Lawsuit: Take 10(0000) I've been looking into a possible lawsuit to compel IDS/CDC to admit the obvious: there are 10's of thousands of
people suffering (needlessly) from un-treated, un-diagnosed Bb. In the process, I pulled up a post on "MD Junction" from 2011 urging people to do just that: sue IDS docs individually/collectively; and the CDC.
There are tons of people on that forum as well. When you include all people on-line, and the countless others who are isolated, if not dying, then we have the numbers to change the system. The best strategy is to find a well-heeled law firm specializing in medical malpractice (mis-diagnosis, in this case) and I did notice some that have recently won large settlements for misdiagnosed Lyme sufferers). With all of us on-line, it makes their job much easier from a logistical standpoint. And, with the numbers, it makes it very attractive for a "Class Action" law suit.
that said, anyone can file a suit in district court. If the CDC is the defendant, you have to file a Federal Tort Claim with that agency first. If they don't 'settle' or respond in six months... you can file the actual lawsuit in district court. Can you imagine what the good people at CDC (or IDS) would say/do/think if they got hit with about
10,000 lawsuits in a matter of weeks???? 'Gee, Jim... maybe we'd better think about
revising those guidelines' (Dearborn) Which would be a big victory even if no money exchanged hands. And, for me at least, money is not the big issue; although we could surely use it for legitimate treatment, research, awareness, and years of out-of-pocket un-reimbursed medical expenses.
Well, I think this is just the tip of the iceberg. We have the numbers. We are strong or we wouldn't be alive. I was bit in 1975, in VT, for god's sake. nothing was ever the same; but the woman on MD Jct. lives in my state (IA) and has been sick for almost as long. She has been an advocate for many years. While I went the isolation route. Well, I'm "coming out" now after finally getting diagnosed this year.
I'm trying not to get into details because we're all in the same boat. My story is pretty much everyone's story & vice versa.
So, you guys are smart & well-informed. I say it's time to get vocal. I'm still interested in more ideas about
how to "Act Up" and get national attention. The lawsuits would certainly do that; but we need a co-ordinated, nation-wide effort to get 'over the top.' Please let me know, or simply post suggestions/ideas/etc. Obviously we don't all agree on the necessity of lawsuits (or anything else) Skepticism is healthy on this, tx, dx, etc. But the time is NOW!!!
Post Edited By Moderator (Traveler) : 7/8/2013 1:35:23 PM (GMT-6)