Connecticut Attorney General's Office

Press Release

Attorney General Says Today's IDSA Hearing Should Set Standard For Establishing Medical Guidelines

July 30, 2009

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said today's hearing by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) to review its Lyme Disease guidelines -- the result of a settlement with Blumenthal's office -- should set the standard for transparency and fairness in the promulgation of medical guidelines.

"This hearing accomplished a key goal -- compelling a fair and full discussion, free of conflicts of interest by panelists, so that all scientific facts and perspectives are considered before medical guidelines are established," Blumenthal said.

"Medical guidelines have profoundly powerful consequences for countless lives, driving doctors' treatment decisions and insurance company coverage determinations. Such significant clinical standards deserve the most intensive scrutiny from all perspectives -- physicians, scientists and patients -- before they are published.

"Whatever the outcome of today's hearing, the bar has been raised for the IDSA and other medical associations in their development of clinical practice guidelines. Medical practice guidelines are too integral and important to be developed without a rigorous conflicts-free process."

Today's IDSA hearing was held pursuant to an agreement between Blumenthal and the IDSA. The agreement was reached after an investigation by Blumenthal's office revealed that IDSA panelists who developed the existing guidelines in 2006 had conflicts of interest and failed to consider divergent medical opinion and evidence.

Blumenthal's investigation did not criticize the substance of the guidelines. The investigation focused solely on the process for setting guidelines, including whether conflicts of interest might have compromised the scientific process.

Under its agreement with Blumenthal, the IDSA agreed to a comprehensive review of its 2006 guidelines. As part of that review, the IDSA established an entirely new panel, none of whom served on the 2006 guideline panel. An independent ombudsman was also appointed to ensure that the panel and its chairperson are free of conflicts of interest.

During today's hearing, held in Washington, D.C. and broadcast live over the internet, the panel accepted testimony from 18 presenters representing varying viewpoints on Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment. The panel will now assess all information to determine whether the existing guidelines should be maintained, modified or entirely rewritten. The panel expects to complete their review by the end of the year.