It’s about time! IDSA Lyme hearing speech limits

I have gotten some thoughtful comments on my blog posts about the Institute of Medicine’s upcoming Lyme “state of the science” workshop. I want to share my thoughts about why CALDA pulled out of the process and why we will stay out unless there is dramatic change in the program. Whether it is best for groups to participate in a process even though it is biased is always a judgment call that depends on how biased the process is—in short whether you do more harm than good by staying in. CALDA pulled out because we represent Lyme patients and do not believe that we should legitimize a highly biased process by participating in it. We do not believe this is in the best interests of patients. Let me break this down a bit in terms of what is happening at the IOM workshop to explain why I believe it is highly biased.

Please refresh this to update comment. This is my live blog on the IOM Hearing.

Talk about exaggeration. No really–at the hearing. Dr. Carol Baker asked Dr. Wormser the $200 question: Why exaggerate if the truth will do? She was talking about the use in the guidelines of words like "vast majority" when the real percentage was 65%. And her question was why not let percentages speak for themselves? If the truth is 65%–why not simply say 65%. Is it just me, or does Wormser sound irritated at the question? His response after a drill down is that he would not use the expression "vast majority" to refer to anything less than say–90%. Excuse me? Did I hear that right? 90%. Really? Ok, let's break it down for him.

There is a lot to like about the Virginia Governor’s Task Force on Lyme Disease findings, which were unanimously adopted on June 30th after a number of public hearings. The report totals 19 pages and it is remarkably balanced. Congratulations to all involved! I want to share with you what I like about the report by highlighting key points from the findings on Diagnosis, Treatment, Public Education and Prevention, and Children.