After several internal meetings with the Head of Radiology for HSC, other neurosurgeons, administrators at the regional health authority and several behind-the-scenes meetings with politicians, CCSVI Clinic associate physicians have been successful in influencing the Manitoba government’s position on treating MS patients who have had the Venous Angioplasty for CCSVI abroad. Theresa Oswald announced Thursday Dec 2, 2010 that: “We have been clear with our professionals in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and with the MS clinic, that we want them to have an open approach with patients regardless of what their needs are.” Although, this has been stated publicly before, in a private meeting with Heads of both Interventional Radiology and Neurosurgery at the WHRA in October, Oswald reportedly said that MS patients who had had the vein-clearing procedure known as “liberation therapy” were not to be treated locally. The message was clear that these patients were not to be treated and should be told to go back to where they had the treatment done for follow-up.

This course of action would be in opposition to the pledge to “treat the sick” and not to do so would be a violation of the physician’s sworn oath. “It’s impossible not to treat someone if they come into my clinic and present with a serious difficulty, no matter what the cause” said one Winnipeg family doctor associated with CCSVI Clinic. Dr. Don Simonson said: “I don’t have the luxury of being able to pick and choose my patients nor choose what disease I want to treat, no matter what the Health Minister says. She is really confirming our oath, which of course, she has no right to intrude upon anyway.”

“We certainly don’t want what happened in Ontario to happen here in Manitoba” said Lisa Chapil, the Winnipeg-based Nurse Administrator for CCSVI Clinic. Ms Chapil was referring to Mahir Mostic of St. Catharines, Ontario who died in October after a Costa Rican surgeon tried to dissolve a blood-clot that formed after a stent was placed in his jugular vein weeks before. Mr. Mostic had travelled back to Ontario but was compelled to return to Costa Rica where he died after being put on high doses of blood-thinners to dissolve the clot. It’s unclear why he had to go back, or if he was refused treatment in Canada. “Whatever happened, people need to know that they won’t be refused treatment by any part of the healthcare system when they return home, so they shouldn’t be afraid to ask” said Chapil.

In fact CCSVI Clinic healthcare professionals have now advocated in several cases where clients felt that they couldn’t navigate the local healthcare system well enough to know where to get answers or who to call. “One client potentially could have gotten into big trouble and I was just glad that I was able to help” said Chapil. I’m a nurse and that’s what I’m here for”.

“As more and more patients are given venous angioplasty and return home from abroad, we will see more and more complications…and more and more procedural failures”, predicted Chapil. “We are now seeing that the rate of failure for any given patient over the following year is pretty high, so this “liberation procedure” is far from successful at this point. We are getting calls from quite a few who are complaining about pain, headaches, aching in the neck, and a return of MS symptoms”.

In fact CCSVI Clinic is working cooperatively with medical researchers to develop a protocol that includes an extended stay in the hospital post-procedure and daily ultrasound monitoring during that time. Chapil went on to say: “For many med-tour companies, and even clinics who offer the vein-opening procedure, it’s all about how many patients they can get through the operating theatre on a daily basis and how quickly they can get them out the door.” In fact many clinics are performing the “liberation therapy” on an out-patient basis. “It’s not about money for us…we are non-profit. We need to cover costs and that’s it. I’m directed to do what’s right for the patient so there’s no financial motive here. We’ll help MS patients learn more about safe access and aftercare no matter if they’ve ever used our other services or ever intend to use them. It’s all about safety and access to the most effective treatment” concluded Chapil.

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