Mr Paul Bridge
General Medical Council
3 Hardman Street
Manchester, M3 3AW
21st April 2010
Dear Mr Bridge
The Case against Dr Sarah Myhill
Case Reference PB/C1-314994282 – IOP Hearing 29.4.2010 – London
As Chairman of the 25% ME Group for the Severely Affected, I am writing to express my deep concerns about these latest complaints against Dr Sarah Myhill, to be discussed on 29th April.
Our Group consists of almost 1000 members, virtually all of whom are very severely affected by ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), a disease classified as a neurological disorder by the WHO since 1969, which in recent years has often been equated with CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). In 2007 NICE issued guidelines for the management and treatment of CFS/ME. The two main approaches recommended in this guideline are CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and GET (Graded Exercise Therapy), neither of which are in any way helpful to members of our group, as numerous patient surveys have shown, with GET being potentially harmful and often leading to a marked exacerbation of the multisystem health problems experienced by these patients.
Dr Sarah Myhill is one of very few GPs in the UK who has taken great pains in finding out some of the underlying biological dysfunctions in ME (notably in relation to abnormalities in the HPA axis and mitochondria) and by careful study and observation has compiled a range of nutritional and alternative approaches, which a significant number of patients have found most helpful if not essential in managing or improving their condition. I do not know of any complaint about Dr Myhill’s treatment from our members, nor have I heard of any complaints from any patients.
It is my understanding that the current case against Dr Myhill consist of two complaints: one emanating from a group of GPs who are concerned about her recommending vitamin B12 injections to a patient; the second apparently is from an anonymous source complaining about details on her website (www.drmyhill.co.uk), seemingly relating to information on vaccines and drug therapies. I would like to stress that B12 injections have been found helpful by a significant number of ME patients and studies to this effect have been published. The details contained on her most informative website have been invaluable to many ME patients in our group and this is frequently the only helpful advice they can obtain. With regard to vaccines and drug therapies, it is an established and documented fact that vaccines given to ME or CFS patients can lead to an exacerbation and/or chronicity in their condition, and adverse reactions (sometimes very severe) to drug therapies are a common phenomenon in these patients.
I therefore fervently hope that the current charges against Dr Myhill will be dropped at the forthcoming IOP hearing, as otherwise the health of many of our members and many others will be put at risk if they are no longer able to access the information on her website or avail themselves of Dr Myhill’s services. You will recall that in a previous case against Dr Myhill, all charges against her were dropped in 2007. It is most disconcerting that a GP who is able to help patients with complex health problems, such as ME, should be at risk of losing her licence.
I would be grateful for your acknowledgement of my letter of concern.
Yours sincerely
Simon Lawrence
Chairperson
25% ME Group