Fw: Fw: An open letter to Michael J. Fox

[William Harshaw <harfolk@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message>

Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2000 4:36 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: An open letter to Michael J. Fox


> > >>> "William Harshaw" <harfolk@xxxxxxxxxxxx> 05/24/00 08:31AM >>>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "William Harshaw" <harfolk@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "Parkinson's Information Exchange" <PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2000 7:26 AM
> Subject: An open letter to Michael J. Fox
>
>
> > AN OPEN LETTER TO MICHAEL J. FOX
> >
> > William A. Harshaw
> > 401 - 120 Rosedale Valley Road
> > Toronto, ON M4W 1P8 Canada
> > (416) 925-4814
> > Fax (416) 925-8146
> > E-mail: harfolk@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > Dear Michael:
> >
> >  I can't tell you how much I admire your courage, first in telling
> the
> > public that you have Parkinson's Disease, second in actively lobbying
> for
> > research funding to discover the causes and develop the cures for
> PD.
> > Your sunny disposition coupled with the seemingly effortless ability
> to put the
> > proposition you are advancing in simple yet non-patronising terms is
> a
> > tremendous asset.
> >
> >  I have had Parkinson's Disease for twenty years, having been
> diagnosed
> > when I was thirty-seven. I had to retire on long-term disability when
> I was
> > forty-five.  I had a right side unilateral pallidotomy in 1993 and
> was the
> > first North American patient to have DBS a year later.  I have been
> > blessed with a second chance at life as a result of those
> operations.
> >
> >  I would like to draw your attention to an aspect of Parkinson's
> Disease
> > and other neurological conditions that concerns me greatly.  That is
> the
> > question of therapy access.  Deep Brain Stimulation was approved by
> the
> > FDA as palliative therapy for PD on March 31 of this year.  It was
> approved
> > five years ago in Canada.  Notwithstanding this approval, hospital
> boards and
> > provincial ministers of health have not provided the operating funds
> and
> > operating room time to perform these procedures effectively negating
> the
> > approval.
> >
> >  Access denied is worse than access unapproved because patients are
> put on
> > a waiting list of almost infinite length, thus creating false hope
> that they
> > may actually have the operation.  The procedures are cost-effective,
> safe
> > and improves the patient's quality of life.
> >
> >  I realize, Michael, that your good name is the only currency you
> possess
> > and that you must be very carefl not to do anything that would
> devalue it
> > in any way.  I urge you to take the question of therapy access as one
> of your
> > PD causes in Canada where it is a problem, and in the United States
> before it
> > becomes a problem.
> >
> >  Sincerely,
> >
> >  Bill Harshaw
> >
>
>