So far, the Canadian government has followed the recommendations of an expert panel convened earlier this year to examine Dr. Zamboni’s theory. The panel has advised against clinical trials of the procedure, opting instead to fund research exploring the connection between blocked veins and MS. If evidence emerges that supports the introduction of surgical trials, said Tim Vail, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, the ministry would “fully support and fund” them.
“I cannot understand why a country like Canada with a very good public-health system refuses to support a treatment study on 500 people,” Dr. Zamboni said. “I think that is not a good thing. It’s not the correct answer.”
Mr. Vail said the government will not be pressured into okaying a potentially dangerous procedure. “Just because people are going to get it anyway, that doesn’t make it safe,” he said. In response to Dr. Zamboni’s statements, he said “we make our own decisions based on the expert advice of Canadian doctors and Canadian researchers.”
Globe and Mail
Every vascular expert who has looked at CCSVI treatment has said it's safe. Dr. Simka has proven that the angioplasty treatment is very safe after treating 587 patients in Poland.
EUROMEDIC - CCSVI Treatment Safety Study:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=477364764918
In August, the CIHR "expert panel" had zero business commenting on vascular issues. The government took their advice, while the CIHR blocked access to those who are the real experts. Their voices were not heard.
As long as the government and their talking heads like Tim Vail continue to take their advice from Neurologists, nothing will change.
Meanwhile, south of the border, over 20 American clinics are performing CCSVI angioplasty treatments every day.
Maybe someone should let the Health Ministers "talking head" know that US Health Insurance companies are covering the cost of this treatment for Americans for over 6-months now. Their insurance companies sure seem to think that this simple angioplasty treatment is perfectly safe. They wouldn't be paying millions of dollars, for something that is not safe and effective.
Tim Vail has a BA in Marketing from the University of New Brunswick. What makes him even remotely qualified to comment on medical issues brought up by Dr. Zamboni, in the Globe and Mail?
Up here in Canada this angioplasty treatment is considered to be way too dangerous to even consider doing a clinical trial at this time. The government is wanting more studies on this angioplasty technique. Far more studies than any other angioplasty technique ever did in 40-years.
The only thing that is not safe with this CCSVI treatment picture, is the shameful behaviour of Canadian Doctors and Hospitals who intentionally block access to vital follow-up care. That's the real danger here. Plain and simple.
The rest is just a bunch of garbage, stall tactics and willful ignorance at the highest levels of government.
How ridiculous.
WaYnE
Director of Communications for the Minister of Health:
http://twitter.com/#!/Timvail
http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/tim-vail/1b/3ba/b58
Father of ‘liberation’ treatment calls on Ottawa to help MS sufferers:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/father-of-liberation-treatment-calls-on-ottawa-to-help-ms-sufferers/article1811061/