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In Memory of Dr. Bruce Carruthers

Jo Best

Senior Member
Messages
1,032
NATIONAL ME/FM ACTION NETWORK BIDS FAREWELL

to

DR. BRUCE CARRUTHERS, R.I.P.

July 25, 2017

Our BC Director, Sherri Todd, has informed us of the passing of Dr. Bruce Carruthers. Dr. Carruthers is one of the two doctors who did the original drafts of the Canadian Clinical Definitions from which the medical panels worked to make the final definitions which became know as "The Canadian Definitions".

Our Director, Sherri, summed up the words and feelings of all of us that were privileged to work with this wonderful man. We are grateful to Dr. Carruthers and are saddened by his passing.

"Friends,
I am saddened to share with you, news of the recent passing of Vancouver ME/FM Physician, Dr. Bruce Carruthers. Dr. Carruthers was a very kind, compassionate and dedicated Physician, who was much loved by all who knew him, most especially his ME/ FM/MCS patients.

Three times he tried to retire, and three times he returned to practice due to the needs his ME and FM Patients presented, when they could not find other knowledgeable and supportive Physicians to treat them. For those most seriously ill, he would make a home visit.

On both a personal and professional note, I had the pleasure of knowing Bruce for well over 30 years, and called him my friend. He became a Medical Advisor to the National ME/FM Network, and lectured around the world. He was one of the most exceptional, interesting and intuitive human beings I’ve ever met.

I’m sure this played a great part in the legend he became to his friends, patients, colleagues and through out his many years of research into Substance P, his public forums educating Patients and Physicians, in radio and news interviews, and in his many published articles, journal material and in the ME and FM Consensus Documents, which are still used today.

Many times I’ve had patients tell me that when they told him their history and symptoms, he knew and understood them. Patients felt his compassion, and respect for them.

Dr. Carruthers was a-one-of-a-kind, incredible Physician. Those of us fortunate to know him, be his patient or colleague, or who benefit from his published articles, know he will never be forgotten! RIP Bruce!

Sherri Todd, Director for B.C.
NATIONAL ME/FM ACTION NETWORK

(Source: https://www.facebook.com/MEFMActionNetwork/posts/1606053802747890)
 

Jo Best

Senior Member
Messages
1,032
Via Wendy Boutilier
Yesterday at 07:45 ·

Bruce M. Carruthers, MD, CM, FRCPC, was a Specialist in Internal Medicine, practicing in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He was the principal author or editor who developed or contributed to the following:

2012 Myalgic Encephalomyelitis- Adult & Paediatric, International Consensus Primer for Medical Practitioners (editor)[1]

2011 Myalgic encephalomyelitis: International Consensus Criteria.[2]

2005 Guideline for Medical Practitioners regarding the Canadian Consensus Criteria[3]

2003 Canadian Consensus Criteria for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, published as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:Clinical Working Case Definition,Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols[4]

2003 Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Canadian Clinical Working Case Definition, Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols–A Consensus[5]

2002, 2005 Teach ME - A Sourcebook for Teachers of Young People with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS)[6]
 

Jo Best

Senior Member
Messages
1,032
From Kevin Short:

To whom it may concern.

I was very saddened to hear of the death of Canada's Dr Bruce
Carruthers. As an ME patient activist in the UK, I had the pleasure to
meet Dr Carruthers and his wife and to collaborate with Bruce on many
occasions in our prolonged endeavors to improve the lot of ME
patients. Bruce was a gentle giant of a man, scientifically astute and
full of compassion. He was always ready to help patients in any way he
could, not least with assisting some of us tackle the UK government's
perverse NICE 'CFS/ME' Guideline 53 via the high court. He was even
willing to fly across the Atlantic at his own expence at short notice.

If I had to select two outstanding and long-lasting credits to his
professional life, they would of course be the documents known as the
'Canadian Criteria' and the 'ME International Consensus Criteria'
co-authored by Dr Carruthers (see following links). Dr Carruthers was
an outstanding credit to his profession and real credit to humanity.
Hopefully, in the not too distant future, ME patients will celebrate
the day when sound science and proper patient care finally and fully
replace the continued politicised maelstrom we find ourselves in. When
that glorious day comes, it will in no small part be due to the kind
and dedicated work of Dr Bruce Carruthers.

Kevin Short, 25 July 2017.

contact@angliameaction.org.uk

http://angliameaction.org.uk/

http://angliameaction.org.uk/docs/Canadian-Consensus-Document-2003.pdf

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2796.2011.02428.x/pdf

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