Re Western Daily Pres
INTENDED FOR PUBLICATION
Dear Sir
Re the headline to the news item in today's Western Daily Press covering children with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS):
http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Yuppie-flu-taking-toll-teens/story-28594735-detail/story.html
Yuppie flu is a derogatory and inaccurate description for the serious and debilitating neurological illness known as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
The name was invented by journalists and has NEVER been used by the medical profession
And as you say in the news item, ME/CFS is an illness that
was more common in children from poor homes with little practical or emotional support from their mothers
ME/CFS has no social class bias and has nothing to do with so-called yuppies
To comply with the press code of conduct on accuracy please take immediate steps to remove this appalling headline from your on-line news item and place a suitable correction and apology in the paper edition tomorrow
Yours
Dr Charles Shepherd
Medical Adviser, ME Association
7 Apollo Office Court
Radclive Road
Gawcott
Bucks MK18 4DF
Website:
www.meassociation.org.uk
Rapid response from editorial at the Western Daily Press:
Hi there,
Thanks for your email.
‘Yuppie flu’ is a nickname that is used to referred to ME, hence it being used in the headline in inverted commas.
However we have taken your point that the headline has not reflected the story well enough and the headline has now been amended.
Thanks,
Philippa