Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Leading to Assisted Suicide in a Patient in Her Late 30s: A Case Report, 2026, Opala et al

[Nightsong]

Abstract:
A patient in her late 30s developed severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) following an Epstein-Barr virus infection. No distinct autoimmune or autoinflammatory disorder could be identified as the underlying cause of her symptoms, as the observed constellation of cytokine elevations (IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ) was not consistent with any known or established disease entity. Despite comprehensive multidisciplinary treatment over two years, including medical, psychological, and rehabilitative approaches, her condition deteriorated, and treatment-related hypersensitivities emerged. The severity and progressive nature of her symptoms, compounded by the absence of effective therapeutic options, ultimately led the patient to pursue assisted suicide.

Link | PDF (Cureus, May 2026, open access)

 

[Amw66]

A very hard post to like.
When will the penny ever drop ? - multidisciplinary treatment and rehab are counterproductive at best and harmful.
Where s the accountability?( rhetorical)

 

[Amw66]

Worth a read- a lot of interventions tried including H.E.L P for microclots, physio etc

"She was under outpatient psychiatric care and underwent detailed psychometric testing, which revealed 4points on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and 10 points on the Beck Depression Inventory, indicating no evidence of depression. She scored 20 points on the David Bell scale and 58 points on the Fatigue Symptom Inventory, which demonstrated moderate to severe impairment of daily function due to fatigue, as well as20 points on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, revealing poor sleep quality."

" A trial of physiotherapy was undertaken, but her energy limits were frequently exceeded, resulting in repeated crashes and increased muscle pain. Furthermore, the patient commenced psychological support,attending weekly sessions; however, she often encountered a lack of understanding from healthcare personnel at all levels."

So very sad.

 

[NelliePledge]

A very hard post to like.
When will the penny ever drop ? - multidisciplinary treatment and rehab are counterproductive at best and harmful.
Where s the accountability?( rhetorical)

Yes very hard to like but important to have this on public record

 

[BrightCandle]

The religious application of all this exercise and CBT is literally killing patients and there is no sign here they understand that they were the ones that made the patient so badly worse. Having invalidated this patients own experiences, brainwashing them on the cause and then worsening them so badly. Where is the accountability? A patient has died due to their "care", that is manslaughter.

 

[Sean]

" A trial of physiotherapy was undertaken, but her energy limits were frequently exceeded, resulting in repeated crashes and increased muscle pain. Furthermore, the patient commenced psychological support,attending weekly sessions; however, she often encountered a lack of understanding from healthcare personnel at all levels."

They killed her.

 

[rvallee]

Despite comprehensive multidisciplinary treatment over two years, including medical, psychological, and rehabilitative approaches, her condition deteriorated, and treatment-related hypersensitivities emerged

Odd to put this there. Politics, I guess, like giving tribute to the king, or a sycophantic turn of the board stroking the ego of the chairman, it's just expected. Why would that prevent any such thing? There is plenty of evidence that it actually makes it worse and zero evidence that it would prevent any of this.

The fact that this is all entirely ignored is so deeply shameful, as black a mark on the medical profession as an "otherwise outstanding person" moonlighting as a serial kidnapper who chains people them in their basement. There should have been many studies already, examining the factors leading to those deaths, how many and what circumstances. So many people, so young, dying of an illness that isn't even fatal, more often than not by suicide. It's rare for moral issues to be so black and white, so obviously wrong that no one who doesn't protest against this evil way of doing things is at best guilty of condoning mass cruelty and manslaughter.

But it's entirely impossible to stop for now. Mostly because everyone involved expects, sadly correctly, that they will never face consequences. Impunity is what too often fuels disasters. Knowing that no matter how horrible the consequences of their actions, "it's not personal, it's just business".

Disgusting.

 

[Joan Crawford]

From the paper: "Cognitive behavioral therapy with pacing and graded exercise therapy (GET) was recommended to facilitate
a more comprehensive assessment of her energy balance and, by extension, enhance her overall
functionality. However, the use of GET in severely affected patients with ME/CFS remains controversial due
to possible symptom exacerbation in severely affected patients [11]."

Reference 11 is NICE. They clearly did not read it or understnad what NICE were saying.

Sad.