Introduction - I read with great interest the Toronto Star article entitled “MS doctors attacked for their skepticism” which was published on September 24, 2010. I especially enjoyed the comments of the various MS doctors on their feelings and views on the reactions of persons with MS to CCSVI and to the doctors themselves.

It would seem, by way of this article, the MS doctors (neurologists and researchers) are now trying to convince the media/public that they have been unfairly treated by some of their patients and that their only fault regarding CCSVI is to offer a “healthy” skeptical viewpoint.

In this essay, I would like to point out some of the information the MS doctors conveniently left out about their previous actions and why such actions were in a large part responsible for the hostility they have been experiencing. The main body of the text will be making the case that the MS doctors have reacted to the CCSVI concept and the potential value for MS of treating CCSVI, not with scientific skepticism, but with close-minded negativity. Finally, I’ll wrap-up with a few thoughts on why the discovery of CCSVI in persons with MS may have triggered such a reaction in the MS neurological community and how we might improve the situation.

Verbal Abuse of MS Neurologists
There is no doubt that Mark Freedman is the most reviled MS neurologist in the entire world and he has been trashed on numerous websites. I personally do not believe in ad hominem attacks and think there is no place in the world of science for such nasty, emotional responses. Mark has been subjected to many such attacks and a nice sampling is provided in the Star article. Mark naturally asks “What did I do — to warrant this kind of aggressiveness from their part?”. The answer to why he has been singled out for the most vicious attacks is rather straightforward.

In February, 2010, a few months after a CTV documentary brought the linkage of CCSVI and MS to the attention of the world, Mark publicly called CCSVI a hoax which is equivalent to saying that Dr Zamboni is a fraudster. This was the first mean-spirited, personal attack associated with CCSVI. So it is completely understandable that, once Mark opened the door to nasty name calling, he should not be surprised that persons with MS fired back at him with similar malicious taunts. I must admit I laughed out loud when I read Mark was called “The King of All Turds”. However, I don’t think any name that Mark has been called over the last 8 months is as outrageous or unethical as publicly implying that a fellow medical researcher is a fraudster.