Stranger Feet: Oh, ffs.

Tuesday, 31 August 2010

Oh, ffs.

Of course.

An expert group has recommended that our nation not fund clinical trials for CCSVI treatment.

We are the "wait and see" country, after all...why would I expect anything else? Rather than put our own studies into place, we'll just sit back and analyze everyone else's studies. Makes sense, right? Clearly, if we consider those studies suspect, the best thing to do is sit on our asses and inspect them rather than perform our own. That's my general policy too. I suspect my supper hasn't been made to my liking. I'm not sure how it will taste and I didn't see it being made. So, I'll sit, starve and poke it with my fork rather than go make myself an effing sandwich.

All of this despite Canadians clearly indicating in an Angus Reid opinion poll* (Dec 7 & Dec 10, 2009) involving a random survey of adult Canadians, that they...that we want more money spent on medical research.

Here's the gist on trial rejection from the CBC:

Experts urge rejection of MS therapy trial

Canada should not fund a clinical trial of the so-called liberation therapy for multiple sclerosis, an expert group has recommended.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the MS Society of Canada said Tuesday in Ottawa that their group of international experts met last week to discuss the latest findings on the theory proposed by Italian doctor Paolo Zamboni.

The working group unanimously recommended against supporting a clinical trial in Canada at this type, CIHR President Dr. Alain Beaudet said.

Beaudet informed Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq about the group's recommendations. She plans to address reporters on Wednesday.

Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI, is a chronic problem in which blood from the brain has difficulty returning to the heart.
Zamboni believes multiple sclerosis is caused by a narrowing or "stenosis" in the veins that drain the brain that can be corrected by using balloons to open up veins.

Some Canadians have gone overseas to seek the experimental treatment.