Human Rights Violations of Patients with Lyme Disease

“The many egregious practices related to the 2006 IDSA Lyme guidelines have perpetrated fourteen human rights violations.”  –Jenna Luché- Thayer

 

Listen to Dr. Risk's interview with Jenna Luché- Thayer.

Listen to Dr. Risk's Radio Show on Lyme Disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the existence of Lyme Disease and has set ICD codes for it, meaning that patients have the legal right to treatment, testing, and security as a patient. However, many doctors and medical professionals still deny the existence and severity of the disease, leading to human rights violations for patients and their advocates. This includes the right to the highest attainable standard of health, freedom from torture and cruel treatment, right to life, privacy, and confidentiality, and more. It is important for patients to educate themselves and speak up for their rights, and for the medical community to acknowledge the overwhelming evidence and take Lyme Disease seriously.

Human rights violations of patients and their human rights defenders:

 

It is important to note that the 2006 IDSA (Infectious Diseases Society of America) guidelines on Lyme Disease have been criticized by patient groups and some medical practitioners for being too narrow and leading to underdiagnosis and mistreatment of the disease. Jenna Luché-Thayer, a patient advocate, has claimed that these guidelines have led to 14 human rights violations, including the right to the highest attainable standard of health, freedom from torture and cruel treatment, and the right to life.

In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the existence of Lyme Disease and set ICD codes (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) for it. This means that patients have the right to treatment, testing, and security as a patient, regardless of whether their country's medical system recognizes the disease. The codes listed below can be provided to doctors to help them understand that Lyme Disease is real and can affect the person in front of them. It is important for patients to be informed about their rights and to advocate for themselves in seeking proper diagnosis and treatment for Lyme Disease.

ICD11 Codes: