Re: Phyllis: Activists Say YIKES We need to KILL the MD BILL! LOL


Rita Stanley wrote:
> What a mess.
>
> By the end of it all, what kind of credibility will the MD Lymeland
people,
> and all those who pushed this, have with
policymakers............anywhere?
> What credibility do these people have with people IN Lymeland?

The people in Lymeland don't notice or don't care or don't pay
attention. That's how "leaders" get away with it--all credit no blame
and no accountability a la PHYLLIS.

And then she has the balls to turn around and accuse YOU and Lyme
Alliance of mismanagement of funds when she charges for her rag Lyme
times which is always Old news anyway, and has the balls to say to me
"well what are YOUR solutions"

Well Phyllis at least my "solutions" aren't making things WORSE than
ever.

But have they learned anything? No. On the same pages as tincup is
going on three threads about killing the MD bill, they're all getting
behind the CAL bill and posting that they've sent their emails and
urged their friends too and the WISC people are going to follow what
they're doing?

Will they EVER EVER LEARN from a single mistake? Well they have to
admit a mistake first and so far they haven't done so.

> How can anyone think that you can legislate how to treat Lyme disease

> especially if the way you want it done is a (very) minority view? Add
to
> that, the minority view has no real consensus - it is getting less so
by the
> minute as "innovative" medicine people get their claws embedded into
> Lymeland. One whiff to any legislative body that the minority view
> (long-term antibiotics) consorts with the silvers, the salts, the
vitamin
> mills, the cat's claws, etc, and you can bet they don't want to get
near
> anything that will allow it.

Eggsactly!!!

> You know that in the end, it will all be turned around so that the
majority
> view is more firmly entrenched in stone.

That is what they're "accomplishing."


> If you're not in power, be very careful who you are messing with.
>
> Rita

Wisdom!!!


