfect is the Enemy of Good
Posted on October 2, 2013
As I have previously posted, the IOM was awarded another contract with the VA on GWS. Previous to 1997, the VA labeled GWS as psychiatric and treatment followed various psychological modalities. The Veterans took their case to Congress where a Congressionally mandated Research Advisory Board was authorized to reseach the causes of GWS and establish criteria for this illness.
The previous head of the IOM stated that this is unprecedented for the IOM to defined criteria for an illness. The findings of the
IOM board ignored all the scientific evidence from the Congressional Board and redefined GWS as CMI !! GWS was considered a psycho-somatic disorder.The symptoms are similar to ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia. In other words, policy from the Executive Branch of Government took precedent over the Legislative Body in Congress. The IOM also considered a larger pool of veterans that were not involved in the 1991 Gulf War.
Please Read about it here and click on the links within the article
Gulf War illness advocates skeptical of institute panel
Now we have another award to the IOM to investigate and establish criteria for ME/CFS/Fibro. This is piggybacking off the recent VA IOM decision. The outcome base on the criteria established for GWS will be the same! CMI and medical treatment will be discontinued.
The decisions by Secretaries of both departments indicate that this policy was approved at the highest level within the White House. So I would address any letters and petitions to the President, Vice President and staff members within the White House.
It is not effective to write to lower members within the DHHS as this decision is formulated at the Secretarial level of DHSS.
Get everyone to sign the petition Tell DHHS: We have suffered long enough
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/255/349/958/fatigue-is-not-a-disease/
If the IOM categorizes ME as CMI, than funding for scientific reseach from both public and private sources will evaporate. Treatment by the medical profession will be limited to psychiatric modalities. I believe that Professor Wessely's influence has impacted this administration concerning GWS and ME/CFS.
So far there has only been tepid response amogn this patient community to this recent announcement which is disheartening to say the least. This decision will impact each and every one of you in seeking medical treatment! Treatment protocal will be limited to CBT, GET and anti-dpressants medication.
Eco