Stephen Barrett, M.D.（医師）の"Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Spurious Diagnosis" （化学物質過敏症：いい加減な診断法） http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/mcs.html には、①化学物質過敏症の考え方がTheron G. Randolph, M.D.（1906-1995）によって提唱されたという歴史と、②MCSを主張する約400人の医師たちの大半はThe American Academy of Environmental Medicine（Randolph医師が1965年にThe Society for Clinical Ecologyとして創立）に属しているということと、③彼らの理論的根拠と治療法はThe American Medical Association、The American College of Physicians、The Canadian Psychiatric Association、The International Society of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology、The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology、The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine、及びその他のMCSについて検証したいくつかの権威ある科学的パネルによって厳しく批判されているということ、④1991年のニューヨーク市の裁判が医師に、数年間にわたってMCS患者として不適切な治療を受けて29才で自殺した男性の遺族に合計$900,000（1$=115円換算で約1億円）の損害賠償の支払いを命じたこと、などがそれぞれの文献が引用されて記載されています。
もう一つ驚いたのは、NM（ニューメキシコ州サンタフェ在住）のPatricia Glazek, Attorney（弁護士）によるMedical Legal Consultations（医療法律相談）の以下の宣伝で、MCSの専門家Ann McCampbell, M.D.（医師）が1時間当たり$120で医療法律相談にのると書いてあったことです。まるで、アメリカでは化学物質過敏症は一部の弁護士や医師にとって金儲けのビジネスの種になっているような印象を受けました。
日本でもそれに近いような状況がなければいいのですが・・。
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MEDICAL
LEGAL CONSULTATIONS
Ann McCampbell, MD offers medical
legal consultations for attorneys working on cases involving chemical
sensitivity and other environmentally related illnesses. These can include
social security, workers compensation, veterans and disability benefits, toxic
tort, medical benefits, workplace accommodations, housing, divorce, and child
custody cases.
Dr. McCampbell can help document the
recognition of chemical sensitivities, provide supportive medical and
scientific evidence, recommend medical tests and evaluations to support a case,
and find appropriate expert witnesses. She can also assist with general medical
cases.
Her services include, but are not
limited to, assessing medical records and analyzing cases, researching and
summarizing relevant medical literature, critiquing opposition arguments and
evidence, preparing questions for deposition or trial, and finding and
preparing medical expert witnesses. She can also provide independent medical
opinions.
“Dr. McCampbell does terrific work. She is smart and writes
exceptionally well. She also has a good understanding of medico-legal issues,
such as what evidence is required for medical proof.”
Patricia Glazek,
Attorney, Santa Fe, NM
Medical
Legal Experience:
• Consulted on toxic tort case where
plaintiff developed chemical sensitivity
• Researched health effects of mold
• Assisted a divorce attorney who
had a chemically sensitive client
• Assisted an attorney who was
attempting to get medical treatments covered by insurance for a chemically
sensitive client
• Conducted a record review and
rendered an independent medical opinion that was successful in client obtaining
widow’s benefits from the VA
• Represented self in public
hearings – introduced evidence, cross-examined witnesses, wrote findings of
fact and conclusions of law
Dr McCampbell’s fee for medical
legal consulting is $120 per hour.
References available upon request.
