Another CFS Victim

Another sad case of someone with M.E. taking their own life (link below my
signature)

If anyone has another view to share, the e-mail address is
eadtletters@eadt.co.uk

Best wishes
John
drjohngreensmith@mefreeforall.org

*East Anglian Daily Times*.

The overwhelming lassitude, the excruciating muscle pain and the bewildering
cognitive impairment, experienced by M.E. (*Myalgic Encephalomyelitis*)
sufferers, together with the social isolation and fragmented relationships
that this dreadfully disabling neurological illness brings, may be
sufficient for some to decide to end their own life, rather than endure it
any more (*Man, 20, plagued by ME took own life (East Anglian Daily Times, 7
May 2008*).

But, so long as M.E. attracts suspicions of malingering and hypochondria and the derision that goes with those and so long as M.E. sufferers are treated as though they have a psychiatric illness, sometimes even sectioned against their will, scarring them for the rest of their life, there will remain the possibility, at least, that these negative attitudes, lack of support and inappropriate treatment made a significant contribution to taking another life, perhaps needlessly.

Yours sincerely
drjohngreensmith@mefreeforall.org
Dr John H Greensmith
ME Free For All. org

http://tinyurl.com/4cpmpo


Man, 20, plagued by ME took own life
East Anglian Daily Times, 7 May 2008
Elliot Furniss

A young man from Colchester who had been plagued by ME for 10 years took his
own life, an inquest has heard.

The father of 20-year-old Matthew Hoddy told Chelmsford Coroner's Court
yesterday that his son "believed in reincarnation" and wanted to end his
life and begin a new one.

The inquest heard that Matthew had suffered from ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy)
since the age of 10 and had already made an attempt on his life in August
2005, almost a year to the day before he was found dead in his bead.

ME is a chronic disabling illness with a range of symptoms including severe
fatigue, joint and muscular pain and mental confusion.

Essex Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray heard that Matthew had not worked
since leaving college as a teenager and was living at home in Sherbourne
Road with his father Robert.

His father said: "We believe in reincarnation and we take a more modern view
that you can chose what you're going to become next.

"He wanted to end his life and start a new one - he wasn't seeking oblivion,
he was seeking a new life."

The inquest heard that he had gone to his son's bedroom on Friday August 3
last year to find his son lifeless in bed with a plastic bag over his face.

The police were called and were satisfied that, although there was no
suicide note, there were no suspicious circumstances.

A post mortem examination carried on Matthew's body out revealed no alcohol
or drugs in his blood and his cause of death was recorded as asphyxiation.

Mrs Beasley-Murray said: "He took a deliberate action, knowing that that
would result in his own death. So, I'm going to record a verdict that
Matthew Hoddy killed himself and let me again offer the family the court's
sympathies."

Dr Charles Shepherd, medical advisor for the ME Association, said suicide
among young ME sufferers was rare but about one case was reported every few
months.

He said: "It's something that comes to our attention every so often - I
would think probably a suicide every few months with this illness is
reported, but how many more we don't hear about, I don't know.

"This is something that takes over a fair proportion of their lives at a
crucial time and is extremely difficult to cope with."

He said that there were often problems for sufferers in getting the
necessary medical and psychological support while the illness's debilitating
nature could also have a financial impact in later life.

Dr Shepherd added: "The good thing with this illness is that children do
quite well and many of them do get back to complete, full health.

"Whereas, with adults the prognosis is much worse - they can be house-bound,
bed-bound or wheelchair-bound."

Next week is ME Awareness Week and a series of events will be held around
the country to raise the profile of the disease and help fund treatment and
research.

For more information, visit www.afme.org,uk.

Copyright (c) 2008 Archant Regional Ltd