This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/col ... story.html


Not really a fan of the National Post, but just thought I'd throw this out there.

It's less playing doctor and more trying to "buy" votes with a manifesto targetting a specific group of people.

That's probably even worse IMO.

Politicians are going to say whatever they think you want to hear to get your vote......It's always been like that and always will.

Chris Selley, a blogger for the rightwing National Post newspaper, commented on the great article “Canada's MS patients are owed an explanation” by Ujjal Dosanjh and Kirsty Duncan, two Liberal MPs who clearly care about the current plight of persons with MS in Canada. Doshnjh and Duncan focused on the unethical nature of CIHR/MSSC Committee which looked at the need for clinical research into the efficacy of CCSVI treatment for MS. The authors correctly pointed out that those with expertise in the subject matter at hand were purposefully left off the committee for the absurd reason that such expertise would bias the committee’s decisions. The authors also importantly pointed out that many of the committee members had a serious financial conflict of interest when it came to making a decision on a potentially very beneficial, non-drug treatment for MS.
For some reason I cannot fathom, Mr Selley seems to think such criticisms of the membership of a committee, charged with a very important decision which will affect the health of tens of thousands of Canadians, are not just. I can only assume that Mr Selley thinks committees charged with making important decisions should exclude any person with experience and relevant expertise in the subject at hand and be stacked with individuals with a major conflict of interest.
I am sure Mr Selley would approve of a committee charged with looking at the tax structure applied to the petroleum industry being filled with persons who receive significant compensation from the petroleum industry and being void of any individual with experience in developing a tax structure for the petroleum industry.
Given Mr Selley’s impressive display of a complete lack of common sense and his poor understanding of what constitutes unethical behavior, it is clear that people have to Beware of Rightwing Bloggers Playing Journalist.

Well said.

Liberal MP Kirsty Duncan's interest in MS is a deeply personal one — her cousin was diagnosed with the debilitating disease five years ago — and it's a cause she has made a focus of her work as a parliamentarian.

As a self-educated illiterate, I can tell that the blood flow is the important bit (stop with this shit about the stenosis), that vitamine D is important, that the glucose connection seems very plausible (see other thread on normal cerebral outflow). That some of Zamboni's patients do very well after 4 years, that this is nothing to do with placebo.

It would seem that there is a pervasive stagnation of the whole system. So perhaps we need Government with the big G to break the status quo, to stimulate heterogeniety and independent initiatives and thought? Or at the very least get the facts on the table.

I have the honour of knowing Kirsty Duncan. She is a tireless, passionate, compassionate advocate for MS sufferers and now for Veterans as well. She does a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes with no press and no publicity. The majority of the people she works with are not in her riding and cannot vote for her. We need a voice like hers in government and I am saddened by the National Post response but not surprised.

Well said, Doodles!

I was generalising in response to the original post and based on my personal dealings with MPs in the UK.

Human nature dictates that in the masses of self promoting money grubbing numbers of MPs there will be a handfull of worthy and sincere people, it's just a shame there are so few.

I hear you EJC. I have had the opportunity to meet a number of Dr. Duncan's Parliamentary colleagues who are also very vocal advocates for MS sufferers. They are worthy and sincere. Like you, I wish there were more of them and not just for the MS issue.

Cocerned, thanks for posting the link to the article in the National Post.

Direct MS, thanks for pointing out so patiently and specifically what a load of garbage it is.

The article in the Ottawa Citizen, is on the other hand a great article.

Anyone who wants to read it can find it here.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Can ... story.html