AHMF: RACP letter appendix 8

Betrayal of the Severely Ill?
Appendix 8: Letter from Ian Hickie to Christine Hunter

29 May 1998

Ms Christine Hunter
Alison Hunter Research Foundation
43 McIntosh Street
GORDON NSW 2072

Dear Christine

I was most dismayed to see that in your recent correspondence (27/4/98) to members of the RACP Working Group on CFS you have repeated wrong information, namely that the UNSW Depression Research Group receives $454,000/year for research into CFS. As I have highlighted repeatedly, including in the NSW ME/CFS Newsletter (Me and You, Summer 96/97, pp. 10-11, attached), the group with which I work receives approximately $150,000/year to investigate fatigue syndromes in general practice, and the transmission of depression and fatigue in families. In fact, we have used part of these funds to conduct our pilot study of post-infectious disorders in western NSW. Early results from this study have recently been published (Bennett et al, ANZJP, 32; 180-186. 1998).

Again, research from our group evaluates the potential relavance of psychological and immunological factors. Given your clear interest in accurately presenting the issues surrounding CFS, I would ask that you provide your group, and relevant others, with the correct information with regard to our reearch funding.

We will again seek to have the NHMRC, and the Minister, correct their error of 1996.

Yours sincerely
Professor Ian Hickie

Return to the AHMF Letter to the RACP.