The Last Great Medical Cover Up

A UK Film by Change For M.E. Change For Us: The Last Great Medical Cover Up

Synopsis

In early October 2015, Change For M.E. Change For Us began filming for their short film, The Last Great Medical Cover Up. Filming took the campaign across the UK, visiting six individuals living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, otherwise known as ME. Interviews discussed in detail the effects of suffering from a little-known disease, and how the lack of medical assistance has left British citizens fighting for recognition and treatment every day from their GPs and practitioners.

The six participants were of various ages and backgrounds; each had suffered from ME for years. They each expressed their different, but equally traumatic experiences with family, friends and, most vitally, the medical community. Their treatment included cognitive behavioral therapy and graded exercise therapy, two harmful but commonplace treatment pathways for people with M.E. in the U.K. Participants also described refusal of treatments from the medical community, as well as widespread disbelief, maltreatment, and abandonment both socially and medically.

Petition

The Last Great Medical Cover Up was released on 30th October 2015, followed by the 'Change For M.E. Change For Us' petition to alter NICE guidelines and fund specialist care later that day.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.

See myalgic encephalomyelitis.

NICE guidelines Clinical guidelines used in the UK.