A cardiovascular thoracic surgeon who has researched the so-called “liberation treatment” for multiple sclerosis says the federal government’s decision not to fund further research into the treatment is a huge disappointment to him — and to MS patients.
Dr. Sandy McDonald says he doesn’t quite understand why the Canadian Institutes of Health Research decided not to fund studies to test the treatment.
McDonald believes that Canadian researchers would have been best positioned to answer some of the important questions about the procedure and the CCSVI theory behind it, which states that blocked neck veins contribute to MS.
“We have a world-class health organization, we have world-class facilities, and we should be doing world-class research by people who know how to do it,” McDonald told CTV’s Canada AM from Barrie, Ont. Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the CIHR announced that, after reviewing the research so far on CCSVI and the liberation treatment, “there was unanimous agreement from the scientific experts that it is premature to support pan-Canadian clinical trials on the proposed ‘liberation procedure’.”
Agency President Dr. Alain Beaudet said the team of experts they consulted weren’t convinced that the CCSVI theory is sound, nor that the procedure is safe nor effective.
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq is expected to announce later Wednesday how the federal government intends to proceed next.
McDonald concedes that the research so far is thin, but notes that more research on CCSVI is about to be published. He wonders why if the agency didn’t think there was enough research, why it didn’t want to fund studies of its own.
“What we’re saying is that the research that has been done is flawed and is not good enough, and yet we’re not prepared to do the research ourselves,” he said.
“If the research others are doing isn’t good enough, then we need to do the research here.”
MS patient Ginger MacQueen, who had the treatment in Poland and says her MS symptoms improved enormously, said the federal agency’s decision will simply drive more patients to foreign clinics.
“They are going to go abroad. They are going to go to Poland, or to the States or any other country that is doing angioplasty and they are going to get treatment there because our country refuses to act,” she told CTV.
McDonald says while he cautions patients from going abroad for medical treatment, he understands that patients who can afford to — and even those who can’t — will go wherever they have to, to try this treatment.
“I personally don’t endorse medical tourism,” he said. “But the sad part is that the stance the CIHR has taken actually puts people in the position where they’re forced to look at medical tourism for a procedure that should be available in Canada, at least on a compassionate basis.”
God bless you Dr. MacDonald for speaking out for all of we fellow MSrs who are so frustrated and feel so betrayed by our own government. It’s great to hear the opinion of someone who actually knows what they’re talking about. My son and I are thrilled that someone is finally speaking out and standing up for the truth.
It is about doctors and health authorities being bullied and bribed by BIG PHARMA. BIG PARMA does NOT want a simple cure for MS. they would lose money I am sure Dr. Alain Beaudet and his buddies are getting kickbacks from drug companies.
If any one gets a chance …read the book Medisin by DR Scott Whitaker. He explains how corrupt the system is and is a good wakeup call to people
My husband and I went to Bulgaria for treatment and it was well worth it with the progress my husband is making everyday. We seen miracles happen there………I vote for Dr. MacDonald……..Canada SHAME ON YOU!