Journal of IiME Volume 2 Issue 2 www.investinme.org R Reeaassoonnss wwhhyy MMEE DDooeess NNoott BBeelloonngg ttoo tthhee MMUUSS CCaatteeggoorryy (continued) this system. The system does not allow individual doctors for their own good to classify the condition as F48.0 under mental disorders as long as the criteria for ME are met. It is clearly mentioned under the diagnostic code ICD-10, F48,0 (neurasthenia/chronic fatigue/psychosomatic conditions) that this diagnosis cannot be given until Postviral Fatigue Syndrome/Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME,93.3)(ICD10,1999) has been ruled out. It cannot be in anyone’s interest (clinicians, researchers, patients, healthcare officials) for doctors to classify an illness based on their personal understanding as to where an illness belongs. Such practice can lead to mistakes in investigation, diagnosis and treatment. In addition it will lead to incorrect information in the medical records, skews the prevalence numbers and leads to problems in comparing research studies etc. 3. The illness is approved as its own entity in other countries The following information shows the illness is approved as its own entity in several countries. Denmark Now deceased, Professor Viggo Faber MD, knew the illness very well and states the following in one of his articles: ”… involvement of f.ex. ME/CFS among the somatoform is in contrast with many years of research in the USA and elsewhere in the western world, which has led to ME/CFS being acknowledged by the WHO …, and that one in USA and most of the European countries has noted it as a somatic illness giving entitlement to a pension…(there) are very stringent criteria for diagnosing ME/CFS.” (Faber, 2000:22). Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) Great Britain In 1959 Dr Donald Acheson (later nominated Chief Medical Officer) published an extensive overview of ME entitled The Clinical Syndrome Variously called Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Iceland Disease and Epidemic Neuromyasthenia. In this overview ME is clearly seen as a clinical entity. The British Department of Health acknowledged ME as a clinical, organic entity in November 1989 (Hansard HoC: 27th November 1989: 353). Great Britain endorses the WHO ICD-10 and therefore has to follow this classification system. The diagnosis of ME was acknowledged as a distinct clinical entity by the Royal Society of Medicine in 1978 based on thorough work by Lyle and Chamberlain (1978) who had prepared an overview of epidemic neuromyasthenia (another description of ME) in the period 1934-1977. Here a citation of this by Emeritus Professor Malcolm Hooper (2007): ”In 1978 the Royal Society of Medicine accepted ME as a nosological organic entity. The current version of the International Classification of Diseases – ICD-10, lists myalgic encephalomyelitis under G93.3-neurological conditions. It cannot be emphasised too strongly that this recognition emerged from meticulous observation and examination.” (p. 466) ”Today, many patients with fatigue as a major feature of their illness – for example cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression – are being diagnosed with CFS. This has led to confusion, and has left clinicians, patients and carers without recourse to proper clinical and social support.” (p. 467) (continued on page 69) Page 68/74
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