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Excerpts from
Article Four
Articles of Incorporation
Fibromyalgia Research Foundation
Below are excerpted statements from FRF's Articles of Organization.
These statements specify the purposes of FRF.
| "The corporation is
organized and shall be exclusively for charitable, scientific, and
educational purposes . . . . More specifically, the corporation is
organized and shall be operated exclusively to (a) conduct medical and
scientific research as to the causes and treatment of fibromyalgia,
and (b) educate the medical community and the general public about the
causes and treatment of fibromyalgia." |
Our
Current Major Focus
Research: We have several studies we are preparing for
publication. All of these studies contribute to the clarification and
documentation of our model of fibromyalgia—that inadequate thyroid hormone
regulation is the main underlying mechanism of most patients' fibromyalgia
symptoms and signs. Presently, however, our most
important research activity is completing the tabulating and
statistical analyses of a large amount of objective test results from
fibromyalgia and non-fibromyalgic patients. Of course, specific
numeric values and conclusions must await complete statistical
analyses. However, the outcome of many preliminary analyses of the
data is clear: the TSH, free T3, and free T4 levels are of invalid for
a purpose clinicians currently use them for—deciding whether an
individual has thyroid hormone regulation that is adequate for
protecting individuals from developing symptoms and signs (long known
by clinicians to be caused by hypothyroidism and peripheral thyroid
hormone resistance) that lead to the diagnosis of "fibromyalgia."
Education: Another important activity of FRF is educating the public,
health care practitioners, and
other fibromyalgia researchers about the scientific evidence that the major underlying mechanism of
most patients' fibromyalgia symptoms
and signs is inadequate thyroid hormone
regulation.
This educational project is of
utmost importance. We've provided
conventional medicine with ample scientific evidence justifying our
views about fibromyalgia. But we've come to realize that the beliefs
of conventional medicine are not changed by scientific
evidence. Instead, as Dr. Lowe has pointed out:
| "Conventional
medicine changes its beliefs only when enough health care
consumers demand it and make it profitable. This is evident from
20th century history. Long before conventional medicine accepted
and broadcasted it, scientific evidence had made something clear—that improved health and the prevention and relief of
disease were dependent on wholesome diet, nutritional
supplementation, exercise and fitness, and avoidance of chemical
pollutants including many currently-promoted prescription
medications. Conventional medicine did not lead the public in the
use of this information; rather, medicine followed the public's
lead. We now
see the same phenomenon with alternative medicine, and I trust
that we'll also see it with the scientifically accurate view of
what we call "fibromyalgia." I believe it is proper to
criticize conventional medicine for failing to take the lead in
doing what the scientific evidence indicates is best for the
public health. On the other hand, I commend conventional medicine for its eventually
bending to public pressure. For conventional medicine does, in
contrast to some other health care professions, eventually bend in
directions the public prefers and makes profitable." |
At this time, we believe
we can best serve the needs of fibromyalgia patients by investing most
of our energy and other resources into a focused objective:
reeducating health care providers, especially conventional
physicians, about: (1) the nature of fibromyalgia and (2) metabolic
rehabilitation as an effective treatment for fibromyalgia, in
contrast to the palliative treatments currently promoted by other
fibromyalgia researchers. By "effective," we mean
bring about marked improvement or full
and lasting recovery of most patients, with them no longer meeting the
criteria that classifies them as having "fibromyalgia."
Participating in FRF Activities: FRF is in the process of planning
to achieve these research and educational goals. We welcome the input and
participation of those who feel moved to assist us in achieving the goals. To
volunteer to participate in FRF activities, or to otherwise communicate, please phone our Executive Director, Tammy
Lowe, at
(603) 391-6061, or write to her at
Tammy@FibromyalgiaResearch.org.
Values for FRF
Participation. To serve well the
purposes of FRF, all participants in FRF's activities are expected to
strive for and exercise the following values:
1. Dedication to FRF's stated
mission, in each of its aspects.
2. Commitment to serve the purposes of FRF.
3. Compassion for all suffering human beings, but especially for
those whose suffering can cease once FRF's mission is complete.
4. Humanitarian orientation, in that of utmost importance is the
relief of human suffering and the highest possible quality of life for all
humans.
5. Initiative in furthering the aims of FRF with the intent of
helping it achieve its mission as expeditiously as possible.
5. Responsibility in providing patients, the public, and health
care professionals with information that accurately represents the aims,
mission, and positions of FRF.
6. Integrity through consistently demonstrating that as a
participant in FRF's activities, one is highly principled, ethical,
dependable, and trustworthy in providing rational and scientifically-based
information.
7. Solidarity with other FRF participants, working as a coherent
team (as in exchanging ideas and encouraging initiative) for the
realization of FRF's mission.
8. Respect for the patients FRF ultimately serves; FRF itself;
other participants; and even opponents of our points of view whose
erroneous beliefs serve to clarify the correctness of our own beliefs.
9. Open-mindedness toward the beliefs of others, despite their
station in life, giving importance to ideas, beliefs, hypotheses, etc,
rather than to those who express them.
1o. Cordiality toward other FRF participants and anyone else who
interacts with an FRF participant. |
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