To the IOM ME/CFS committee:
We, the undersigned, hereby formally object to the choice of Megan Arroll as a key speaker at the next IOM meeting on May 5th.
As patients suffering from ME/CFS, we have previously voiced our opinion through comments to the IOM and through presentations at the January meeting. We have all as ‘one voice’, expressed to you that ME/CFS is a serious organic disease. It is not a somatoform illness with psychological undertones.
We are therefore seriously worried and feel that we have not been ‘heard’, as the IOM has chosen this speaker who is a proponent of the psychological slant of this disease, to present at the next meeting. Furthermore, this speaker promotes GET and CBT as a treatment as evidenced by this
case study she wrote. We have previously shown overwhelming evidence that GET and CBT are harmful to ME/CFS patients.
A quick look at Megan Arrol’s website “
The Optimum Health Clinic”, will reveal that Megan Arrol’s true concept of this serious and debilitating disease, is a somatoform one. Her book “Secrets to Recovery”, includes chapters titled: “Open Your Mind to New Ideas”, “Release Your Fears”, and “Finding Your Purpose”. Is this the education that IOM feels the committee members need to hear?
We, the undersigned, therefore ask you to replace this speaker with one that is knowledgeable in the organic neurologicals aspects of the disease that we all suffer from.
Very truly yours,