Lyme Disease Update: Science, Policy & Law

By Marcus A. Cohen, Published 2004

LDA Ebook Note, 2018: Don’t understand the Lyme issues and need a place to start? Lyme Disease Update: Science, Policy, & Law, published in 2004 by the Lyme Disease Association Inc. (LDA), is a resource book which summarizes the contentious issues in the prior decades of Lyme including some early legal actions. The LDA is pleased to now be able to offer an Ebook for free download: PDF                                                                     

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Lyme Disease Update: Science, Policy, & Law is the first Lyme disease resource book of its kind. Marcus Cohen, noted columnist for the Townsend Letter for Physicians & Patients is the author of the Update. NY Times Bestselling Author Amy Tan has written the Preface from her personal perspective on the difficulty of getting diagnosed and appropriately treated for Lyme disease.

The book is a must for busy physicians who lack time to read the peer-review on Lyme disease and for patients who have been refused treatment or even a Lyme diagnosis, the doctor perhaps citing a negative test (the book documents seronegativity) or the patients’ lack of conformity to the CDC criteria, which are meant for surveillance purposes only─the reference is cited in the Update.

The Foreword is written by Brian Fallon, MD, MPH, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and now Director, Columbia University Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center. In it, he states, “Carefully referenced and written by Marcus Cohen in a style that is accessible to both the medical professional and the educated non-medical person, this document provides overviews and digests of important research findings from the last few decades…This Update…does do an excellent job of providing the reader with an opportunity to learn about some of the pivotal studies in Lyme disease and about areas of research that need to be more aggressively pursued.”

In the first section, M. Cohen has compiled a digest of the peer-reviewed literature surrounding chronic Lyme disease from diagnosis and treatment to neuroborreliosis, atypical forms of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, and other tick-borne diseases. Besides those in the digest form, he presents additional readings in each area.

In the second section of the book, Mr. Cohen has summarized a brief history of federal and state activities which have affected the course of Lyme disease. It includes accounts of meetings with various officials, excerpts from letters and reports, and whenever possible in politically active states, a state-by-state description of the history of the Lyme disease movement there, including legislation introduced or passed and officials who have been supportive. Various Lyme disease groups and their activities are mentioned.

The last section touches on legal issues which affect Lyme patients and physicians. Representative cases are included where ever possible. A glossary follows. The Update editor is Patricia Smith, LDA President.

The back cover contains quotes from NJ Congressman Christopher Smith, CT Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, author Denise Lang, Political Advocates Jim & Sarah Brady, Actress MaryMc Donnell, and the Jimmy Carter Family Scheduler, Pat Slaughter.

The book is a must for busy physicians who lack time to read the peer-review on Lyme disease and for patients who have been refused treatment or even a Lyme diagnosis, the doctor perhaps citing a negative test (the book documents seronegativity) or the patients’ lack of conformity to the CDC criteria, which are meant for surveillance purposes only─the reference is cited in the Update. Patients planning an insurance appeal will also find this reference book useful, as will those struggling to understand the complexities of this disease.

LDA Note: This book was published in 2004 so is great for a history of Lyme & tick-borne diseases. It does not include information after that time.