Claimed conflicts--Blumenthal

Claimed conflicts--Blumenthal

Here's an article from UPI:

Notice this statement:

"The IDSA's 2006 Lyme disease guideline panel undercut its credibility
by allowing individuals with financial interests -- in drug companies,
Lyme disease diagnostic tests, patents and consulting arrangements
with insurance companies -- to exclude divergent medical evidence and
opinion," he said in a statement.

BUT...that characterization of "undercut its credibility" does not
mean legal conflict.

For that, Blumenthal would ahve to have shown a direct connection
between the alleged "conflict" and the actions of the IDSA Guidelines
panel.

AND...interests held in "drug companies"...for cryin'in ot loud...IF
they were voting their wallets there...

...they probvably would advocate FOR longterm antibiotic use, WOULDN'T
THEY?

How STUPID is this?
=========================================================================



Panel to reassess Lyme Disease guidelines


Published: May 2, 2008 at 12:50 AM
Print story Email to a friend Font size:HARTFORD, Conn., May 2 (UPI)
-- An antitrust investigation revealed serious flaws in the way Lyme
disease guidelines were set, Connecticut Attorney General Richard
Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal said the influential Infectious Diseases Society of America
has agreed to reassess its 2006 Lyme disease guidelines with the help
of an outside arbiter. The IDSA guidelines are often used by insurance
companies in restricting coverage for long-term antibiotic treatment
or other medical care, Blumenthal said Thursday.

"The IDSA's 2006 Lyme disease guideline panel undercut its credibility
by allowing individuals with financial interests -- in drug companies,
Lyme disease diagnostic tests, patents and consulting arrangements
with insurance companies -- to exclude divergent medical evidence and
opinion," he said in a statement.

The IDSA's guidelines say Lyme disease can be treated in most cases
with a 30-day course of oral antibiotics. Critics said Lyme disease is
difficult to diagnose, can persist for years and requires treatment
with antibiotics for six months or longer, the Hartford Courant said.

Re: Claimed conflicts--Blumenthal

On May 3, 10:47 am, the 3rd Man <sir de...@yahoo . com > wrote:
> Here's an article from UPI:
>
> Notice this statement:
>
> "The IDSA's 2006 Lyme disease guideline panel undercut its credibility
> by allowing individuals with financial interests -- in drug companies,
> Lyme disease diagnostic tests, patents and consulting arrangements
> with insurance companies -- to exclude divergent medical evidence and
> opinion," he said in a statement.
>
> BUT...that characterization of "undercut its credibility" does not
> mean legal conflict.
>
> For that, Blumenthal would ahve to have shown a direct connection
> between the alleged "conflict" and the actions of the IDSA Guidelines
> panel.
>
> AND...interests held in "drug companies"...for cryin'in ot loud...IF
> they were voting their wallets there...
>
> ...they probvably would advocate FOR longterm antibiotic use, WOULDN'T
> THEY?
>
> How STUPID is this?
> =========================
==========================
========================
>
> Panel to reassess Lyme Disease guidelines
>
> Published: May 2, 2008 at 12:50 AM
> Print story Email to a friend Font size:HARTFORD, Conn., May 2 (UPI)
> -- An antitrust investigation revealed serious flaws in the way Lyme
> disease guidelines were set, Connecticut Attorney General Richard
> Blumenthal said.
>
> Blumenthal said the influential Infectious Diseases Society of America
> has agreed to reassess its 2006 Lyme disease guidelines with the help
> of an outside arbiter. The IDSA guidelines are often used by insurance
> companies in restricting coverage for long-term antibiotic treatment
> or other medical care, Blumenthal said Thursday.
>
> "The IDSA's 2006 Lyme disease guideline panel undercut its credibility
> by allowing individuals with financial interests -- in drug companies,
> Lyme disease diagnostic tests, patents and consulting arrangements
> with insurance companies -- to exclude divergent medical evidence and
> opinion," he said in a statement.
>
> The IDSA's guidelines say Lyme disease can be treated in most cases
> with a 30-day course of oral antibiotics. Critics said Lyme disease is
> difficult to diagnose, can persist for years and requires treatment
> with antibiotics for six months or longer, the Hartford Courant said.


And here is the standard that Blumenthal, himself announced in reagrd
to the issue, earlier...
==========================
==========================
===================
"I have a legal obligation to investigate these serious allegations,
including possible antitrust violations that would arise if insurers
or others improperly influenced the process by excluding competing
views and information for their economic benefit".
==========================
==========================
===================
"...by excluding competing
views and information for their economic benefit".

See?

Has to show conflicts...AND that these conflicts caused the exclusion
of competing views for the economic benefit of those who "excluded"
those views.

Not only will mere disagreement not cut it...he would actually have to
show they did it for the reason of benefitting economically.