MAGICAL MEDICINE: HOW TO MAKE AN ILLNESS ... - Invest in ME

“The goal and outcome of treatment is work.
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“No‐one who is ill should have a straightforward right to Incapacity Benefit.
“(In the US in 2004) Commissioner John Garamendi described UnumProvident as ‘an outlaw company. It is
a company that for years has operated in an illegal fashion’.
“UNUMProvident continues to exert its influence, aided by the ideological work of the Woodstock group of
academics”.
(http://web.archive.org/web/20080412085745/http://www.compassonline.org.uk/article.asp?n=563).
Symptoms or sickness?
In 2002 a book entitled “Work and Mental Health: An Employers’ Guide” was published by the Royal
College of Psychiatrists Publications. It was edited by Doreen Miller, Maurice Lipsedge (Emeritus
Consultant Psychiatrist to the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust at Guy’s Hospital who, like Michael
Sharpe, works for UNUMProvident) and Paul Litchfield.
It was sponsored by the insurance company Swiss Life (UK) plc (for which Professor Peter White is Chief
Medical Officer) which states about itself: “Swiss Life (UK) plc provide life, critical illness and income protection
products to employees and individuals, offering financial security during times of need. We are one of the UK’s largest
employee benefits protection providers, covering more than 1.6 million employees and their families, in approximately
8000 group schemes”.
In his contributed chapter to the book, PACE Trial Principal Investigator Michael Sharpe, together with
Derek White, stated about “CFS/ME”:
“Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), post‐viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS), neurasthenia and myalgic
encephalomyelitis (ME) are terms used to describe an idiopathic syndrome of chronic fatigue and disability.
“Patients may emphasise physical rather than emotional symptoms because of social stigma. Misleading information
may reinforce this ‘ medical’ bias.
“Prognosis is worse for patients who have a conviction that the cause is purely ‘physical’.
“Assessment…should include the individual’s beliefs about the illness.
“CBT places particular emphasis on helping patients to reappraise their illness beliefs.
“Work rehabilitation…can be a lengthy process and the success rate is moderate at best. Lack of, or refusal to accept,
appropriate treatment by the National Health Service and misleading advice are common problems.
“The occupational physician may be asked to advise on retirement on grounds of ill‐health, for which a common
criterion is permanent inability to undertake normal duties – a requirement unlikely to be satisfied”.
The Preface by John Cox (President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists) and Jim Sykes (President, Faculty
of Occupational Medicine) states:
“The hard work that each author and the editors have put into this book demonstrates a fundamental tenet of medical
practice – doctors and other healthcare professionals working together in the best interests of their patients”.