In Support of the Victoria Radiologist Facing Repercussions: www.facebook.com/notes/ccsvi-in-ms-toron...ussions/418045104918

The Hippocratic Oath:

I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement:

To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art.

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.

I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.

But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.

I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.

In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.

All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.

If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.

For other versions: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Oath

That is a story that strikes at the heart of Canada's national health system and the very idea that people from a different culture, with a different history, can determine for all other cultures what ideas or treatments are or are not acceptable.

Do we have a right to treatment of our choice?

In Canada the answer is no. Treatment delayed is treatment denied.

But often it is more than Delay, or waiting lists. As this story tells us treatment can be denied outright.

More and more Canadians are seeing this as we head across the border to go to either the USA or Mexico, some China and Europe to seek treatment denied to us here in Canada.

Canadians should be free to choose their own healthcare, to have a say in their own treatment. Only the individual knows what really works for them, no other person has any right to say that such and such treatment should not be available of that individual wants it.

Of course it may not be covered by a Health plan or other insurance. It may not even be considered safe, it may even be experimental, maybe even fatal but IMO each person must have the right to choose for themselves what treatment they receive or choose not to receive.

Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI)

Recent preliminary studies have suggested that a phenomenon called Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI), a reported abnormality in blood drainage from the brain and spinal cord, may contribute to nervous system damage in MS. This hypothesis has been put forth by Dr. Paulo Zamboni from the University of Ferrara in Italy. Based on the results of his initial preliminary findings published in June 2009 from a study of approximately 65 patients, Dr. Zamboni and colleagues who have begun investigating CCSVI state that this pilot study warrants a subsequent larger and better controlled study to definitively evaluate the possible impact of CCSVI on the disease process in MS. Further studies are also taking place at centers including University at Buffalo Medical Center and the Center for Vascular Awareness in Albany, NY.

Dr. Zamboni and others have also recommended larger scale studies, described below, to determine if CCSVI may be treated through an endovascular surgical procedure, which involves inserting a tiny balloon or stent into blocked veins in order to improve the flow of blood out of the brain and spinal cord.

Please listen to Dr. Sandy McDonald as he addresses the Subcommittee on Neurological Disease of the Standing Committee on Health (SMND Meeting No. 4). His address was recorded from Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and, is available for playback by clicking on the website link for the (SMND) below.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease of the Standing Committee on Health (SMND)
parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Parlvu/ContentEntityDe...ContentEntityId=6175

Once the webpage opens; look to the Grey banded area, at the upper portion of the folder, with the image of the microphone…click on ‘View this Clip’ then select English Audio 32K…Dr. McDonalds address starts at approximately 6 minutes into the audio playback, which can be played back on any Windows Media Player.

Dr. McDonald is a Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeon serves as the Barrie Vascular Imaging facility's Medical Director, and interpreting physician.