Lyme film at Toronto Total Health Show... and much, much more!

A screening of the award-winning Lyme documentary Under Our Skin will take place at North America's premier natural health show in Toronto this April.

Date: Sunday, April 19, 2009
Time: 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Location: Room 203, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building. Admission to the film is free for those attending Total Health 09 (as a minimum, a Total Heath Sunday "Lecture Pass" is required to attend the film).

This highly acclaimed US documentary reveals the untold story of the massive spread of Lyme disease throughout North America - "an emerging epidemic larger than AIDS". It has been discovered, that up to 50% of patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative disorders including autism, Parkinson's, ALS, as well as chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia may actually have Chronic Lyme disease from a tick bite. It's detectable, treatable and reversible, even in its chronic form, yet thousands are suffering from misdiagnosis.

Also at the show, Jozef Krop, MD, will make two Lyme disease presentations. Dr. Krop, known internationally for his pioneering work in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, is trained to treat Chronic Lyme disease by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society and has many years experience with Ontario's victims of Chronic Lyme. You can visit Dr. Krop at Booth 904 (with KOS Publishing). His presentation details are below:

Lyme Disease: It's Treatment and Politics
Saturday, April 18, 4:00 - 5:00 pm, Room 203
Sunday, April 19, 3:00 - 4:00 pm, Room 203 (immediately before the film)

Dr. Krop will speak about internationally validated diagnosis and treatment protocols and what we all must do to persuade provincial and federal governments to take this growing epidemic seriously. Lyme contamination of the blood and organ donor supply is a potential public health disaster. In Canada, there is no effective screening or treatment for Chronic Lyme disease. The Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons does not recognize international diagnostic and treatment protocols and intimidates physicians willing and trained to treat Chronic Lyme disease.

And last but not least, from the author who brought us "What Part of No! Don't They Understand? Rescuing Food and Medicine from Government Abuse", medical science author Helke Ferrie of KOS Publishing will launch her new book at this year's Total Health Show: "Chronic Lyme Disease in Canada - The Persecution of Doctors Able to Treat It and the Denial of Treatment Choice to Patients". Don't miss the launch of this much-anticipated book that's sure to become an important Lyme reference. Revised and updated in September 2008, Ms. Ferrie's previous book can now be downloaded free of charge from the KOS website.

You will be able to meet Ms. Ferrie and members of Lyme Action Group at Booth 904 in the Exhibit Hall.

BC's College vs Cubberley -- Round 2

The gloves are off...

You will recall that in December we told you about MPP Cubberley's feisty letter to the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons -- the original post is linked here. In addition to several important criticisms and strong points raised by Mr. Cubberley, he offered to share with the College several case histories, personal stories of the devastation faced by Lyme patients in BC. The College responded. "The [Executive] Committee has respectfully declined your offer." Pretty much sums it up. We wouldn't want real life medical experience to interfere with medical policy now would we?

Seems the College's response did not sit well with Cubberley, and he was prompted to try once again to get his message across. Here are some highlights from his letter dated March 2nd:

"Your letter did not respond to the substance of mine, and you did not comment on the disparity between your position on Lyme diagnosis and that of the BC CDC and the Ministry of Health. This is a significant problem for patients in BC, because the College's guidelines determine whether and when patients with Lyme are diagnosed and effectively treated. If these guidelines are flawed (as your advice about rash and test indicate they are) many patients will not receive diagnosis and the medically necessary care they're entitled to. If doctors are uninformed about Lyme symptoms, causes, and the unreliability of tests like the ELISA, they are more likely to diagnose Fibromyalgia, MS, CFS or any of a number of other illnesses sharing some symptoms with Lyme. These diagnoses would all miss the opportunity to treat Lyme infection effectively in its early stage when it's most curable."

"I would urge that, in the public interest, the College distance itself from the many scientifically unsupported components of the 2006 IDSA guidelines, and that it mandate made-in-Canada guidelines formulated from fair consideration of all scientific evidence -- including the clinical practice experience of physicians who treat Lyme beyond the existing guidelines."

"In the public interest..." Wow, what a concept! Such an approach could revolutionize medicine as we know it.

For your reading enjoyment, here are links to both the College's letter and Mr. Cubberley's subsequent reply.

Thank you Mr. Cubberley. Here is his email should you wish to send a brief note of encouragement for this excellent work on behalf of the Lyme community.

Have you shared your Lyme experience with your elected representatives yet? Yours might just be the story that gets another politician on our side. We need more brave souls like Mr. Cubberley. Together we're making a difference. Please write today!