>
>
> <a_weisman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1112459353.287482.84220@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Well I have to laugh at this and I have to say: I FREAKING TOLD YOU
> SO!!! And so did der dritte mann.
>
> For doing that, for warning that this could and might and probably
> would happen, we were excoriated--for GOD FORBID criticizing the Lyme
> "activists" and "leaders"
>
> Now WHO is going to take responsibility for this? Who is accountable?
>
> This is OUR fault. And no one can say that the sheep in Lymeland
> weren't warned explicitly.
>
> Yet did they learn ANYTHING?
>
> No obviously not. Because now they're supporting the CALIFORNIA bill
> without thought. How many of the SHEEP who send emails in response to
> "action alerts" even bother to read the legislation that they're told
> to support?
>
> Do outcomes like this make them hesitate? NO of course not. In fact I
> read on one of the "support the california bill" threads that they
> wanna do it in Wisconson now.
>
> These people no matter how well meaning are freaking dangerous.
>
> Who is going to save us from ourselves?
>
>
***************************************************************************
>
> The update on the Maryland bills- YIKES! - LymeNet Flash
> http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/032966.html
>
> Author Topic: The update on the Maryland bills- YIKES!
> Tincup
> Frequent Contributor
> Posts: 1675
> From: The Moon
> Registered: Jun 2004
> posted 02 April 2005 11:00
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Greetings fellow Lyme Net Members..
> We have a problem.
>
> If you can take time to follow this process.. of getting bills passed
> from a grass roots effort.... it MIGHT help YOU in YOUR state and
> prevent you from doing things that are going get messed up.
>
> My motto- Experience is what you get when you don't get what you
want.
>
>
>
> I just arrived home from out of state, late last night... and while
> gone I had a long conversation with folks in some of the political
> offices about the 2 bills.. trying to check all options and get help
> with the NEW problems facing us.
>
> 1. Maryland Senate Bill SB 596
>
> 2. Maryland House Bill HB 1323 Lyme Disease Task Force Bill
>
> First.. let me say the folks in Annapolis, MD think you all have done
a
> VERY fine job with presenting the bills and supporting them. They
feel
> we have reached the hearts of those in the House and Senate... and
they
> are ALL for helping us... which can be seen by the unanimous votes we
> got on EVERYTHING!!!
>
> GOOD for YOU!
>
> Thank you for your efforts to help us and eventually yourselves and
our
> future generations. We all did what we needed to do... honorably and
> beautifully. And YOU are the reason why this bill was passed so far
and
> had ANY attention paid to it. Thank you!
>
> As for the hearings...
>
> The biggest problems with the hearings were that we were allowed only
3
> minutes each to fully educate a group of decent.. but admittedly
> non-Lyme literate... folks who wanted to help us. Unfortunately,
> also... some of the folks we are dealing with were "tight" with the
> state Health Department and/or Hopkins.. who basically have been
major
> pain in the necks in this state concerning Lyme disease. Of course
that
> is something we have no control over.. and have to try to work
around.
>
> Anyhow...
>
> After seeing the politcal process through to this point... I have
noted
> we suddenly have some BIG problems.
>
> Basically... we need to kill the Maryland Lyme Disease (SB 596)
bill...
> ASAP. We need to work as hard killing it as we did supporting it.
>
> It has changed. It is no longer the nice bill we submitted.
>
> It WAS a beautiful bill that has been basically hit by a hurricane
from
> outta no where. Our nice happy bill has been axed somehow and changed
> into a monster.
>
> Since there is no way to "pull" the Senate Bill 596 out of the
process
> at this time (I tried).. we are now stuck with it in the amended
> hurricane damaged form, which in MY opinion is another disaster
waiting
> to happen.
>
> Now.. you ask.. what the HECK happened? Well.. that is just what I
have
> been asking!
>
> It seems the folks in Annapolis have the "right" to change our bill
in
> any way they want.. which they did... unexpectedly... and which made
> everything different and put us in a worse situation!
>
> If this bill passes in the new amended form... I foresee us not only
> having to fight like we already are for every treatment, every
> insurance dollar, and every decent doctor.... but to have to fight
even
> MORE for those things!
>
> What it basically says now is the Maryland Board of Physicians way of
> thinking about Lyme treatment is THE way to go.. and THEY will
dictate
> to all Maryland doctors HOW to treat Lyme disease in the form of a
> yearly letter to them!!!
>
> But most importantly .. it has taken away the doctors protection, the
> ability to have long term treatment, and the insurance coverage.. and
