How disease politicisation harms patients
This series of
interviews affirms that the world IS WATCHING, and that as Australian
Lyme patients, you are seen, you are heard, and you are believed.
LDAA CEO Sharon Whiteman interviews Professor Christian Perronne, MD,
PhD, Professor of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the Faculty of
Medicine Paris-Ile de France-Ouest, University of Versailles-St Quentin
en Yvelines (UVSQ), Paris-Saclay, France. He is chief of Department of
Medic
ine at the Raymond Poincaré
University Hospital in Garches (Hauts-de-Seine), belonging to Assistance
Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, the Greater Paris University Hospitals.
Professor Perronne describes how the science of Lyme disease has been
politicised by vested interests in the US, thwarting research globally.
Cautiously optimistic that the passing of the Tick Act in the US could
result in a commercial boost that encourages some much-needed innovation
in testing, Professor Perronne is clear that denying the existence of
chronic Lyme disease is a human rights violation, and that attributing
Lyme symptoms to psychiatric disorders only prolongs patients'
suffering.
Professor Perronne questions why the standard medical
diagnostic method of a 1-month trial of treatment is not applied to
cases of Lyme disease. By this method, a response to a one-month trial
indicates that the treatment approach is valid and should be continued.
He considers the trials that conclude that long term antibiotics are
ineffective are flawed, based as they are on an expectation of cure
after a mere 3 months. He also questions why malaria is routinely
diagnosed in the presence of negative blood test results, but Lyme is
not?
Patients know that politicisation has dominated Lyme science
for far too long. LDAA is grateful for Dr Perronne’s persistence and
outspoken defence of the truth, and we know patients will be relieved to
know that the world IS watching what happens in Australia.
205 abonnés
Professor Perronne outlines his persistent and long-standing support for the recognition of best practise diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease, including persistence.
Recorded on December 23rd, 2019