In reference to Lyme disease there are a handful of individuals controlling the narrative with Wormser being one of those individuals. Below is a Letter to the Editor of Clinical Infectious Diseases pointing out the “groupthink mentality” of his study. (Example of “evidence based medicine” spun to fit bias agendas) ________________________________________ From: "Carl Tuttle" To: "sherwood gorbach" Cc: cid@tufts.edu, CID-editor@tufts.edu, "Dick Blumenthal" , "Kemp Hannon" , "matt sheehey" , bonacic@senate.state.ny.us Sent: Monday, April 20, 2015 9:26:43 AM Subject: Long-Term Assessment of Health Related Quality of Life in Patients with Culture-Confirmed Early Lyme Disease Clinical Infectious Diseases, an Oxford University Press journal. Long-Term Assessment of Health Related Quality of Life in Patients with Culture-Confirmed Early Lyme Disease. Wormser GP, Weitzner E, McKenna D, Nadelman RB, Scavarda C, Molla I, Dornbush R, Visintainer P, Nowakowski J. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25888674 Apr 20, 2015 Clinical Infectious Diseases Tufts University School of Medicine 200 Harrison Avenue Posner Basement Boston, MA 02111 Attn: Editor-in-Chief, Sherwood L. Gorbach, M.D Dear Dr Gorbach, Wormser’s study from the well known group think-tank [1] (The Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College) is fixated on the early or acute stage of disease. Lyme patients debilitated by this life altering infection went months, years or decades before obtaining a diagnosis because the vast majority of patients do not recall a tick bite or develop the bulls-eye rash. [2] [3] [4] [5] There is absolutely no training whatsoever for the later stages of Lyme disease so patients are often ping-ponged through the medical community misdiagnosed with a disease matching the specialist who examined them further delaying proper treatment. There are no treatment guidelines for this class of patient who went years or decades before proper diagnosis. We are experiencing a worldwide epidemic of late-stage Lyme unrecognized and deliberately ignored. Case in point: Lyme Disease Diagnostic Center at New York Medical College http://www.nymc.edu/LDDC/index.html Background and Mission Statement: Established in 1989, the Lyme Disease Diagnostic Center is staffed by experienced physicians and nurses with special expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of persons 18 years and older with: - Tick bites - Early/Acute Lyme disease **** - Anaplasmosis (Ehrlichiosis) - Babesiosis Wormser’s study comparing Quality of Life in Patients with Culture-Confirmed Early Lyme Disease is not an accurate assessment of the entire Lyme patient population. Respectfully submitted, Carl Tuttle Hudson, NH Cc: The Editorial Directors of Oxford University Press. References ________________________________________ [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people, in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints, by actively suppressing dissenting viewpoints, and by isolating themselves from outside influences. The State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services has documented on average 48.25% incidence of rash-related Lyme over the last 4 years (See page 3 of each official report.) Dr. Gensheimer served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prior to her assuming her current position in Maine. [2] Report to Maine Legislature Lyme Disease February 2009 http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/reports/lymereport.pdf -- 2009, 59% [3] Report to Maine Legislature Lyme Disease February 2010 http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/lyme/documents/lyme-legislature-2010.pdf -- 2010, 43% [4] Report to Maine Legislature Lyme Disease February 2011 http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/lyme/documents/2011-lyme-legislature.pdf -- 2011, 42% [5] Report to Maine Legislature Lyme Disease February 2012 http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/lyme/documents/2012-lyme-legislature.pdf -- 2012, 49%