Same time last year children and adults with Lyme disease and their families pleaded with Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6) to support a Lyme and vector-borne illness bill for research, education and prevention of these illnesses.
Mr. Pallone refused to sign, which killed the bill. His reason? Mr. Pallone stated that his physician neighbors said it would give people too many antibiotics. A congressman who follows the advice of his neighborhood buddies over the needs of the 27,000 newly reported cases of Lyme disease in the year 2007, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?
Déjà vu. This year Mr. Pallone is again refusing to support bill HR1179. This bill is almost identical to last year’s, with a few new additions.
Congressman Pallone receives large campaign contributions from HMOs and health-care professionals. He is now returning those favors.
Lyme disease is an expensive illness. No new legislation means no change in what the insurance companies will pay out to patients. The health-care professionals who set the 2006 flawed guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of Lyme will not have to worry this year about malpractice accusations.
New Jersey is No. 3 in the nation in reported cases of Lyme disease. Out of the 3,134 cases reported, 280 are in Mr. Pallone’s own district. Perhaps Congressman Pallone’s name should be on the growing list of investigated officials in New Jersey.
The East Brunswick Public Library has the film “Under Our Skin” available for checkout and also has “Cure Unknown,” the book by Pam Weintraub. Both explain Lyme disease and the reasons for the split in the medical community on testing and treatment. The Lyme Disease Association may have the answers to other questions you may have regarding Lyme and vector-borne illnesses.
Kathleen Kirby, R.N.
East Brunswick