Source: East Anglian Daily Times (EADT):
"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.
ME is a chronic disabling illness with a range of symptoms including severe fatigue, joint and muscular pain and mental confusion."
Response by Dr John H Greensmith:
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
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