MS Mess- Controversial Treatment Abroad Causes Serious Concerns

On Monday, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />CBC's the National reported on a controversial MS treatment, not currently available in Canada. The treatment involves artificially expanding veins, allowing easier blood flow. The treatment is still not available in Canada, and is indeed illegal here.

Apparently, many Canadians have been going overseas to receive this treatment. However, complications have been arising. Serious and life threatening complications. Because the treatment is not available here, the required follow up is also not available. As such, those who have decided to bypass the Canadian medical system are now facing serious problems, as they cannot get treatment for the side effects of the procedure. As the treatment is not accepted in Canada, there are no guidelines on the procedure or the follow-up required. This is the risk run by going

Having decided to ignore the risks, to seek a treatment the Canadian government has deemed not yet safe, those who have bypassed the Canadian medical system are now crying out for it to repair the damage they caused themselves. The Canadian doctors are unable to deal with these issues, because the procedure is not one that is sanctioned in this country, so unless it becomes an emergency, nothing can be done. Provincial medical insurance will not cover the costs, and doctors are working with several handicaps when trying to repair the damage. The operation being done in another country, the fact that the patient will have to pay for the procedure, the fact that for all intents and purposes it is a self inflicted injury (as the patient made a conscious decision to go abroad for an operation not approved of by the Canadian medical authorities).

While no one would argue that MS is a horrible condition, and one can see why they would seek treatment by any means necessary, those who do so should be aware of the risks. The reason the government controls such procedures is to prevent such complications. That is one of the reasons why we have a government controlled health system in this country. Doctors are now in an ethical conundrum, as they are obligated to help patients no matter the cause of their condition, but not to treat or redo experimental, or unethically done treatments; as Angioplasty is not an accepted MS treatment in this country, the procedure is considered to be both.

As these people made a conscious decision to take the risks, bypass the Canadian medical system, and get an experimental treatment abroad, do they have the right to demand that the damage done be repaired? Do they have the right to jump to the head of the queue, in an already strained and under-funded medical system? While there is no doubt that one can empathise with the desire these people had to get treatment for what no one can deny is a serious and terrible condition, does that mean that one will also be willing to see these people get special treatment, outside of the norms of our country, and ahead of other patients who have not tried to go outside the confines of accepted Canadian medical practice?

This issue is one that will hopefully draw attention to the current state of Canada's medical system, however, the more important issues, the ones facing the doctors and medical practitioners, need be addressed immediately. What should they do, and should there be consequences for those who have put them into that position? If so, clearly they still need the treatment; allowing them to continue with the risk of death is unacceptable, so what should those consequences be, and now will they work? It is plain to see that something needs to be done, there are tough decisions to be made. Hopefully, no one will suffer too much while waiting for someone to make them.