MP Larry Miller says Canada’s health minister had no choice but to side with North American health experts and reject funding a clinical trial of the controversial liberation treatment for multiple sclerosis.
The Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound member of Parliament, whose sister with MS has undergone the procedure, said the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s recommendation put Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq “between a rock and a hard place.”
“I’m kind of disappointed in their recommendation, but it doesn’t mean we’ll give up on it,” Miller said Thursday in an interview.
He said the federal government would be “labelled as irresponsible” if it decided to proceed with a clinical trial, against the advice of the CIHR, and someone had a complication. Every procedure carries with it an element of risk, he added.
“I’m disappointed with the process,” he said. “But, I understand why she can’t go against the recommendation.”
Miller has urged, in the House of Commons, both the federal and provincial governments to put politics aside by working together to make the liberation treatment available in Ontario as soon as possible.
Last month, Miller said he is becoming increasingly frustrated by the red tape, skepticism and foot-dragging surrounding the procedure.
Developed by Italian doctor Paolo Zamboni, the liberation treatment stems from a theory that by clearing blockages in a patient’s veins — through an endovascular procedure — the symptoms of MS can be abated.
It is controversial because doctors have long believed that MS is a neurological disease that attacks the myelin — a protective covering wrapped around the nerves of the central nervous system. Zamboni’s treatment suggests it can be a vascular disease.
The treatment, which has not been proven, is not available in Canada. Many MS sufferers, including Miller’s sister and others in Grey-Bruce, have travelled to other countries for the treatment, with positive results.
Canada’s health research institute, along with the MS Society of Canada, convened a meeting of North American experts in multiple sclerosis last week to identify and recommend research priorities for Canada, related to MS.
The CIHR told the health minister that it is too risky to back liberation treatment clinical trials at this time.
“There was unanimous agreement from the scientific experts that it is premature to support pan-Canadian clinical trials on the proposed ‘liberation procedure,’ ” CIHR president Dr. Alain Beaudet said in a statement. “There is an overwhelming lack of scientific evidence on the safety and efficacy of the procedure, or even that there is any link between blocked veins and MS.”
The MS Society of Canada and provincial government regard the treatment as “experimental.”
I for one certainly don’t agree that Minister Aglukkaq had no choice but to abide by the recommendations of the CIHR and their so-called panel of experts. The real controversy with this mess is that there are parties involved in the decision making process that are clearly conflicted. Perhaps the Minister could have recognized that and taken that into consideration before she just crushed the hopes of thousands that suffer from MS in this country. It was certainly her right to postpone any decision until she had heard from those who support CCSVI clinical trials – she certainly should have heard enough to warrant further investigation, rather than just pushing forward with a recommendation that was doomed to failure from the start. She might have even heard the truth had she taken the time to listen. But just like the MS Society, she certainly isn’t working for the betterment of those with MS in this country. Shame.
I agree totally. Minister Aglukkaq did not have to make the announcement if she was not comfortable with the decision. She could have done more investigation and especially should have investigated those making that decision and giving her the advice on how to “not proceed” with this procedure. Had she done “her” research she would have found that all those so-called panel of experts are one way or another tied with pharmaceuticals who are making mega bucks from both patients and the government by pushing their drug trials. Do some research on these people please!!! Know who you are getting advice from and know who they are really working for.