Tax Deduction for Liberation Treatment

Here is some advice (from the MS Society of Canada!) about getting a tax deduction for the CCSVI treatment: http://mssociety.ca/en/information/taxTips_medicalcredoutsidecan.htm. I have a referral from my GP. Theoretically you shouldn't need that (according top the info in those guidelines), but be careful to have all the info needed by CRA so there is less chance they'll put up a fight about it.  It might be an idea to get a post-procedure letter from a doctor saying why you needed to try the procedure, in case CRA balks.

Liberated Doctor Weighs in on CCSVI Treatment

A good story told well: CBC interview (audio clip).

CCSVI Treatment Safe for MS Patients, Say Researchers

Not unexpected, but it's good to have the research to back it up: Science Daily article or SIR research report.

A song for the times...

Since I'm just back from band practice, I've got music on my mind. How about this for the start of a new song (with apologies to Gordie Lightfoot):

The Great CCSVI Controversy
There was a time in this great land when the veins they did not run,
And the great, all-knowing MS Society stood alone against the sun...

Any budding songwriters want to make a try at adding to that?

MS Society Member says: "We are sorry"

Darrel Gregory, a member of the Alberta chapter of the MSSC who apologizes for the Society's reaction to the CCSVI controversy, seems sincere in what he says (CTV Edmonton story).  But is he truly speaking for the MS Society of Canada?  If so, they apparently still don't have all of their choir singing from the same hymnbook, because much of the information coming from the MSSC headquarters still seems to be very negative towards CCSVI, and if the organization is pressuring governments to start clinical trials, that's news to me.

Feds Announce New Monitoring System for Multiple Sclerosis

Oh, whooppee: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/media/nr-rp/2011/2011_0323-eng.php.  But why am I concerned that this monitoring system is going to be set up in collaboration with the MS Society of Canada and the Canadian Network of MS Clinics?  Is it because I'm not convinced that the MS Society wants to monitor people after CCSVI treatment and when you click on the Contact Us button on the Canadian Network of MS Clinics website you get Dr. "CCSVI is a hoax" Freedman contact information? A monitoring system could be great, but not if it's controlled by groups that don't appear to take your best interests to heart.

Oh, and though there are many other reasons (policies, ethics, democracy deficit, etc), this is another reason for me to vote ABC - anyone but conservatives (or the "Harper regime").

This is what it must feel like to witness medical history in the making

Another good article from that intrepid reporter, Anne Kingston: Macleans story.  And be sure to read the comments at the end of the article.

Kirsty Duncan Speech in Poland on CCSVI

A few typos, but very interesting reading: http://kirstyduncan.ca/LatestNews.aspx?id=2222.

Here is the Youtube video of her presentation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgqmHimQFY0

Out of the fog

A common enough story to MSers following progress on CCSVI treatment: London Free Press story today, but it again shows that our governments' responses are WAY too slow... and where is the MS Society when you need them?

Great Findings at the ISNVD Conference

Now a great amount of good research that supports Zamboni's theory is being presented at an important international conference: http://www.scribd.com/doc/51066155/CCSVI-MacLeans-Magazine-March-18-2011.  The evidence keeps piling up!