According to journalist Mary Beth Pfeiffer, here’s a key issue in Torrey v IDSA et al: do the plaintiffs actually suffer from Lyme disease and its lasting effects?

The lawsuit has been brought by a group of Lyme patients. They’re suing the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the authors of the 2006 IDSA Lyme guidelines, and (originally) eight insurance companies. They charge that the IDSA colluded with insurers to deny treatment to Lyme patients.

Recently, three insurance companies have reached confidential settlements and are no longer in the case.

According to Pfeiffer’s recent social media posts, the next big question is who will conduct independent medical examinations of the patients to determine their health status.

A doctor initially selected for this task is unable to continue in that role, and a new one must be chosen.

Four objections to IDSA’s choice

The defendants (the IDSA and the insurance companies) have asked for Dr. Edward L. Goodman. The plaintiffs (the patients) object for the following four reasons:

1. He has no apparent experience diagnosing Lyme, borreliosis or any tick-borne disease;
2. He has no apparent experience treating Lyme, borreliosis or any tick-borne disease;
3. Of his 24 published peer-reviewed articles none of them are related to Lyme, borreliosis, or any tick-borne disease;
4. He is a member and Fellow of the IDSA, a defendant in this case.

In another posting, Pfeiffer asks a question that seems most germane:

How independent is a doc who is an IDSA Fellow—when IDSA is the chief defendant?

From Facebook, Feb. 8, 2020

From Twitter, Feb. 8, 2020