Jeanette Burmeister’s attempt to force the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to provide a wide range of documents pertaining to the IOM contract prevailed in court. Represented by her former law firm of Baker & McKenzie LLP, Burmeister argued that the documents provided by the DHHS (after her lawsuit was filed) were inadequate and the court agreed.
The DHHS has sixty days to provide the documents requested.
What effects, if any, this will have on the IOM contract or on future contracts is unclear. The successful lawsuit does, however, put the federal government on notice that transparency, which was sorely lacking in the IOM process, is required.
Way to go! TENACITY!
Amazing! I’m so grateful that there are ME/CFS patients who have the will and resources to do things like this. I don’t know what effect this will have on the IOM process, but at least it will put the government on notice that there are ME/CFS advocates who will hold their feet to the fire.
Indeed. I think the IOM contract will end up being a real boon to ME/CFS. As soon as they put all those ME/CFS experts on the panel my fears were over, but the process sucked!