The IDSA Lyme disease guideline is based on evidence-based research. Recently, IDSA has been the subject of legal proceedings that raise false claims regarding its Lyme disease guidelines.
In 2006, the Office of the Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal (now a U.S. Senator representing Connecticut), opened an antitrust investigation into IDSA’s 2006 Lyme disease guidelines. In order to end the expense and distraction of the investigation, IDSA entered into an agreement with the Office of the Connecticut Attorney General under which IDSA formed a new Review Panel to determine whether the 2006 Lyme disease guidelines should be revised or updated. IDSA did not admit to any wrongdoing, did not pay a fine or investigation costs, and did not withdraw the 2006 Lyme disease guidelines.
The Final Report of the Review Panel, issued in 2010, stated in part as follows:
“Members of the Review Panel were selected through an open application process. Medical ethicist Howard Brody, MD, PhD, of the Institute for the Medical Humanities at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston was jointly selected by the [Office of the Connecticut Attorney General] and IDSA to serve as Ombudsman. Dr. Brody’s role was to screen all applicants to ensure that each Review Panel member was without any conflicts of interest, including ensuring that the Review Panel Chairperson was without any beneficial or financial interest related to Lyme disease, any financial relationship with an entity that has an interest in Lyme disease, and any conflict of interest. . . .Dr. Brody screened the Chairperson and each Review Panel member and found that each met the required criteria.”
The Final Report of the Review Panel summarized the Review Panel’s findings as follows: “The Review Panel finds that the 2006 Lyme Guidelines were based on the highest-quality medical/scientific evidence available at the time and are supported by evidence that has been published in more recent years. The Review Panel did not find that the authors of the 2006 Lyme Guidelines had failed to consider or cite relevant data and references that would have altered the published recommendations. In addition to the review by this Panel, the recommendations in the 2006 Lyme Guidelines are further corroborated by guidelines and statements by other independent bodies in the United States and Europe.” After the Review Panel issued its Final Report, Attorney General Blumenthal issued a statement that read, in part, as follows: “We will carefully and comprehensively assess the final report and the review process leading to that report to determine whether the IDSA fulfilled the requirements of our settlement.” Attorney General Blumenthal never contended that IDSA or the Review Panel failed to fulfill the requirements of the settlement.
In November 2017, 26 patients filed a new lawsuit in federal court in Texas against IDSA, certain physician volunteers who wrote and reviewed the IDSA Lyme disease guidelines, and certain national and regional health plans. The lawsuit, which ignores the findings of the Review Panel that the 2006 Lyme Guidelines are based on sound medical and scientific evidence, alleges that health plans conspired with IDSA and certain physician volunteers to publish arbitrary and false Lyme disease guidelines in order to permit the health plans to deny coverage for alleged chronic Lyme disease.
The patients’ fraudulent concealment claims have been dismissed, and IDSA will demonstrate that their remaining claims are without merit.
In 2006, the Office of the Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal (now a U.S. Senator representing Connecticut), opened an antitrust investigation into IDSA’s 2006 Lyme disease guidelines. In order to end the expense and distraction of the investigation, IDSA entered into an agreement with the Office of the Connecticut Attorney General under which IDSA formed a new Review Panel to determine whether the 2006 Lyme disease guidelines should be revised or updated. IDSA did not admit to any wrongdoing, did not pay a fine or investigation costs, and did not withdraw the 2006 Lyme disease guidelines.
The Final Report of the Review Panel, issued in 2010, stated in part as follows:
“Members of the Review Panel were selected through an open application process. Medical ethicist Howard Brody, MD, PhD, of the Institute for the Medical Humanities at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston was jointly selected by the [Office of the Connecticut Attorney General] and IDSA to serve as Ombudsman. Dr. Brody’s role was to screen all applicants to ensure that each Review Panel member was without any conflicts of interest, including ensuring that the Review Panel Chairperson was without any beneficial or financial interest related to Lyme disease, any financial relationship with an entity that has an interest in Lyme disease, and any conflict of interest. . . .Dr. Brody screened the Chairperson and each Review Panel member and found that each met the required criteria.”
The Final Report of the Review Panel summarized the Review Panel’s findings as follows: “The Review Panel finds that the 2006 Lyme Guidelines were based on the highest-quality medical/scientific evidence available at the time and are supported by evidence that has been published in more recent years. The Review Panel did not find that the authors of the 2006 Lyme Guidelines had failed to consider or cite relevant data and references that would have altered the published recommendations. In addition to the review by this Panel, the recommendations in the 2006 Lyme Guidelines are further corroborated by guidelines and statements by other independent bodies in the United States and Europe.” After the Review Panel issued its Final Report, Attorney General Blumenthal issued a statement that read, in part, as follows: “We will carefully and comprehensively assess the final report and the review process leading to that report to determine whether the IDSA fulfilled the requirements of our settlement.” Attorney General Blumenthal never contended that IDSA or the Review Panel failed to fulfill the requirements of the settlement.
In November 2017, 26 patients filed a new lawsuit in federal court in Texas against IDSA, certain physician volunteers who wrote and reviewed the IDSA Lyme disease guidelines, and certain national and regional health plans. The lawsuit, which ignores the findings of the Review Panel that the 2006 Lyme Guidelines are based on sound medical and scientific evidence, alleges that health plans conspired with IDSA and certain physician volunteers to publish arbitrary and false Lyme disease guidelines in order to permit the health plans to deny coverage for alleged chronic Lyme disease.
The patients’ fraudulent concealment claims have been dismissed, and IDSA will demonstrate that their remaining claims are without merit.
About The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) represents more than 12,000 physicians, scientists and other health care professionals who specialize in infectious diseases – illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. Some infectious diseases, like influenza, are highly contagious and can be passed from person to person. Other infectious diseases, such as Lyme disease, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick, are not as easy to catch.
IDSA’s purpose is to improve your health and that of your community and the country at large. We work towards this goal by providing education about infectious diseases and how to prevent them. We promote excellence in patient care, research, and public health. For more information, please contact us at [email protected].
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) represents more than 12,000 physicians, scientists and other health care professionals who specialize in infectious diseases – illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. Some infectious diseases, like influenza, are highly contagious and can be passed from person to person. Other infectious diseases, such as Lyme disease, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick, are not as easy to catch.
IDSA’s purpose is to improve your health and that of your community and the country at large. We work towards this goal by providing education about infectious diseases and how to prevent them. We promote excellence in patient care, research, and public health. For more information, please contact us at [email protected].