The Issue: Empty Nose Syndrome - A Hidden and Often Overlooked Medical Crisis We are not looking for donations. There is no need to donate, all we’re looking for is signatures. Every signature counts toward our end goal for recognition, a medical code, and change. We, the Empty Nose Syndrome (ENS) community, are calling for urgent action to address the devastating consequences of nasal turbinate reduction and related surgeries. ENS is a debilitating condition caused by the loss of functional nasal turbinate's yet it remains largely unrecognized by the medical community. This lack of acknowledgment leaves countless individuals worldwide without proper diagnosis, treatment, or hope often leading to suicide. Empty Nose Syndrome results in severe, chronic symptoms that drastically reduce quality of life. These include but are not limited to: •       Lack of airflow sensation, disrupting communication to the brain and causing feelings of breathlessness and suffocation. •       Impaired nasal functions, such as reduced mucosaI flow, inability to filter toxins, and disrupted airflow regulation. •       Chronic nerve pain, sensitivity to environmental and weather changes, and autonomic nervous system disturbances. •       Severe health impacts, including sleep deprivation, cognitive decline, dysphagia, seizures, sleep apnea, PTSD, anxiety, depression, loss of motor skills, lung infections, sinus infections, vision impairment and other long-term health issues including permanent disability. Research highlights the critical role of nasal turbinate's in maintaining healthy nasal function and sending vital sensory signals to the brain. Studies also suggest connections to the limbic system, explaining the chronic distress experienced by ENS patients. For instance, functional MRI studies have shown abnormal limbic system activation in ENS sufferers, underscoring the neurological impact of this condition (Freund W, et al., Empty Nose Syndrome: Limbic System Activation Observed by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Tragically, an estimated 20% of patients undergoing inferior turbinate resection may develop ENS (Chhabra N, Houser SM, The Diagnosis and Management of Empty Nose Syndrome, Otolaryngology Clin North Am, 2009). Without a formal medical code or widespread recognition, patients are left to pursue experimental treatments-often not covered by insurance-leading to financial strain and further health deterioration up to and sometimes including suicide. The severity of symptoms and lack of effective treatments have driven some sufferers to despair, with an alarming increase in suicide attempts within the ENS community. Our Demands
We urge the medical community, policymakers, and Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) governing bodies to take the following actions: •       Formal Recognition of Empty Nose Syndrome: Establish an official medical code for ENS to ensure proper diagnosis and tracking of this condition. •       Increase Awareness and Education: Promote awareness of ENS among medical professionals and the public to prevent misdiagnosis and ensure patients receive appropriate care. •       Halt Unnecessary Turbinate Resection Surgeries: Enact strict guidelines requiring non­ surgical medical management approaches to be exhausted before considering turbinate surgery, given the irreversible damage it can cause. •       Informed Consent: Enact strict mandates and guidelines requiring the medical community, staff and surgeons performing these procedures to discuss and explain in detail, all of the risks associated with turbinate surgery, specifically the risk of empty nose syndrome (ENS) and its devastating and catastrophic condition. •       Research and Treatment Development: Fund and prioritize research into regenerative treatments and collaborative efforts between medical and scientific institutions to provide hope and relief for ENS sufferers. Why This Matters
Nasal turbinate’s are vital for breathing, filtering air, and maintaining overall health. Their irreversible damage leaves patients struggling to perform basic functions, often feeling invisible due to the lack of recognition. No one should lose their fundamental right to breathe and suffer a diminished quality of life due to careless, negligent, and preventable surgical outcomes. By signing this petition, you can help shine a light on this underserved community of ENS sufferers, advocate for those suffering in silence, and push for systemic informed consent change to prevent further harm. Together, we can demand accountability, foster hope, and ensure that Empty Nose Syndrome is no longer ignored.

Turbinate surgery’s risks are too severe to ignore. Many doctors worldwide call it a medical crime.

Medical Malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Sign now to support the recognition of Empty Nose Syndrome and protect future patients from its devastating effects.