I think the statement is generally good, but will likely lead to confusion with this bit which is given a prominent position as one of three quotes before the statement: “The commercial opportunities and implications are also notable, not least for the pharmaceutical and financial services industries.” If you read through the comments after the statement, they are all fine and welcome comments relevant to the guideline. The last one, from Richard Ramyar, who is and economist not a clinician, includes the above quote and explains it further. I guess in that context it makes some sense, but to me it shouldn't be highlighted as one of 3 key points directly related to the guideline and its implementation. Doctors with ME have enough on their plates focusing on medical education and implementation. I don't think they have the resources or expertise to make sweeping statements about medico legal, insurance, commercial and industrial developments. With the possible exception of doing something about people like Sharpe and White in their role as advisors to health insurance companies. I think it's a mistake for Doctors with ME to give a platform to an economist with a different agenda. There may be a place for a different organisation to be set up to investigate and advise on medico-legal, insurance, commercial, etc. aspects of ME. I'd rather DwME stuck to their area of expertise. But I'm not a member or registered supporter of DwME. I recognise their right to run their organisation as they see fit, and wish them well.
Have they forgotten that in August they had claimed: "...This was after the final embargoed copy of the guideline already contained last-minute amendments that undermined the entire practical basis of a science-led document."
https://doctorswith.me/myalgic-encephalomyelitis-how-the-paradigm-has-shifted/ This is the webinar series from N Ireland.
It can, and will be, determinedly underestimated, with extreme prejudice to those who say otherwise. Have they not met people before? Have they not been paying attention?
Dr. Ramyar's statement extract as referenced by Barry above is very true, but I absolutely agree with @Trish. Yes, medicine operates within a society that has established financial constructs, but this isn't "DoctorsAndEconomistsWithME". Personally, I would have preferred the "commercial opportunities" line perhaps be issued as a part of a separate follow-on piece, commenting on the macroeconomic implications. Very many good quotes overall though.
latest post on the DwME site: https://doctorswith.me/nice-2021-a-triumph-of-science-over-discrimination/shaun-qureshi-4/ ??
All I saw was a small picture of someone I do not recognise. No words, at all, to explain why the picture was there. So I assumed it was art, considered wondering why art was there, and decided against it, as not being any of my business. ETA - yep, still no words.
If you peel the URL back to: https://doctorswith.me/nice-2021-a-triumph-of-science-over-discrimination/ you'll get the article: NICE 2021: A Triumph of Science over Discrimination Post date 1 November 2021
This person has a Twitter account. Also a ResearchGate presence: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shaun-Peter-Qureshi https://twitter.com/shaun_qureshi Possible he maintains the website - but I don't know.
Quick google reveals someone by that name left a psotitve review on Nina Muirhead's CPD module, so possibly a new meber of DwME?