Einstein’s theory of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
This is where the Medical Innovation Bill steps forward, a Bill Lord Saatchi wants to introduce to help doctors innovate, to advance medical science and find new and better treatments for cancer, MS and other illnesses.
I attended a meeting at the Houses of Parliament on Monday where Lord Saatchi explained that medical innovation requires deviation from standard medical procedures. Presently, defensive medicine is practised through fear of litigation – payouts from the NHS have doubled in the past four years alone, reaching £1.2 billion in the last financial year.
What this Bill proposes is much greater clarity as to what is negligent and dangerous practice by clinicians and what is careful and sensitive innovation. Take for example the doctor at Barts, who refused to do what surgeons across the UK and US were doing with breast cancer – the Halsted method – whereby women with breast cancer faced a double mastectomy, and the removal of all tissue from the shoulder, to the chest walls, to the ribs – anything and everything that could be removed without killing the women.
Geoffrey Keynes, alone, removed only the tumour and undertook radiotherapy in combination. He was ridiculed and humiliated on a world stage. Halsted followers called it a ‘lumpectomy’ as a term of derision. Now, it is standard procedure. This was innovation. If Keynes did this today, and a patient died, he would probably face being sued.
So what does this mean for MS? I spoke to the MS Society regarding innovation and treatment. They are calling for two comprehensive reviews each year for everyone with MS, led by an MS specialist who can ensure that we have access to the most innovative treatments via well informed policy decisions.
Furthermore, Lord Saatchi points out that any decisions, whether standard procedure or innovation, should be made within a multi-disciplinary team. Yet we know that certain roles within these teams, such as MS nurses, have been under pressure due to recent financial constraints within the health service. How can we ensure that every patient has full access to a multi-disciplinary team?
Today, the Bill is being introduced into the Houses of Commons by Michael Ellis MP in the form of a Ten Minute Rule Bill, the first step in gathering Parliamentary support for the Bill. All of us living with a devastating illness should keep a keen eye on developments. Please ask your MP if they will support the Bill – www.writetothem.com
My you have been busy, is it due to lack of caffeine? very well done. Know just have to wait and see if the government will be brave and wise .enough to implement it
Absolutely. The MP told us that Parliament is a pretty creaky old place – we just need to keep the momentum going.
Was a busy old time and had to take yesterday off work to recover, lol. Definite lack of caffeine!
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Just been going through your tags, I know MS is awkward and each one affected differently, but compares a lot with the effects my wife had, heat, sun ,cold wet and of course there was ME, sometimes I got on her nerves. One I’m grateful for Vicki got me onto Echinacea tablets instead of the dreaded flu jab, that was 12 years ago, I will start again 1 a day, they help build your immune system against colds. And it does work, x
That’s interesting. I’ve actually had the flu jab the last two years and have no bad effect at all, plus no flu, lol. And that’s me saying that as a homeopath.
I’ve got loads of ongoing MS symptoms, but they kind of seem normal now. Which is odd, but it helps in a way too. Was just such a shock when they all started.
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Very interesting. The fact that there are always people who are willing to take a chance and try and move forward rather than just sitting back always gives me a little ray of hope. I do think that one day somebody is going to crack and cure the problem of MS, I just hope it happens before my legs give up. 🙂
I really hope so! Even using a cancer drug, Alemtuzumab, to halt disease progression, can be seen as innovative?
There’s a lot of people out there though who say that there’s too much money to be made from people with MS and their medication. Interesting theory!
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Thank You. Duly Done. X x
Thanks Tricia!
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There will be an element of that but I also think there are enough talented and proud scientists out there who could think of nothing better than to discover something REALLY important for humankind. Well we’d all better hope so anyway. Lol
Very true. And it can’t come soon enough!
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Just a comment re Echinacea. I remember years ago thinking the Echinacea was a great idea but every time I started taking it it just made my symptoms worse. Think it boosted my immune system too much and then my body fought back. Hands and feet went numb and pins and needles were terrible. After about 2 weeks I stopped and everything went back to how it was before. On the other hand the flu jab (for me anyway) has been the bees knees. Even if I am unlucky enough to catch a cold it never turns into a full blown problem now and usually disappears in a day or 2. Didn’t think logically that it would have any affect on colds but my gp confirmed that the flu jab can have a positive effect on other bugs too
Have to agree with you there. And a hot whisky helps too!
I know a lot of people don’t like the flu jabs, but it works for me….
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hot chocolate with brandy
Now that’s a real Autumn drink. Love it!
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forgot to say Echinacea is not recommended for people with MS, but Vicki sometimes said stuff it, its like when she wanted tamazipane to help her sleep the doc said that they could be addictive and only gave 4 tablets 1 a week, not very amused. But hey Vicki was really a red head, bit fiery at times
We all find different ways to cope!
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“There’s a lot of people out there though who say that there’s too much money to be made from people with MS and their medication. Interesting theory!”
This theory IS interesting. I’ve thought the same thing myself. I wish I had more faith that people want to HELP people, rather than line their pockets, but…
Anyway! Totes impressed that you attended that meeting. 🙂
Oh it was fab! I know the whole legal/parliamentary thing takes ages, but it passed its first reading so fingers crossed!
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