| Independent Examiner Struck Down! Michael graduated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY in 1974, went on to get a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering and took graduate courses at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and the University of Lowell. In 1989, he was hired by Raytheon as a senior engineer and helped develop and test missile systems. Michael was diagnosed with mononucleosis in July of 1992 but the symptoms never abated. He was absent from work a lot although he tried to resume full time work. In July of 1994, Michael was diagnosed with "Chronic Fatigue Immunodeficiency Syndrome" (CFIDS). He previously had been diagnosed with bipolar which was under control by the time he got "mono." MetLife approved his claim but continued to evaluate his claim. His physician suggested he try working three half days a week but the company rejected this saying "he has a diminished mental capacity..a psychiatric problem...cognitive problems." In 1996, MetLife terminated Michael"s disability. Most long term disability companies have a two year limit on "mental" illnesses and they often try to put ME/CFIDS into this category to discontinue benefits. On the advice of his attorney, Bernard A. Kansky, Michael underwent vocational assessment by Paul Blatchford, Ed. M. who found that he could no longer work as a "lead engineer." A neurological evaluation found he met "the diagnostic criteria by the Centers for Disease Control for the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." Despite this, a physician hired by MetLife, Dr. Robert Petrie, found "the medical records provided do not support the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome," even though he never examined Michael in person. Companies often hire and pay consultants to review only records. Dr. Dedra Buchwald, the co-chair of the NIH's Workshop on CFS in June did this under contract to MetLife and found one patient not disabled because she could carry a grocery bag! Most of the Independent Medical Examiners (IME) never see the patient but their job is to give unfavorable reports of the patient as that is what the companies are paying them for. Dr. Petrie said Michael could not have CFS because he was bipolar and "CFS cannot co-exist with other debilitating conditions" and that he had "no demonstrated physical impairment." MetLife also had Michael undergo their own vocational assessment but he flunked that one as well as the one administered by vocational expert Paul Blatchford, Ed. M.! "Evidence of cardiovagal dysfunction"
was found during an autonomic |
The National CFIDS Foundation
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