Hargraves Sponsors Lyme Disease Treatment Bill
Press Release
September 22, 2009
Their patients are sick, but doctors are forbidden to treat them.
The patients´ symptoms can represent the spectrum of human affliction, but the cause of all of their suffering may be one: The miniscule deer tick (no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence) whose bite can inject the dreaded Borrelia burgdorferi into its victim.
Although Borrelia burgdorferi is recognized by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the cause of Lyme disease, the chronic version of Lyme disease often sends its victims on an endless odyssey to pediatricians, neurologists, cardiologists, psychiatrists, and back again.
Misdiagnosed and untreated, those afflicted with chronic Lyme disease (and their loved ones) watch helplessly as their health becomes more and more precarious. Some of the chronic Lyme victims are so ill they ultimately succumb to their mysterious malady. They leave heartache, frustration, and financial ruin in their wake.
"I never realized how political the practice of medicine could be until I got involved in drafting this legislation," said State Representative Robert Hargraves, (R) First Middlesex District. Rep. Hargraves is the primary sponsor of House Bill 1148, An Act Relative to the Treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease, scheduled for hearing before the Joint Committee on Public Health at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22 in Hearing Room A-1 on the first floor of the State House. The hearing will be preceeded by a press conference at 9:30 a.m. outside the hearing room.
Rep. Hargraves´ district covers the towns of Ayer, Devens, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, and Townsend, some of the harder-hit communities in the Commonwealth.
"At first I couldn´t believe what I was hearing," Rep. Hargraves said. "My constituents were getting sick, but their doctors were afraid to treat them for fear of losing their licenses or even of going to jail. All of these people started coming to me, and their stories were the same. Then I spoke to a few doctors, and after that I knew that I had to do something."
So Rep. Hargraves is proposing legislation that will protect physicians who prescribe long-term antibiotic treatment for their patients who have chronic Lyme disease from prosecution. His bill is expected to be very similar to the bill that was signed into law by Connecticut earlier this year.
An Act Relative to the Treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease has attracted broad support, with 28 members of the House and Senate signed on as co-sponsors of the bill.
Among them is Rep. James Arciero (D) Fifth Middlesex District, who represents the towns of Chelmsford, Littleton, Westford. "The spread of Lyme disease throughout the United States, and especially in New England, is epidemic. We need to take the lead and pass this legislation which will allow for the long-term dispensation of antibiotic treatment for those suffering from this awful illness. We have learned that the infections can take some time to control, and we need to provide the necessary treatment in order for suffers to fully recover," said Representative Arciero, who has worked with Donna Castle of Mass Ticked Off, a Lyme disease support group dedicated to spreading awareness about this disease.
Also among them is Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D) whose district covers the towns of Ashburnham, Athol, Barre, Brookfield, Charlton, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Rutland, Spencer, Sturbridge, Templeton, Warren, West Brookfield, Winchendon, Brimfield, Holland, Monson, Palmer, Wales, Ware, Orange and Warwick.
Senator Brewer said "I have heard from many of my constituents who suffer from Lyme Disease or have family members who have been diagnosed, and I have realized what a huge impact it has on their lives. The advanced stages of the disease are extremely debilitating, so appropriate treatment and early detection are vital. It is time that we started paying attention to Lyme disease, and I am proud to be a co-sponsor on this bill."
State Representative Jennifer Benson, (D) 37th Middlesex District, represents the towns of Acton, Boxborough, Harvard, Shirley, Lancaster and Lunenburg.
"There has been a large increase in Lyme disease cases, particularly in my district. This legislation will allow doctors to treat this growing number of patients to the best of their ability," Rep. Benson said.
An Act Relative to the Treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease has gained the support of several local groups including Ticked Off.
The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, Inc. is also endorsing the bill, saying in a letter dated September 1, 2009 and signed by Jane M. Orient, M.D., executive director of AAPS: "AAPS wholeheartedly supports MA H 1148, which sensibly restrains the state medical board from penalizing or punishing a physician based solely on his treatment of Lyme disease in accordance with his best professional judgment."
The legislation has also garnered the attention of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society of Bethesda, MD, that has gone on record to support this legislation written to protect doctors who specialize in treating Lyme disease from prosecution for using long-term antibiotics.