> THOSE THINGS are what our original bill was all about and are what we
> REALLY NEEDED!
>
>
>
> I have researched the Maryland Board of Physicians members to see if
> there was a chance we would be ok with the amended form of the bill
and
> to see if there was a chance this was a better version.
>
> I am dismayed to learn that most, if not all of the members, have a
> link to Hopkins, and/or insurance companies, and/or the Health
> Department, and/or the Infectious Disease groups and/or the old
> Maryland Board of Physicians.
>
> I learned that the old Board of Physicians was accused not too long
> ago.. by some folks... to be so one sided they had to have a law
> enacted to reorganize the whole group and basically clean house. It
> seems they were accused of being biased on the doctors side of an
> argument... and are possibly atempting to START to clean up their
> reputations with the passage of a new bill? Will they be better? With
> members linked to the organizations above... I won't hold my breath.
>
> Sooooooooooo.. all in all.. not great news for us!
>
> I see (from experience and from knowing what I do after 15 years of
> fighting this stuff) .. and admittedly from some paranoia about what
> COULD happen.... and the true desire in my heart to HELP Lyme
> patients... that the current Board of Physicians could possibly hand
> out limited duck guidelines on treatment that will NOT be in our
favor
> or improve the situation and get us treatment.. will NOT get us
> insurance coverage... and will NOT protect our doctors.
>
> It will be THEIR version of Lyme treatment... most likely without OUR
> input.
>
> Keep in mind. the Health Department has claimed after basic treatment
> that Lyme is "sterile" and there is NO live bacteria present and no
> need for aditional antibiotics. And Hopkins.. well we ALL know about
> them.. their horrible track record with tick borne diseases.. and
their
> MAGIC PILL THEORY (one pill prevents/cures Lyme after a tick bite)..
> and their link to big ducks... and the nightmare position many folks
> were left in after being seen there... etc. NOT PRETTY!
>
> If we are allowed "input" (like meetings with the Health Department
or
> the Board).. which I feel they are attempting to do right now to set
up
> just another horse and pony show at this time to save face or ACT
like
> they are doing something about the problem.. after bluntly saying
they
> didn't think it was needed and they were doing a "fine" job
already...
> and Rabies was more important.. and they don't have time to fool with
> it.. blah blah blah..
>
> Anyhow.. how can we know ANYONE will follow OUR suggestions at this
> point.. or the ILADS guidelines... especially after the example
before
> us now, where the whole bill we submitted (and which had hundreds of
> people supporting it) was gutted and replaced with a monster without
> our knowledge or permission?
>
> This amended form also possibly puts any Maryland doctors (and other
> states who use this bill, if passed) who are trying to treat us.. or
> who are on the fence... in REAL trouble. If the Board of Physicians
> Lyme treatment guidelines are issued to all Maryland doctors.. like
> this bill requires... then the doctors who do not "stick" with these
> guidelines may possibly be opened up to charges for not following
THAT
> protocol. ???
>
> There are MANY possible negative consequences to think about if this
> bill passes like it is now.
>
> In my opinion... we need to respectfully let the House know that the
> Senate Bill SB 596.. in the current amended form... is NOT what we
> want!! SHOUT IT FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOPS!
>
> The House members already think they helped us by passing the Lyme
> Disease Task Force Bill.. which I will discuss further later.. but
> basically they have no clue of the problems which can arise if the
> Senate bill passes in the form it is in now.
>
> The other individual members of both the House and Senate THINK they
> are doing the "good" thing for us... but just don't know Lyme... or
our
> total situation... bless their hearts.
>
> We need to remember the Senate voted this through with the thought of
> it HELPING us. They ARE trying to HELP us... so we need to let them
> know we do appreciate their assistance and NOT knock them in the
> head... which is what MY first reaction was until I checked into it
> more.
>
> They just don't understand the possible consequences of the bill in
the
> amended form... and at this time we don't have enough time to do much
> at all except kill the bill... IF we can... and hopefully try again
at
> a later date.. or go with another approach.
>
> May I suggest?
>
> EVERYONE start writing and making calls immediately to every House
> member in Maryland since that is where the bill is headed at this
> point.
>
> Ask the HOUSE members NOT pass the Senate bill SB 596 in the amended
> form.
>
> Tell them it is NOT good for Lyme patients. Tell them we would rather
> wait for a year until the Lyme Disease Task Force Bill they already
