Why we victim blame -- and why Larry Nassar shows we shouldn't

I agree, @Peter Trewhitt. Quite bizarre.

Thought I would give the benefit of the doubt to the research in case the strange "protocols" around these blood draws were actually part of the plan. My significant other and I used to joke about the real reasons for psych experiments, e.g. Millgram.

And, this does seem to be a power/control/punishment thing. One could look at some other ME research this way.

I think many of us go through wondering, or even being convinced ME is psychological. That can of course be taken advantage of by various practitioners who don't see ME as biomedical - which it is.

So many with ME get the wrong guidance about where this disease falls - biomedical vs. psychological. It would be interesting to see what information or circumstances changed a pwME view on this. Perhaps some testing came up with an abnormality, or as in your case your experience with this practitioner and their study.

I don't think you were wrong in just leaving the study, and not doing follow up. We have way too much on our plates, and have to pick our battles.