CONCERNS ABOUT THE FORTHCOMING UK CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER’S REPORT ON MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS (ME) AND CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME (CFS), NOTABLY THE INTENTION TO ADVISE CLINICIANS THAT ONLY LIMITED INVESTIGATIONS ARE NECESSARY

I am happy to be associated with this challenging document written out of the “white heat ” of the suffering and neglect that is so often the lot of people with ME, 25 % of whom are severely affected and wheelchair, house or bed bound. The need for good science is emphasised throughout the document; this provides a sound basis for the diagnosis of ME, which is a multi-faceted condition. These studies need to be kept in the forefront of the minds of decision makers who are responsible for advice that will affect the care and management of ME sufferers. It is notable that some of these studies are supported by funds provided by the UK ME Association (1) and must therefore have been approved by the Medical Director. It is essential to address ME holistically. The growing body of scientific literature clearly shows that there are profound disturbances of and damage to the neuro-endocrine-immune systems which must be understood as inter-connected systems that share many common messenger molecules. Functional Medicine provides an essential paradigm that identifies the need not only to determine blood or urine levels of significant marker molecules but also t