The hostile discrimination that has been felt across the country by people with chronic Lyme disease just may be starting to turn.  For so long the medical establishment -following the strict guidelines of IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America) have turned away the hundreds of thousands of people all across America.

Why?

Because Lyme disease is easily cured with 3 weeks of Doxycycline (so says the IDSA) and if that doesn’t cure our symptoms than we are:

• hypochondriacs
  
• looking for attention
• lying
• sick with Fibromyalgia (no known cause or cure)
• sick with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (no known cause or cure)
• just plain crazy

Heaven forbid that a doctor could be wrong!

Well, it appears that most of the nightmare is over for those who suffer with chronic Lyme disease thanks to Connecticut State Representative Kim Fawcett (pictured) who sponsored the bill and every other State Representative on the Health Committee – with the intense pressure and momentum over the IDSA ruling, the release of “Under Our Skin” – a very raw and moving documentary on the horrors that we face with chronic Lyme, and the continually rising numbers of families who are being affected by the disease:

• work disability
• domestic disability
• children unable to attend school
• financial ruin due to insurance denials
  

Theses are just a few of the contributing factors, but observers believe the bill has the momentum to be passed into law!

What would change?

The proposal would validate the treatment of chronic Lyme disease in Connecticut.

It clarifies to physicians, despite an opinion from the Infectious Disease Society of America that chronic Lyme disease does not exist, that they do have the right to diagnose and prescribe long-term antibiotics for the illness without fear of reprisal by the state.

Further, the bill states that as of July 1, 2009, the Medical Examining Board may not discipline a licensed physician “solely for” prescribing, administering and dispensing long-term antibiotic therapy to a patient clinically diagnosed with Lyme disease as documented in their medical records.

As expected, Connecticut’s health officials are concerned the bill as written would strip the department of its ability to review complaints and violations, particularly in cases where the care being provided to a patient deviates from current, evidence-based practice.

Somewhere along the treacherous route of this epidemic, patient’s rights have been swept under the rug.  It is already law that patients should be advised of treatment choices but that the patient retains the right to choose and insurance must pay.

If our constituents were not so disabled, we could effect some real changes based on laws that have already been passed.  But we can barely make it to hearings and some cannot even do that.  A rally would be missing most of the discriminated who are bedridden or tortured by light and sound.

Meanwhile, it is my hope that a brave and principled attorney would begin proceedings for a class-action law suit against the unholy triad of IDSA, insurance companies and law makers.

But how much money can make up for the years stolen from young children?  How much money can make up for all the productive years and the trauma of bankruptcy and home foreclosure and misdiagnosed surgeries?  The lost years of excruciating pain…who can make up for that?

For more information read http://www.newstimes.com/ci_12005818