I've changed my mind
Thank you all for your great perspectives. I thought maybe the author could just be ignored as someone who had disploayed his ignorance, but on reflection, I realize that he went too far both in insulting a patient group and trivializing terrorism.
Instead of ignoring this blog, I will try to do what I can to get this blog removed and get an apology issued.
To that end, I have compiled a list of people I plan to contact. Thanks Anne & Min for the great letters, Muffin for the list of Psychology Today contacts, and dys & oerganix and others for the idea of asking his employers and the AMA if they concur with his published opinions.
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1. Dr. Borigini graduated from Hahnemann University (now
Drexel University) School of Medicine in 1988
a. Media Inquiries: Contact: Christine Fagan
Phone: (215) 895-6121
email:
christine.fagan@drexel.edu
b.
http://www.drexel.com/corporate/contact.aspx
2. - completed his internal medicine residency at the
University of California, Irvine, in 1991.
- 1993 participating in the teaching of students and housestaff from the University of California, Irvine.
- He currently holds the title of Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine.
(Sorry couldnt find a contact us section)
a. Chancellor Michael Drake
b.
http://www.facebook.com/UCIrvine
c.
http://twitter.com/UCIrvine/
d.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/staffadvisors/
e. Chancellors Advisory Committee on the Status of Staff:
http://www.hr.uci.edu/cacss/
3. - he spent two years at
UCLA, completing his rheumatology fellowship in 1993.
- Besides assisting in the teaching of students and housestaff, Dr. Borigini was involved in studying novel rheumatoid arthritis treatments, and he continued doing so as a Clinical Instructor at the
UCLA School of Medicine until 1993
a.
http://www.ucla.edu/
b.
http://www.ucla.edu/administration.html
c.
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/media-contacts.aspx
d.
http://www.facebook.com/uclabruins
e.
http://twitter.com/uclanewsroom
4. 1993, at which time he took a position at the
VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California,
a.
http://www.longbeach.va.gov/
b. 562-826-8000.
c.
http://www.longbeach.va.gov/contact/index.asp
5. In 2003, Dr. Borigini took on additional academic duties at
Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey, California, one of the top rehabilitation facilities in the United States, according to US News and World Report. In his capacity as Clinical Professor at the University of Southern California, he heads the inpatient Rheumatology Consult service at Rancho,
a.
http://www.rancho.org/
b. Tel: 582-401-7111
8. - In his capacity as Clinical Professor at the
University of Southern California,
- and conducts teaching rounds with rheumatology trainees from the University of Southern California.
a.
http://www.usc.edu/contact/
b. Health Sciences Campus Tel: (323) 442-2000
9. He is a member of
Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical profession's honor society
a.
http://www.alphaomegaalpha.org/index.html
b. Here are the addresses to email all board members:
cba@uab.edu,
rga2@psu.edu,
ncberry@partners.org,
william.bynum@uscmed.sc.edu,
jespat@hepaticsurgery.com,
rfincher@mcg.edu,
amy.goldberg@temple.edu,
rae-ellen_kavey@urmc.rochester.edu,
anne.mancino@us.army.mil,
dpaauw@u.washington.edu,
suzannpershing@gmail.com,
sheryl.pfeil@osumc.edu,
dpowell@utmb.edu,
josephwstubbs@gmail.com,
jtooker@acponline.org,
avantidoc@aol.com,
cason.pierce@gmail.com
10. American Medical Association
a.
https://extapps.ama-assn.org/contactus/contactusMain.do
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http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...sts-health-the-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-jihad
The Terrorists of Health: The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Jihad
Eternal hell to the non-believers.
Published on January 20, 2010
Recently, there were all kinds of blogging and blustering over the internet regarding the XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus), a retrovirus researchers have found may be associated with chronic fatigue syndrome. However, it is a novel finding, and far from being the proverbial sure thing for those who are searching for the sure thing in the quest for the etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome. But the Terrorists of Health, in full jihadist mode, are trumpeting XMRV as being "proof" that the mystery of chronic fatigue syndrome has been found. Eternal hell to the non-believers. Well, there is no proof. And what is more disappointing is the money that will invariably be wasted by desperate patients trying to figure out why they are fatigued; because, rest assured, there will be unscrupulous individuals waiting for the patient who wants to be tested. But a test result in a non-research setting means practically nothing at this time, whether it be a positive test result or a negative test result. There is no reliable test available commercially at this time; researchers have several different tests they are using now in their ongoing research on XMRV. XMRV was originally discovered in the tissue of cancerous prostates. This begs the question: Where else is XMRV found, and what does it mean when it is found? The diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome has generally been referred to as a "diagnosis of exclusion". How comfortable should we be in accepting the presumption that the study subjects described in the XMRV literature published thus far truly have chronic fatigue syndrome? What if the XMRV test is telling us there is a problem, but not necessarily chronic fatigue syndrome? How will the chronic fatigue syndrome jihadists deal with, say, the discovery that XMRV causes an illness which leads to fatigue? But I can hear the internet IEDs exploding as I write this! It is for the scientist to steer clear of the mine field of the politics of health. Studies have to be conducted with objectivity: Is XMRV just a bystander, and if so, why is it there? I am looking forward to more data. The Terrorists of Health should at least grant us a brief reprieve as we all await that data.
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Previous blog:
Awakening to the Reality of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Does your doctor have CFS fatigue?
Published on November 18, 2009 Dr Borgini Psychology Today
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Annes letter to Psych Today
Dear Ms. Ma
I'm writing because I'm very disturbed by Dr. Borigini's blog today comparing CFS patients to terrorists and jihadists. This seems to be entirely antithetical to your description of the bloggers as having "Dedicated their lives to the promotion of sound psychology for the benefit of the communities in which they live." What community does this benefit? What sound psychology is being promoted here? What it seems to be is a rant that grievously insults a group of sick people, not to mention makes light of actual terrorism and the devastation suffered from it.
I have had the illness known as CFS and have recovered, thanks to antiviral medication. Others are not so lucky. Some are bedridden and broke, unable to get disability because the medical establishment still doesn't understand the illness. People's perceptions of CFS, unfortunately, aren't just academic--it affects the sufferer's ability to get good medical care and support from friends and family. I hope you can imagine how devastating it is to be so ill and to have people dismiss your illness. As hard as that is to watch, I've never seen anything as crass and insulting as Dr. Borigini's blog. (The blog is actually pretty misinformed on CFS and on the study it discusses, but that's not the real point.)
I understand the benefit of allowing the blogs to be freewheeling; however I think this far crosses the line. It serves no purpose but to insult a group of sick people with no political power who have already suffered enough. I do not believe it is in Psychology Today's mission to cause harm. CFS--despite the absurd name-- has a great deal in common with Lupus and MS, and it's hard to imagine someone getting away with calling those patients jihadists. I sincerely hope you reconsider this blog, and this blogger.
Sincerely,
....
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Min
"I am writing to complain about the blog article
"The Terrorists of Health: The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Jihad"
likening sufferers of the neurological illness CFS to terrorists, and inciting hatred towards them. I ask you to remove this incredibly offensive article. thank you"
