A letter to me from Conservative MP Susan Truppe
Dear Ms. ________ ,
Thank you for your email concerning MP Elizabeth May’s
Private Members Bill – Bill C-442, The National Lyme Disease Strategy Act. I
appreciate the time taken to share your views with me and for showing interest
in this healthcare policy proposal.
First let me assure you, our Government is committed to
the health and safety of all Canadians. Putting the interests of Canadians and
their families first is always top of mind.
The Public Health Agency of Canada is working to support
the provinces and territories in addressing Lyme disease. Our Government is
committed to working collectively and collaboratively with our healthcare
partners to find meaningful solutions.
We have invested over $4.5 million for research related
to Lyme disease since 2006. In addition, we have established improved
surveillance specifically aimed at Lyme disease so that action can be taken
quickly and effectively.
In regards to Ms. May’s Bill and the call for a national
Lyme disease strategy, we are currently reviewing its merits.
Most importantly, our Government will continue to
actively engage with provincial and territorial partners in monitoring the
spread and development of Lyme disease. Canadians can rely on this Government’s
management of healthcare priorities and continued leadership.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to write in.
Yours sincerely,
Susan Truppe, M.P.
To all Politicians Voting on the Bill 442.
February 12, 2014
SYPHILIS THEN, LYME NOW
The serious epidemic of Lyme disease is present now but not "prominent" in Canada because the Medical divide that exists in our association. Doctors are told that Lyme disease is a non-existent rare infection and without a proper ELISA test (which is grossly inadequate) the diagnosis of Lyme disease is being... misdiagnosed.
The federal government has stated that Lyme disease is a clinical diagnosis and a positive lab test is beneficial but not necessary in the establishment of a diagnosis but unfortunately there are differences of thought by our peers.
We have adopted the American IDSA guidelines for practicing physicians and in Canada we have adopted these guidelines without any previous discussions of having our own Canadian guidelines.
We must become more educated and clinically aware of this most rapidly growing vector borne infection. Most recently, the naysayers in the United States have admitted to 300,000 cases annually up from 30,000. This would reflect automatically 30,000 (10%) as a minimum number of cases in Canada and yet only about a few hundred cases are annually reported across Canada which is extremely low and misleading.
Patients are suffering needlessly, expending monies across the border and into Europe for proper treatment and diagnosis. This cannot continue and as physicians we must be more aware that the symptoms of Lyme disease which is and are being misdiagnosed. To give an example, MS in Canada is the absolute highest in the world, 240-340 cases per 100,000 and we have the lowest number of Lyme disease in the world (WHO).
The big divide has led to the necessity of the legal system stepping in to protect Lyme Literate doctors. Twelve USA states have become involved since the medical profession will not openly discuss all aspects of this disease. Statutes and laws are now in place for the protection of Lyme literate physicians and their charts cannot be taken, doctors cannot be cross-examined, their licenses cannot be taken away.
It is simply a matter for our profession to discuss this disease as we have with all other diseases in the world. Clinicians must include Lyme disease and co-infections in the differential diagnosis and be cognizant of all the symptoms that can occur since it is a multi-organ system failure that occurs.
At the present time, patients suffer needlessly; mentally, physically and financially with the most common cause of death being suicide. The answer appears to be very simple that we must dialogue openly and regularly.
On the side of being optimistic there are increasing numbers of medical doctors and naturopathic doctors treating Lyme disease. This would indicate a greater understanding and acceptance for this disease and it is hoped that this will continue with greater alacrity, education and hopefully better lab testing with mutual medical understanding by the "divided" physicians. There is no time for complacency.
Yours truly,
Dr. Ernie Murakami, MD, BA in Bacteriology and Immunology
Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus University of British Columbia
President, Dr. E. Murakami Centre for Lyme
I would Like to add that in my travels in every Province across Canada that every lecture was attended by a minimum of 50% and up to a maximum 75% Lyme Disease sufferers. The only Provinces that I have not attended was PEI and Quebec but I have corresponded with many patients from both of these provinces. The results were assessed by a show of hands before meetings and Wendy Atkin from Kinston Ontario told her story to an over filled room of which there was the 75% Lyme sufferers. The Ambassador Hotel donated the room which held 250 people and another 100 were refused entry. Yet every day there are doctors telling their patients that there is virtually no cases of Lyme disease in Canada. How long must we live with this misinformation causing severe suffering of Canadians caused by the DIVIDE in our medical profession.
February 12, 2014
SYPHILIS THEN, LYME NOW
The serious epidemic of Lyme disease is present now but not "prominent" in Canada because the Medical divide that exists in our association. Doctors are told that Lyme disease is a non-existent rare infection and without a proper ELISA test (which is grossly inadequate) the diagnosis of Lyme disease is being... misdiagnosed.
The federal government has stated that Lyme disease is a clinical diagnosis and a positive lab test is beneficial but not necessary in the establishment of a diagnosis but unfortunately there are differences of thought by our peers.
We have adopted the American IDSA guidelines for practicing physicians and in Canada we have adopted these guidelines without any previous discussions of having our own Canadian guidelines.
We must become more educated and clinically aware of this most rapidly growing vector borne infection. Most recently, the naysayers in the United States have admitted to 300,000 cases annually up from 30,000. This would reflect automatically 30,000 (10%) as a minimum number of cases in Canada and yet only about a few hundred cases are annually reported across Canada which is extremely low and misleading.
Patients are suffering needlessly, expending monies across the border and into Europe for proper treatment and diagnosis. This cannot continue and as physicians we must be more aware that the symptoms of Lyme disease which is and are being misdiagnosed. To give an example, MS in Canada is the absolute highest in the world, 240-340 cases per 100,000 and we have the lowest number of Lyme disease in the world (WHO).
The big divide has led to the necessity of the legal system stepping in to protect Lyme Literate doctors. Twelve USA states have become involved since the medical profession will not openly discuss all aspects of this disease. Statutes and laws are now in place for the protection of Lyme literate physicians and their charts cannot be taken, doctors cannot be cross-examined, their licenses cannot be taken away.
It is simply a matter for our profession to discuss this disease as we have with all other diseases in the world. Clinicians must include Lyme disease and co-infections in the differential diagnosis and be cognizant of all the symptoms that can occur since it is a multi-organ system failure that occurs.
At the present time, patients suffer needlessly; mentally, physically and financially with the most common cause of death being suicide. The answer appears to be very simple that we must dialogue openly and regularly.
On the side of being optimistic there are increasing numbers of medical doctors and naturopathic doctors treating Lyme disease. This would indicate a greater understanding and acceptance for this disease and it is hoped that this will continue with greater alacrity, education and hopefully better lab testing with mutual medical understanding by the "divided" physicians. There is no time for complacency.
Yours truly,
Dr. Ernie Murakami, MD, BA in Bacteriology and Immunology
Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus University of British Columbia
President, Dr. E. Murakami Centre for Lyme
I would Like to add that in my travels in every Province across Canada that every lecture was attended by a minimum of 50% and up to a maximum 75% Lyme Disease sufferers. The only Provinces that I have not attended was PEI and Quebec but I have corresponded with many patients from both of these provinces. The results were assessed by a show of hands before meetings and Wendy Atkin from Kinston Ontario told her story to an over filled room of which there was the 75% Lyme sufferers. The Ambassador Hotel donated the room which held 250 people and another 100 were refused entry. Yet every day there are doctors telling their patients that there is virtually no cases of Lyme disease in Canada. How long must we live with this misinformation causing severe suffering of Canadians caused by the DIVIDE in our medical profession.
