Countrygirl
Senior Member
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- 5,637
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- UK
ME on death certificate
Hello bully beef,
My friend who died of ME was the local vicar, who had been ill for 20 years following a severe infection. Our local GPs were notorious for their hostility to anyone who had such a diagnosis and they told all of us - including the vicar - that it was all in our heads. It was very tough because they refused to sanction sickness benefits, although we were too ill to work. Same old story. However, my friend, after being ill for about 17 years, had surgery for another condition and, afterwards, the surgeon told him that what he discovered during the procedure convinced him of the reality of M.E
All I know is that it concerned the state of the muscles. Sorry to sound so vague, but I don't think my friend was quite sure of the details.
Although he recovered from the surgery, his M.E. worsened and he became bed-ridden and was nursed by his wife. Sadly, she had an accident which resulted in her being admitted to hospital. The GPs were still dismissive of the illness, so refused to sanction any care for him whilst his wife was in hospital. As a result, he had no food or drink for something like a week or so. He just wasted away, and died a little while after his wife came out of hospital.
After the GP came to certify death, the wife telephoned me with news that neither she nor I could believe: the non-believing GP said that ME was the cause of death and wrote it on the death certificate!!!!! It was extraordinary. We felt that it was a big breakthrough, but we were wrong. His partners made him toe the party line again, and he reverted to being dismissive of his M.E. patients. I guess he regreted seeing the light for a brief five minutes.
I know that others have had M.E. registered as the cause of death since then because I keep reading that it is for the first time. Not so.
Hello bully beef,
My friend who died of ME was the local vicar, who had been ill for 20 years following a severe infection. Our local GPs were notorious for their hostility to anyone who had such a diagnosis and they told all of us - including the vicar - that it was all in our heads. It was very tough because they refused to sanction sickness benefits, although we were too ill to work. Same old story. However, my friend, after being ill for about 17 years, had surgery for another condition and, afterwards, the surgeon told him that what he discovered during the procedure convinced him of the reality of M.E
All I know is that it concerned the state of the muscles. Sorry to sound so vague, but I don't think my friend was quite sure of the details.Although he recovered from the surgery, his M.E. worsened and he became bed-ridden and was nursed by his wife. Sadly, she had an accident which resulted in her being admitted to hospital. The GPs were still dismissive of the illness, so refused to sanction any care for him whilst his wife was in hospital. As a result, he had no food or drink for something like a week or so. He just wasted away, and died a little while after his wife came out of hospital.
After the GP came to certify death, the wife telephoned me with news that neither she nor I could believe: the non-believing GP said that ME was the cause of death and wrote it on the death certificate!!!!! It was extraordinary. We felt that it was a big breakthrough, but we were wrong. His partners made him toe the party line again, and he reverted to being dismissive of his M.E. patients.
I guess he regreted seeing the light for a brief five minutes.I know that others have had M.E. registered as the cause of death since then because I keep reading that it is for the first time. Not so.
