Correspondence from the DWP for 2003

[Lucibee]

I have previously shared the correspondence for 2004. Here it is for 2003.

John, can I ask what question you posed for these releases?

 

[Valentijn]

It is interesting to think how such arguments might be applied to someone with multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis. There is some sort of mental block that does not allow ME to be thought of in the same terms as these conditions by the psychiatrists.

I suspect they see it more like hysteria or neurosis than MS or RA. With "secondary gains" thrown in to blame us for wanting to be sick. They've reduced the cure for ME to being a mere matter of willpower on the part of the patients. Changing our thoughts is therefore always considered curative, ergo failure to be cured is a failure to want to be cured.

I doubt there's a mental block. It's deliberate propaganda, which benefits the BPS proponents by building their careers, and the politicians by being able to claim a "scientific" excuse for cutting expenditures on our health.

 

[JohnTheJack]

John, can I ask what question you posed for these releases?

It was pretty general. I'll give you more details in private.