Banning. Censoring. What Are They Trying to Hide???
“PBS blocked the showing of this film in Minnesota”
Not too long ago, I read an article,Long-Term Use of Antibiotic to Treat Acne Not Associated With Increased Bacterial Resistance, Study Finds; itreally bothered me. This article coupled with the fact that May was just a couple weeks away, just made me seethe. Why?
May is Lyme Disease Awareness month.
This is when many of those that are still suffering with Late Stage Lyme Disease and chronic Lyme Disease gather all their strength, energy, family and friends in hopes that they may end what they feel is misinformation regarding chronic Lyme Disease that is being disseminated within the U.S., Canada, and other countries.
This May, the award-winning Lyme documentary, Under Our Skin, was also going to be shown across the U.S. on PBS for the first time. It has come to our attention that the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) was attempting to stop its broadcasts on PBS, then when that wasn’t successful, censor the film. (I should say in most cases banning the film was unsuccessful.)
It is just unbelievable that tetracyclines are being administered for long periods of time for acne, but yet, those that are really ill and have become disabled cannot receive treatment according to their needs for Lyme Disease. Why has the IDSA been so diligent in combatting any change to the treatment guidelines? I am no medical expert. But, I mean really, prolonged antibiotic treatment is available for acne and different regimens of drug treatment including antibiotic treatment for malaria and the treatment protocols for hepatitis, tuberculosis, and other diseases vary in periods of times of use and flexibility in drug protocols. Why is it not the same for Lyme Disease?
I found some things that were presented within the film that were quite thought-provoking. For instance, the Lyme bacterium, borrelia burgdorferi, was discovered in 1981. Recently, before in the 1980’s within the U.S., it was OK for universities and government institutions “to patent and profit from live organisms.” Does this have anything to do with the IDSA’s unrelenting actions to keep the guidelines the same? Or, as some point out, is it the fact that out of the fourteen IDSA Panelist for Treatment of Lyme Disease—nine of them have received some funds from Lyme vaccine manufacturers? Or, that almost half of them have patents that are association with the coinfections of Lyme Disease and Lyme? Or, perhaps that a third of them have received funds for Lyme research or ties with insurance companies? All these questions began to cultivate in my brain. It also spurred me on into wanting to find out more.
As Kris Newby, Science Writer, in the film, Under Our Skin, points out: Perhaps now we are seeing how the “unchecked conflicts” of interests have hurt those within the Lyme Community. If you take the time as she has to look into the guidelines. Of the hundreds of references for the guidelines that they used, over half were written by the panelists themselves.
This lends one to question:
- How in the world can these guidelines show an unbiased and thorough overview of all the medical research works of Lyme Disease?
- How is it that they can conclusively say that “chronic Lyme Disease does not exist” when only their works and articles have been included to create the Lyme Disease treatment guidelines?
- How many of you also find it highly suspicious that those that began to show their beliefs that chronic Lyme Disease can and does exist were ousted from the panel completely?
- Don’t you think that watching the documentary, Under Our Skin is definitely worth your time to watch.
So, why not find out for yourself. Why is the IDSA doing its best to keep others from watching it?
In my opinion, if I had children or if I spent any time outside, I’d do what I can to inform myself of Lyme Disease and the other tick-borne diseases and how they can affect you if they’re left untreated.
***ADDED SIDEBAR: There was a Review Panel Hearing held on July 30, 2009. The guidelines for treatment remain unchanged. It is hard to believe that even with all the medical evidence that proves chronic Lyme Disease does exist, the guidelines remained the same.
Questions you may want to ask yourself:
- If so much has changed and there is no medical evidence proving that chronic Lyme Disease does exist, why are they still trying so hard to keep it from the public?
- Did the panel members to review the guidelines change since the last time in 2006?
- Just because a matter is settled does that mean all allegations were dismissed?
- Does that mean that where’s there’s smoke there’s no fire?
- Aren’t you able to make your own decisions on whether you desire to watch a movie or not?
The IDSA first attempted to block broadcasts of Under Our Skin and in some areas it was successful. Then, the IDSA asked that the movie be censored. I ask you, what are they trying to hide?
I am also including a link from the California Lyme Disease Association’s Touched by Lyme blog about how PBS blocked the showing of this film in Minnesota. This blog makes me ask: So, if a documentary is old, does that make it irrelevant?
TOUCHED BY LYME: Why one Minnesota PBS Station Yanked UNDER OUR SKIN
Two days ago, someone named Wayne posted a message on the CALDA website, saying that WDDE-WRPT (a PBS-affiliate in Duluth, Minnesota) had originally scheduled a showing of the Lyme documentary UNDER OUR SKIN this month but has since removed it from their lineup. I called and spoke with station manager Al Harmon, who confirmed that. He said it was his own decision to pull the film.
Rebuttals: