Anti-science

I must confess, there truly is a problem with anti-science in this country. But the IDSA has it backwards. Truths are easily ignored/denied when politically convenient.

Scientist, such as those who deny the reality of global climate change, readily discard science when it suits their politics.

Persistence of Lyme? recent literature:

1) Persistence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Rhesus Macaques,  Jan 2012, Embers et al. Tulane University.
 2) Two previous studies in mice and one in dogs prove persistence of the organism.  See Columbia University Lyme Research Center, Editorial Fallon.

OK that's animals, People?

1) Brian Fallon, A Reappraisal of the US Clinical Trials of Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome. Conclusion: Repeat use of antibiotics helps: i.e. Lyme persists in humans.
2) Bio-statistical review of the 4 studies NIH sponsored studies: Delong, Brown University, Nov 2012: Re-treatment can be beneficial: i.e. Lyme persists in humans.

The basis of the entirety of the IDSA arguments is being called into question by heavy hitters in the world of academic scientific research.

Politics? Study 2010, Johnson, Stricker, in Philosophy, Ethics and Humanities in Medicine, The IDSA panel:

a) 40% of panel members had financial conflicts of interest
b) Since the level of evidence was poor many guidelines based on subjective expert opinion, 38/71.
c) IDSA guidelines published in IDSA journal, calls into question bias of "peer review process."
d) Failure to acknowledge legitimate controversy
e) Guidelines restrict the use of clinical judgement and fail to offer alternative treatments.
f) IDSA panel comprised of academic researchers, not practitioners with clinical experience.

Science is a systemic process which seeks out truths about the world and universe around us. Here are examples of truth uncovered by the very process held sacrosanct by the IDSA. Does science matter to those whose opinions are cast in stone and predicated on politics?  Those who deny global climate change will not change their views until a glacier from a new ice age lands on their house. What will it take to change the mind of those who truly believe that 3 weeks of doxycycline cures patients with long-term Lyme disease? 


There is absolutely a problem with anti-science in America.