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..."He relies on anonymity because he cannot defend everything he posts here."???...uhhh, no...I rely on FACTS...my "anonymity" has NOTHING to do with the facts...for example, the FACT that Aris Despo -- CTT's "Executive Vice-President" in charge of "business development" -- has NEVER bought a single share of CTT stock nor apparently even exercised so much as ONE stock option is freely available to anyone who wishes to review SEC documents...whether I were the neighborhood drunk or the president of Pfizer wouldn't alter that information one way or the other...
...consequently, my "anonymity" is irrelevant...I merely convey the information...I'm sorry if it annoys you when I report how Marineo was busted by Italian police for practicing medicine without a license while treating AIDS patients with another version of his bugzapper...or that he's a BONAFIDE FRAUD because he claimed to have "MD,PhD" and "MD,DSc" degrees in work he published 5-6 years ago...but those are not opinions...they are FACTS...
...now, of course, I'm presuming that you trust "southerngal" when she says that, in response to her emails, CTT said Marineo DIDN'T have an MD...and don't blame me because I have TRIED to find SOME evidence of his educational and employment background...I've emailed both him AND Life Episteme several times requesting his CV with no luck...
...and apparently CTT isn't willing vouch for him beyond merely "saying" that he has a "PhD"...and yet they AREN'T willing to report WHERE it came from or provide ANY other documentation about the guy's history...hey, I report only what I find -- blame CTT if they aren't willing to defend the guy...
..."Many technologies that received 510-K market clearance had to get a CPT III code to formalize data collection prior to eventually getting insurance reimbursement."????...now THAT IS "patently" false...NO ONE is REQUIRED to get a CPT category THREE code for ANYTHING...some companies CHOOSE to in order to facilitate data collection...it's for the companies' benefit only...if a company wants to use some other manner of collecting and organizing their data, then they are free to do so...
...moreover, even gaining a CPT category ONE code does NOT guarantee reimbursement...those codes are meant to facilitate reimbursement by providing a standardized cost basis for treatment according to studies the AMA has done...insurance companies are NOT obligated to accept the charges designated under a particular code...TENS devices ALREADY have a CPT category ONE code but there are probably several insurance companies that still consider TENS to lack sufficient VALID SCIENTIFIC studies to support any argument that TENS is superior to placebo an, consequently, limit reimbursement accordingly......
..."Keep on repeating the things that do not matter to patients seeking a thereapy..."????...so you think that it wouldn't matter to a CRPS patient that a MAUDE adverse effect report was filed regarding a similar patient who had symptoms WORSEN after bugzapper therapy to the extent that hospitalization on a ketamine drip for TEN DAYS was required?...or that OTHER patients have reported WORSENING of their symptoms as well after bugzapper therapy?...
...or that it wouldn't matter to someone with chronic pain and a heart condition that one or possibly more patients may have developed some adverse cardiac effects as a consequence of bugzapper therapy?...
..."Keep on ignoring the patients that have benefits."????...I DON'T ignore them...I simply can't find any!...at least not any that aren't being reported by a site trying to sell bugzapper therapy...
...Mayo Clinic studies?...who cares?...NONE of them will be RANDOMIZED, BLINDED, and APPROPRIATELY CONTROLLED and, consequently, will lack ANY scientific validity...the scientific validity REQUIRED by third party reimbursers...besides which, the results won't be reported for another TWO YEARS!...
...and the CPT category THREE code?...must we?...really?...it's NOTHING but a code used to facilitate data collection from clinical studies...it has NO VALUE in terms of enhancing reimbursement...
..."PLEASE BE HONEST ENOUGH TO LEAVE BEHIND ANONIMITY..."????...uhhh, why?...what has my "identity" to do with the veracity of what I post?...as I've said now MULTIPLE TIMES, I usually provide links so anyone can check for themselves what I've related in my post...identity doesn't alter FACTS...
...moreover, I have TRIED to engage D'Amato, Chalmers, Cooney, and that seekingalpha joker, Green, in debate...D'Amato BRIEFLY responded on seekingalpha and then turned tail and ran back to Rhode Island -- whose state symbol is, appropriately enough, a CHICKEN...the others either ignored me or just responded with ad hominem nonsense...