> passed has had time to "do it's job"... and THANK them for their help
> on BOTH bills.
>
> Seems even in politics there is a turf war of sorts.. and asking the
> House to KICK a Senate bill, well it just might make them smile...
> since the one THEY passed MAY get supported by us??
>
> I will write later about MY opinions on the House bill. Right now.. I
> smell breakfast cooking!
>
> PS... The above is all MY opinion... so please keep that in mind.
>
> I will also make a new post so it is in MUCH simpler form as to what
is
> needed to be done.
>
> Again I thank you for listening and helping us through the process.
> Without you we would be no where.
>
>
***************************************************************************
>
>
>
>
>
> a_weisman@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > a_weisman@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > > Phyllis: Isn't this EXACTLY what several of us (der dritte mann
and
> > I)
> > > said could happen?
> > >
> > > That the bill would turn out AGAINST us?
> > >
> > > Tincrapforbrains says that they were "LUCKY" to get the bill
> killed.
> > IT
> > > claims not to be politically saavy. And "shocked" that this could
> > > happen?
> > >
> > > But that is exactly why they shouldn't do this. They're NOT
> > politically
> > > saavy, they are totally naive and amateurish. They are LUCKY and
so
> > are
> > > Lyme patients but it was blind dumb luck.
> > >
> > > See the problem in MD and most places is NOT that doctors are
> afraid
> > to
> > > treat a certain way, NOT that they need protection to do so.
We're
> > only
> > > talking about a few dozen doctors anyhow. The problem is that
there
> > is
> > > only a few dozen doctors. That burrascano style treatment is NOT
> the
> > > majority view and is NOT very well documented nor are the
> > practitioners
> > > very well credentialed.
> > >
> > > So ask for it and you might receive it. They asked for MD to pass
a
> > > bill and turns out it was more likely to reflect the majority
view
> > (and
> > > we're talking over 99% of physicians) rather than that of a tiny
> > small
> > > not well credentialed minority (and if Burrascano is the "leader"
> > > remember that amongst his curriculum vitae is that he was
> disciplined
> > > for practicing medicine negligently on more than one occasion,
and
> it
> > > had to do with his treatment of Tickborne disease. Not a great
> > > credential to present to the Senate.
> > >
> > > All of the bills have this basic failing in vision--there is no
> > > understanding of what the problem really is so the "solutions"
not
> > only
> > > don't fix the "problem" but are likely to be turned against us.
> > >
> > > In MD there was NO problem with doctors being harassed
investigated
> > or
> > > disciplined.
> > >
> > > So why try to fix what wasn't broken?
> > >
> > > This could have been a HUGE disaster. And nearly was. And the MD
> > folks
> > > wanted this to be viewed for a model on how to do this sort of
> thing?
> > >
> > > NOT.
> > >
> > > And I freaking told you so.
> > >
> > > Will you or any of them EVER LEARN?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
***************************************************************************
> > >
> > > http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/012269.html
> > >
> > > Tincup
> > > Frequent Contributor
> > > Posts: 1672
> > > From: The Moon
> > > Registered: Jun 2004
> > > posted 28 March 2005 09:59
> > >
> >
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > Actually.. this is good news and bad news.
> > > Sen. Paula Hollinger decided (alone or with others?).. for some
> > > reason(?).. to change the wording of the bill AFTER it was
> > submitted...
> >
> > Which happens ALL the time. If you don't know that, you shouldn't
be
> > trying to lobby for legislation because you don't understand the
> > process.
> >
> > And it might turn out against you.
> >
> > > to say that the Maryland State Board of Physicians (part of the
> > Health
> > > Dept and under the leadership of the Governor- who both have been
a
> > > TOTAL nightmare concerning this situation for years)... anyhow...
> >
> > So what did you expect?
> >
> > A few patient stories would trump all of this?
> >
> > As someone actually said later on this thread, one Hopkins doctor
> > trumps a thousand patient stories.
> >
> > > The altered bill wanted THEM (Board of Physicians) to send out
info
> > to
> > > doctors across the state on how to treat or NOT treat Lyme
disease!
> >
> > Again, what did you nitwits expect?
> >
> > >She
> > > (or someone) removed nearly the entire bills contents and
replaced
> it
> > > with the lines about the Board of Physicians telling doctors the
> > > guidelines and what to do or not do for Lyme patients.
> >
> > Again, what did you morons expect?
> >
> > > Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
> > >
> > > TOTAL NIGHTMARE!
> >
> > And predictable too!
> >
> > If you had a freaking clue.
> >
