Four-in-five respondents believe the treatment should be available in Canadian hospitals for MS sufferers who request it.
Canadians are siding with multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers who have seen benefits after undergoing the “liberation procedure” and a large majority believe this treatment should be available in Canada, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
The online survey of a representative sample of 2,011 Canadian adults sought to review public sentiment on the “liberation procedure”—a treatment developed by Italian Doctor Paolo Zamboni, whose studies suggest that excessive iron damages blood vessels in MS patients and clogs the veins in the neck. According to Zamboni, once the blockages are cleared up, proper blood flow can return to the brain and the symptoms of multiple sclerosis can fade or disappear.
Half of Canadians (50%) had never heard about the “liberation procedure”, while more than a third (37%) had seen, read or heard something about it, and 13 per cent said they are well informed about the treatment.
The Canadian government has not supported clinical trials to study the “liberation procedure” and many Canadian neurologists have dismissed the treatment, claiming that it is too risky and based on limited scientific research. Many Canadian multiple sclerosis sufferers have traveled to countries such as Costa Rica, India, Mexico, Poland and the United States to have access to the “liberation procedure”.
In the survey, three-in-four respondents (75%) think the Canadian government should support clinical trials to study the “liberation procedure” and four-in-five Canadians (82%) support making this treatment available in Canadian hospitals for MS sufferers who request it.
On this topic, Canadians are more likely to agree with the views of the MS sufferers who have had the treatment and claim it provides relief (61%) over the opinion of doctors, who believe the treatment is unproven and too risky (12%).
Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)
CONTACT:
Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com
Methodology: From December 13 to December 15, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 2,011 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.2%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/43669/canadians-support-new-procedure-for-multiple-sclerosis-patients/