...although I guess I can't really fault them for not wanting to defend using blinkin' bugzappers to treat pain...but I'm surprised that none of them have spoken to defend Marineo's credentials...well, actually, I guess I shouldn't be since it's unlikely Marineo HAS any credentials beyond some vocational school certificate...
..."Posting investing DD on pain forums IS trying to scare..."????...uhhh, no...posting FACTS about the device, its BONAFIDE FRAUD inventor, and the company that is promoting it represents nothing more than data that potential patients can use in deciding an appropriate course of action...
...even things that MIGHT be frightening to some -- e.g. the MAUDE adverse effect report, the people that experienced increased pain with therapy, and the woman who believes the therapy may cause cardiac problems represents nothing more than information -- is information that a patient should have access to whether YOU believe those things are true or not...
..."100 % true."...hardly, but THIS is:
"The FDA did NOT grant a 510-K Marketing Approval because Calmare was IDENTICAL with NO differences than standard TENS."...uhhh, in a way you're correct:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf8/K081255.pdf
...where it says:
"We have reviewed your Section 510(k) premarket notification of intent to market the device referenced above and have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to legally marketed predicate devices marketed in interstate commerce prior to May 28, 1976, the enactment date of the Medical Device Amendments, or to devices that have been reclassified in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act) that do not require approval of a premarket approval application (PMA)."
...but where I come from, the FDA saying the bugzapper is "substantially equivalent" to EVERY OTHER TENS device currently on the market means that if it walks like a bugzapper and goes "zap, zap, zap," then it IS a bugzapper -- like EVERY OTHER bugzapper -- until proven otherwise...
...IF the FDA had thought differently, THEN they more than likely would have requested additional studies since THEN it would NOT be "substantially equivalent" to a TENS unit..."
..."My name is Peggy."????...uh-huh..."Stop trying to scare people..."????...now that angers me...posting the TRUTH about the device's BONAFIDE FRAUD inventor and CTT's rather sleazy history of trying to hire people who turn out to be dead drug dealers, and phony distributors, etc, etc is hardly trying to "scare" anyone except naive investors who might be considering buying CTT stock...
...as far as pain patients, I could care less whether anyone tries to use a bugzapper to treat their pain...however, they SHOULD be allowed to make an INFORMED decision...all I provide are FACTS that allow them that opportunity...
..."SINCE THERE ARE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES (CE MARK OFFICIALS, FDA AGENTS, PATENT OFFICES) AND SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS THAT HAVE VALIDATED THE DEVICE"????...oh, brother!...here we go again!...sorry pal but NO ONE has "validated" the device in terms of producing RANDOMIZED, BLINDED,and APPROPRIATELY CONTROLLED STUDIES that demonstrate it is superior to placebo...
...the ONE American study that claimed the POSSIBILITY of effectiveness -- perhaps the ONLY study that didn't involve that BONAFIDE FRAUD Marineo -- FAILED to duplicate ANY success on other pain scales, FAILED to reduce opioid use, and FAILED to produce a significant increase in the quality of patients' lives...HARDLY results one would expect from a "effective" painkillin' bugzapper!...
...and I return to my own informal survey of the pain forums where I have ONE positive report from "kimullican" from OVER a YEAR ago...13-14 "NO EFFECT" comments...4-12 "MADE PAIN WORSE" and/or OTHER POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECTS...again, HARDLY what one would expect from an effective painkiller!...
...for comparison, I invite anyone to visit ANY pain forum and search for either "SCS" or "spinal cord stimulator" and then casually review the posts...and while you'll find an assortment of negative and neutral comments, you'll ALSO find MANY POSITIVE remarks...and that is pretty much what one would expect for ANY potentially effective device -- a VARIETY of comments with at least good representation by people happy with the results...look for "calmare" and compare the reports from people who have DIRECT EXPERIENCE with the device -- neutral and negative comments in a ratio of 20-30 to ONE positive comment...see my point?...
..."I was taking exception to the numbers you quoted..."???...well, if you're going to ignore my posts, then you're in no position to take "exception" with ANYTHING I say -- right?...ESPECIALLY when taking into account that I almost ALWAYS provide links to wherever my information came from so that ANYONE can check them out if they have any doubts...