> > If you weren't so caught up in your self righteous zeal to
recognize
> > the reality of the situation.
> >
> > If you weren't so naive and clueless.
> >
> > > That was the VERY reason for the bill in the first place..
> >
> > In your "mind" at least. But the legislative process is open to
other
> > thoughts too, not just your own no matter how self righteous you
are.
> >
> > (I guess the compelling testimony given under a pseudonym didn't
> carry
> > the day? And isn't it perjury to swear an oath and then testify
under
> a
> > pseudonym?)
> >
> > >to get
> > > doctors to treat.. NOT to get them to NOT treat.. which is the
> Health
> > > Departments current take on the situation! The Health Dept here
and
> > > others somehow connected are actually STILL standing by and are
> > > promoting several horrible situations which have forced Lyme
folks
> > from
> > > this state to go out of state for treatment.
> >
> > The reason people go out of state is NOT because of the Health
> > Department OR because of any investigation or prosecution of
doctors
> > but simply because most of the doctors in MD (and elsewhere) don't
> > agree with you or dr burrascano.
> >
> > Plain and simple.
> >
> > And the "solution" to that is changing their minds.
> >
> > NOT:
> >
> > o cursing at them
> > o threatening them
> > o insulting them
> > o calling them "ducks"
> > o being divisive with "camp a and camp b" stuff
> > o harassing them
> > o protesting them
> > o legislating that they change their minds
> >
> > But that IS the approach taken by Lyme "activists" and "leaders."
> >
> > Look at the list above. Explain to me how some other "strategy" has
> > been taken? And explain to me how any of those things is going to
> work?
> > Or has worked?
> >
> > So the "solution" of legislation to "protect" doctors makes the
> > demonstrably erroneoous ASSumption that there ARE doctors to
> "protect"
> >
> > But the truth is that there really are none as a practical matter.
> (If
> > there are 25 in the entire country who are thought of as "llmds"
and
> > there are 250,000 cases of Lyme annually or more, that means each
one
> > would need to see 25,000 people a year, diagnose them, treat them
and
> > manage them--if one limits it to neurologists rheumatologists and
> > infectious disease doctors as the CT legislation did, well, how
many
> > "lyme literate" docs are there in THOSE specialities?).
> >
> > So the "solution" has to be to change minds and create a larger
> > population of "llmds."
> >
> > And NONE of what has been attempted has any chance of doing that or
> is
> > even aimed at trying to do that.
> >
> > How to do that?
> >
> > Persuade them. Create a body of literature that supports burrascano
> > style treatment. Teach it. Work with academics rather than
harassing
> > and protesting them.
> >
> > NO it is NOT a simplistic sound bite demagogic solution like "let's
> > write our legislators and pass a bill" and YES it will take many
> years,
> > probably requiring a generational change.
> >
> > But if we don't start now, I guarantee we will be in the same place
> 25
> > years from now and not have taken the first step. Because we are in
> the
> > same position or worse than we were 25 years ago, 25 years of this
> > nonsense reactionary "activism" later.
> >
> > > Such as...
> > >
> > > 1. One pill of doxy when bitten in an endemic area, to cure Lyme
> > > disease.
> >
> > That isn't an accurate description of the NEJM article which
> advocates
> > two pills if seen with a rash within three days.
> >
> > > 2. The bacteria are "sterile" once treated and any further
symptoms
> > are
> > > a result of something other than a current active infection...
> > > therefore NO more antibiotics.
> >
> > And that is a position that has not been thoroughly discredited
> though
> > I personally disagree with it and there is at least SOME evidence
> that
> > it is wrong at least in some cases.
> >
> > However the further question remains whether more antibiotics
helps.
> If
> > so, how much? If so, is there an endpoint to treatment? Do
> antibiotics
> > help even if not cure.
> >
> > These are legitimate questions and the kind that need to be
answered
> in
> > order to INTELLIGENTLY refute those views (It is NOT "intelligent"
to
> > simply say that these are "horrible situations" whatever that means
> OR
> > to describe all of this as "duck thinking" or even more idiotically
> as
> > "evil"
> >
> > > 3. They (the Health Dept and doctors here) are doing fine and
doing
> a
> > > good job... blah blah blah... and Lyme is no big deal here. I was
> > > actually told Rabies is more important here now.. yes NOW.. than
> Lyme
> > > disease.
> >
> > And "blah blah blah" is NOT an intelligent response. Real
> > epidemiological data would be a good start in refuting that. So
would
> > impact analysis. Some real science.
> >
> > NOT the opinion of "tincup"
> >
> > > Soooooooooooo.. to pass this bill in THAT form would have been a
> > > nightmare!!!
> >
> > To ask for the legislation in the first place was the big mistake.
