*Press Release*

*Parliamentary Inquiry into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Urgently Needed
says Ian Gibson MP*

1 August 2005

Dr Ian Gibson, senior scientist and MP for Norwich North, is working
towards the establishment of a broad-ranging independent inquiry into
the causes of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and treatment of patients. Dr
Gibson met with Professor Malcolm Hooper, Emeritus Professor of
Medicinal Chemistry, in Norwich on July 28th to discuss the seriousness
of the situation facing ME sufferers.

ME affects around 200,000 people in the UK. It is classified as a
neurological disorder by the World Health Organisation (ICD-10 G93.3).
This classification, which is now accepted by the UK government, is
supported by a large body of biomedical research covering, neurology,
immunology, endocrinology, and genetics. Despite calls for more better
directed and more focused biomedical research, UK government policy and
funding is concerned only with psychiatric/behavioural approaches that
ME sufferers believe to be wholly inappropriate and for some positively
harmful. Dr Gibson’s independent Parliamentary inquiry, hearing both
expert and public testimony from all sides, should be launched by the
end of the year. Dr Bruce Carruthers, head of an international panel of
experts which produced the ‘Canadian Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols’
in 2003, wishes it to be known that he is keen to fully participate in
this inquiry.

The meeting in Norwich was organised by local ME sufferer Kevin Short.
It was generously supported by ME Support Norfolk with members of ME
Support Norfolk committee and the newly formed East Anglia ME Patient
Partnership in attendance.

ENDS


Kevin Short.*__*

*_ _*

*_Primary Press Contact:_*

Professor Malcolm Hooper, University of Sunderland (UK). //