In the good news department, Genzyme got the OK for testing a new drug for MS.
You ask, what’s good about this? Well, when I hear that a new drug treatment might be available, I’m glad because the more the more the merrier (at least until we get a cure). Nothing stopped the progression of my disease (once it really got going) except for drug therapy — and I tried a medicine chest full of alternatives, including acupuncture, chi therapy (don’t ask) holistic healers, osteopaths, reiki, herbal remedies, diets.
Yeah, FDA approval will make Genzyme stock holders happy but at least some people might benefit from this other than in dollars .
Do I wish that more money and attention went into developing a cure … or even a prevention? Sure I do. But that’s another blog. Today I want to talk about the “not so good news” – aw shucks, it’s what I’d call bad news.
In last week’s Boston Globe, there was an article about a young man with diabetes who wasn’t accepted on the Northampton Massachusetts police force because he has diabetes and uses an insulin pump.
My first thought was that makes sense. I mean, I watch The Wire and I know how dangerous police jobs can be. What if he goes into a diabetic coma while trying to catch a mugger? Or if his sugar gets low and he’s interrogating a witness? It could be dangerous, even on the streets of Northampton, MA. But, then I read that the department can’t fire someone who is already on the force and gets an insulin pump. I guess they think the only people who can do this job with an insulin pump are officers already hired. Huh?
So, even as those of us with chronic illness are managing better than ever with new drugs and new devices, we still live in a world that doesn’t want to deal with any problems or potential problems it might create. Avoid the problem if possible – and get rid of it when necessary.
I’d say that’s our bad news because even as there are more of us in the workforce with illnesses that we’re managing, we’re on our own. I guess that’s not news.
Rosalind
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