> >
> > > It was lucky it was kicked.. and that was the goal once we found
> out
> > it
> > > had been altered to NOTHING like the original.
> >
> > Funny thing, if that was the goal then WHY was there not one single
> > post explaining that prior to the hearing? Why was all I saw urging
> to
> > get people there, to testify, to send their stories, to email and
> call
> > md legislators urging passage of the bill?
> >
> > >All of the doctor
> > > protection was removed.. and so was the insurance and long term
> > > treatment info.
> >
> > The doctor "protection" was illusory and meaningless, it could only
> > have hurt patient's rights and the insurance and long term
treatment
> > mandates were meaningless and unenforceable too.
> >
> > > It was like.. we submitted a can of peaches for consideration and
> > > approval.. and we ended up with a card board box full of rotten
> clam
> > > shells in it's place. ????
> > >
> > > HELLO!
> >
> > HELLO yourself. Again what did you bunch of rubes and morons and
> > nitwits expect on your gullible's travels to Annapolis?
> >
> > > So... the bad news is, it was altered.. the good news is, the
ones
> > > putting it in the Senate for passage thankfully got it tossed
> before
> > > damage was done.
> >
> > No thanks to any of you.
> >
> > > Now.. MY take on it..
> >
> > Oh gee, the wisdom of this brilliant political analyst...
> >
> > > I have been checking out the Health Dept members here.. and the
> Board
> > > of Physicians members. What a nightmare!
> >
> > Who would you think they would be?
> >
> > > I haven't finished researching the whole group yet.. (puke,
> > research...
> > > puke, research) but what I have learned..
> > >
> > > Nearly all have a tie to... either/or..
> > >
> > > Hopkins (Our BIGGEST nightmare)
> >
> > Here comes the conspiracy theory...
> >
> > I mean are you actually surprised that in Maryland health officials
> > MIGHT just have some affiliations with the largest and most
> prestigious
> > medical institution going?
> >
> > > Kaiser Permente
> > >
> > > Other insurance companies
> >
> > Whatever.
> >
> > >umsteere and the Out to Lunch Bunch who have had their lips
> surgically
> > > sewn to Bumsteeres ***
> > >
> > > ID ducks
> > >
> > > The OLD Board of Physicians Quality Assurance that was considered
> so
> > > bad (due to problems concerning leaning in doctors favor when a
> > patient
> > > complaint was made).. that a new bill had to be entered and was
> > passed
> > > to try to FIX them.
> > >
> > > In MY opinion.. these are NOT the ones we want dictating to
doctors
> > in
> > > Maryland HOW to treat Lyme disease.
> >
> > Well if any of you listened BEFORE hand several of us were telling
> you
> > that!!!!
> >
> > WE TOLD YOU SO BUT YOU REFUSED TO LISTEN!
> >
> > > Now.. HOW this happened.. I don't really know.
> >
> > What a shock!
> >
> > >OT being polly ticky..
> > > I don't understand the process.
> >
> > Then NONE of you who don't understand it should be screwing around
> with
> > it any more than people who don't understand electricity should be
> > trying to fix high voltage transmission wires...
> >
> > > do think though.. that to have that
> > > bill passed would have been doom for many more people who have
Lyme
> > and
> > > who will GET Lyme in the future.
> >
> > Exactly what we warned of and YOU almost brought to reality. Whose
> > fault would THAT have been? YOURS!
> >
> > > As I have been shouting from the mountain tops over the years...
> > >
> > > Hopkins is allowed to influence the Health Department and the
Lyme
> > > situation in this state and that is why there are so many
severely
> > sick
> > > folks showing up at our doors crying and begging for help... and
> why
> > > over 90 perent of them must go out of state.
> >
> > It ain't just Hopkins. It is the majority view everywhere. And if
> you'd
> > get that through your thick self righteous skulls, you'd realize
that
> > the solution is NOT legislation and that you ain't gonna win going
> that
> > route even if it was (which it ain't).
> >
> > > We are not in the "stupid about Lyme" state here. We are smack
dab
> in
> > > the middle of the "EVIL" side of Lyme.. in other words... those
who
> > > KNOW better but are trying to save their collective butts for
> messing
> > > up so bad.
> >
> > Another conspiracy theory. People are "evil" because they disagree
> with
> > you. How self righteous. And self defeating.
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
***************************************************************************
> > >
> > > a_weisman@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > > > Excerpt:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ""We feel now that the bill isn't in the best interest of
people
> > with
> > > > Lyme
> > > > disease or those who will get it," said Pamela Andrews,
> co-founder
> > > and
> > > > vice
> > > > president of ELDA.
> > > >
> > > > Andrews said the Maryland Board of Physicians will send letters
> to
> > > > doctors
