Anne Örtegren

Anne Örtegren (d. 2018) developed ME in 2001, after a major respiratory infection from which she never recovered.

Anne was a Swedish patient and advocate for ME/CFS, and spent 16 years with severe and very severe ME before dying by assisted suicide in 2018.

Advocacy

Anne advocated for improved medical care, especially for those with severe and very severe ME, and criticized what she called the "erroneous psychosocial model", stating that it had caused harm to her and others.

Anne wanted greater funding for biomedical research in order to raise the standard of treatment and medical care for ME to a similar level to that of others illnesses.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Anne suffered from myalgic encephalomyelitis for 16 years, with the disease becoming increasingly severe, and developing increasing medical complications. She wanted people to know that she did not develop depression and that mental illness was not a factor in her decision. She went through many medical assessments, which took years, before being approved for assisted suicide.

Writing

• 2013, Articles by Anne Örtegren - Health Rising

Memorial lecture

The Anne Örtegren Memorial Lecture is an annual lecture held at the Invest in ME Research conference in memory of Anne.

PhD student fund

In 2020, Invest in ME Research announced a funded PhD in memory of Anne, who had been a generous fundraiser for Let's Do It for ME.

Learn more

• In Loving Memory of Our Dear Friend Anne Örtegren - YouTube
• In Loving Memory of Anne Örtegren - Facebook page
• Website ME/CFS Nyheter (ME/CFS news - in Swedish)

See also

• ME activists and advocates
• Causes of death
• Sweden
• Invest in ME Research
• Suicide