> > > > instructing them on how the disease should be treated.
> > > >
> > > > "Sen. Paula Hollinger said that the Senate bill tries to
dictate
> > how
> > > > doctors
> > > > should practice, but we were just trying to give doctors more
> > options
> > > > for how to
> > > > treat Lyme disease," Andrews said."
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > UNBELIEVAABLE!
> > > >
> > > > This ain't the first time that Lyme "activists" and "leaders"
did
> > the
> > > > old "support the bill" "Kill the bill" schizophrenia routine!
> > > >
> > > > This is EXACTLY why these naive amateurs should NOT be seeking
to
> > > > legislate in the first place (PHYLLIS!!!)
> > > >
> > > > A bunch of freaking mOOOOORons!
> > > >
> > > > And all the sheep who blindly follow them (PHYLLIS) and
endlessly
> > > > cheerlead their ill conceived efforts (PHYLLIS)
> > > >
> > > > NOW as a result of their "activism" and "leadership" the MD Bd
of
> > > > Health is going to send a letter to doctors telling them--no
> > > > "instructing" them how to treat!
> > > >
> > > > Guess what?
> > > >
> > > > It ain't gonna be Burrascano's guidelines. It IS going to be
> IDSA.
> > > >
> > > > Great job!
> > > >
> > > > All of that in a State where there never was a complaint much
> less
> > an
> > > > investigation much less a prosecution!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050326/NEWS01/503260306/\
> > > >
> > > > 1002
> > > > The Daily Times
> > > > Salisbury MD
> > > > March 26, 2005
> > > >
> > > > Group wants more options in Lyme disease treatment
> > > >
> > > > By Monique Lewis
> > > > Daily Times Staff Writer
> > > >
> > > > ---------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > SALISBURY -- Efforts to protect doctors who administer care for
> > > > patients with
> > > > late-stage Lyme disease and place treatment fee responsibility
on
> > > > insurance
> > > > companies have been struck down by the Senate.
> > > >
> > > > The Eastern Shore chapter of the National Lyme Disease
> Association
> > > went
> > > > before
> > > > the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee on
> March
> > 10
> > > > to seek
> > > > permission granting physicians the right to use long-term
> > antibiotics
> > > > for
> > > > patients with the disease. The committee amended the bill,
Senate
> > > Bill
> > > > 596.
> > > >
> > > > "We feel now that the bill isn't in the best interest of people
> > with
> > > > Lyme
> > > > disease or those who will get it," said Pamela Andrews,
> co-founder
> > > and
> > > > vice
> > > > president of ELDA.
> > > >
> > > > Andrews said the Maryland Board of Physicians will send letters
> to
> > > > doctors
> > > > instructing them on how the disease should be treated.
> > > >
> > > > "Sen. Paula Hollinger said that the Senate bill tries to
dictate
> > how
> > > > doctors
> > > > should practice, but we were just trying to give doctors more
> > options
> > > > for how to
> > > > treat Lyme disease," Andrews said.
> > > >
> > > > The association also presented a sister bill to the House of
> > > > Representatives'
> > > > Health and Government Operations Committee, Bill 1323, on March
> 11.
> > > The
> > > > bill's
> > > > goal was to establish a task force to study Lyme disease.
> > > >
> > > > ELDA co-founder Dale King said the Senate's actions prove they
> > don't
> > > > believe in
> > > > long-term treatment. King, his wife Jackie and all four of
their
> > > > children have
> > > > Lyme disease. He said the amendments are unfortunate, because
> > > business
> > > > will
> > > > continue with the usual approach that has done nothing to help
> > > patients
> > > > who have
> > > > chronic Lyme disease.
> > > >
> > > > David Weld, executive director of the American Lyme Disease
> > > Foundation,
> > > > said
> > > > that much research has shown that patients have also been
> diagnosed
> > > > incorrectly.
> > > > In 90 to 95 percent of the cases, the bacteria -- borrelia
> > burgdorfer
> > > > -- is no
> > > > longer in the blood.
> > > >
> > > > "Some symptoms do persist," Weld said. "The bacteria may have
> > caused
> > > a
> > > > reaction
> > > > in the body that give symptoms in the body which we don't
> > understand.
> > > > The
> > > > problem is that some physicians treat with antibiotics even
> though
> > > the
> > > > patient
> > > > doesn't have the disease."
> > > >
> > > > Weld said that nearly 20,000 new cases are reported to the
Center
> > for
> > > > Disease
> > > > Control each year and probably five to 10 times more go
> unreported.
> > > >
> > > > "Some patients want a positive test to help explain what they
> > have,"
> > > > Weld said.
> > > > "I know of people who tend to over diagnose treatment and the
CDC
> > > knows
> > > > of them
> > > > as well."
> > > >
> > > > International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society President
Dr.
> > > > Stephen
> > > > Phillips said the only treatment available to doctors are
> > > antibiotics.
> > > >
> > > > · Reach Monique Lewis at 410-845-4656 or mlewis@....
> > > >
> > > > ****
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Rita Stanley wrote:
> > > > > Annapolis article on the Lyme Bill hearings.
> > > > >
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2005/03_12-16/GOV
> > > > > Victims show support for Lyme disease bill
> > > > > By PAMELA WOOD Staff Writer
> > > > >
> > > > > One by one, they nervously approached the microphone to list
> > their
> > > > symptoms:
> > > > > extreme fatigue, aches, blurred vision, balance problems,
> > > difficulty
> > > > > speaking.
> > > > >
> > > > > Then the misdiagnoses: fibromyalgia, depression, chronic
> fatigue
> > > > syndrome,
> > > > > Lou Gehrig's disease.
> > > > >
> > > > > But the more than two dozen people who testified before a
state
> > > > Senate
> > > > > committee Thursday all finally found the cause of their
> troubles
> > > was
> > > > Lyme
> > > > > disease, a troubling illness spread by deer ticks.
> > > > >
> > > > > They were among more than 100 patients and relatives who
packed
> a
> > > > hearing
> > > > > room to show their support for a bill they say would improve
> > > > treatment of
> > > > > Lyme disease in the state.
> > > > >
> > > > > "Patients are too sick to fight with their doctors for
> > treatment,"
> > > > said Lucy
> > > > > Barnes, a Lyme disease patient and activist from Queenstown.
> > > > >
> > > > > The Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs
> Committee
> > is
> > > > > considering a bill that would require insurance companies to
> pay
> > > for
> > > > > long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease. Some only
pay
> > for
> > > a
> > > > few
> > > > > weeks of medication, even though some patients say they need
> > months
> > > > or years
> > > > > of antibiotics.
> > > > >
> > > > > The bill, SB596, also would prevent the Board of Physicians
> from
> > > > > disciplining a doctor for prescribing long-term drugs. Bill
> > > advocates
> > > > say
> > > > > some doctors are scared to try long-term therapy for patients
> for
> > > > fear of
> > > > > losing their license.
> > > > >
> > > > > "It is time the state begins to recognize the impact of this
> > > horrible
> > > >
> > > > > disease," said Sen. Richard F. Colburn, R-Dorchester, the
lead
> > > > sponsor of
> > > > > the bill.
> > > > >
> > > > > Insurance industry reps were signed up to testify but were
> > > no-shows.
> > > > >
> > > > > While most of the bill supporters who turned out for the
> hearing
> > > were
> > > > from
> > > > > the Eastern Shore, Lyme disease is a concern in Anne Arundel
> > County
> > > > as well.
> > > > >
> > > > > Anne Arundel's sprawling suburban neighborhoods provide ideal
> > > habitat
> > > > for
> > > > > deer, and in turn, the deer tick that carries the bacteria
that
> > > > causes Lyme
> > > > > disease. According to the county Health Department, there
were
> 77
> > > > confirmed
> > > > > cases of Lyme disease in 2003, and 66 cases in 2002.
Statistics
> > > from
> > > > 2004
> > > > > weren't available.
> > > > >
> > > > > By some estimates, there are 10 undiagnosed cases for every
> > > confirmed
> > > > case.
> > > > >
> > > > > Patients said they have a hard time getting an accurate
> > diagnosis,
> > > > besides
> > > > > having problems getting treated and covered by insurance.
Lyme
> > > > disease tests
> > > > > often show false negatives, and doctors are reluctant to
treat
> > Lyme
> > > > disease
> > > > > without a positive test in hand, they said.
> > > > >
> > > > > "It is very, very hard to figure out whether people have Lyme
> > > disease
> > > > or
> > > > > not," said Sen. James Brochin, D-Baltimore County, who said
he
> > > still
> > > > has
> > > > > lingering effects of the Lyme disease he contracted 17 years
> ago.
> > > > >
> > > > > And while committee members seemed moved by the testimony and
> > > strong
> > > > > turnout, some balked at the idea of telling the Board of
> > Physicians
> > > > how to
> > > > > police doctors for one specific illness.
> > > > >
> > > > > "We're not in the business of directing protocol for
doctors,"
> > said
> > > > Sen. Roy
> > > > > P. Dyson, R-St. Mary's.
> > > > >
> > > > > C. Irving Pinder Jr., director of the Board of Physicians,
said
> > he
> > > > couldn't
> > > > > find a single case where a doctor was investigated for
> > > > overprescribing
> > > > > antibiotics for Lyme disease.
> > > > >
> > > > > "It sounds like what we need is education and training," he
> said.
> > > > >
> > > > > The committee chairman, Sen. Paula C. Hollinger, D-Baltimore
> > > County,
> > > > said
> > > > > she wants to find a better way to help Lyme disease patients.
> > > > >
> > > > > "We'll try and attack it through legislation, but I'm not
sure
> it
> > > > will be
> > > > > exactly this bill," she said.
> > > > >
> > > > > The House of Delegates is considering a separate proposal,
> > HB1323,
> > > > which
> > > > > would establish a state Lyme disease task force.

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