..."But from what I do see out there the 13-14 no effect and the 4-11 made worse is a gross exaggeration..."????...well, apparently you haven't been keeping up with my posts because EVERY time I've found a "no effect" or a "made worse" or other adverse effect, I posted a link so whoever wanted could go check it out themselves...
...and like I said, I can't vouch for the veracity of "alaska49":
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread156495.html
...who claims not only was her pain made worse, she may actually have experienced some sort of adverse cardiac effect as a consequence of therapy...AND she also knew eight other people who experienced something similar...also note on that same page "6kiddos" says, "I ended up hurting more after..."...
...and I give credence to these since, at one point, someone went so far as to file a MAUDE adverse effect report on the bugzapper:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfmaude/detail.cfm?mdrfoi__id=1942154
..."The FDA did NOT grant a 510-K Marketing Approval because Calmare was IDENTICAL with NO differences than standard TENS."...uhhh, in a way you're correct:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf8/K081255.pdf
...where it says:
"We have reviewed your Section 510(k) premarket notification of intent to market the device referenced above and have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to legally marketed predicate devices marketed in interstate commerce prior to May 28, 1976, the enactment date of the Medical Device Amendments, or to devices that have been reclassified in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act) that do not require approval of a premarket approval application (PMA)."
...but where I come from, the FDA saying the bugzapper is "substantially equivalent" to EVERY OTHER TENS device currently on the market means that if it walks like a bugzapper and goes "zap, zap, zap," then it IS a bugzapper -- like EVERY OTHER bugzapper -- until proven otherwise...
...IF the FDA had thought differently, THEN they more than likely would have requested additional studies since THEN it would NOT be "substantially equivalent" to a TENS unit...
..."I don't agree."????...but you DO agree that Marineo is a BONAFIDE FRAUD since he has NEITHER a "MD,PhD" NOR a "MD,DSc" as he CLAIMED in those two publications he produced 5-6 years ago?...have you figured out where the PhD that CTT alleges he has came from?...or where he has EVER been employed?...
..."You do not have the textbook references that say Calmare cannot and does not work."????...who cares?...take a look at the pain forums to see how well the bugzapper works...by my latest count, I have ONE positive post by "kimullican" from OVER A YEAR ago, 13-14 "no effect" posts, and 4-11 "made pain worse" or other adverse effects posts (depending on the credibility of the one woman who claimed to know eight patients who suffered worse pain and possible cardiac damage)...
...those numbers hardly look like what one would REASONABLY expect for a miracle painkillin' blinkin' bugzapper, now do they?...that and D'Amato's FAILURE to open ANY of the TEN bugzapper clinics he promised OVER A YEAR ago all add up to bugzapper INeffectiveness at killing pain, don't you agree?...
..."The mechanism is completely unique."???...the "mechanism" may be different but the result is NECESSARILY the same as EVERY other TENS device on the market...like EVERY pretty much EVERY other TENS device, it can produce either a muscle twitch and/or burning sensation deep to the electrode...like EVERY pretty much EVERY other TENS device on the market, the FREQUENCY and INTENSITY of the "zapping" can be varied to suit the user's needs...
...NOTHING ELSE is different...all of the BONAFIDE FRAUD Marineo's "algorithms" are TOTALLY useless since the body has NO RECEPTORS that allow the detection of the "algorithms" -- i.e. like trying to use sign language to communicate with a blind man...
..."By manipulating the input into the brain we "convince" the brain that the area of the body where pain was present is now normal."...so why can't the bugzapper kill ALL pain -- at least to the 90% plus success rate that Marineo claims?...why is it NOW that D'Amato says it's basically just for "neuropathic" pain and Chalmers says it usually only successful for CRPS in a limb?...are all those other pain neurons "deaf"?...the whole thing is so ludicrous that it literally nauseates me to see making such statements...
..."IS ST just a Standard TENS?"????...yes, it is...but I don't see what point you're trying to make...the FDA approved it as what it is -- a TENS device...CTT requested it receive a "proprietary name" of "scrambler MC-5A therapy" which is basically similar to a trademark and restricts anyone else from using those names:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRL/rl.cfm?lid=215210&lpcd=GZJ
...the "transcutaneous electrical modulation pain reprocessor" came later after they realized -- apparently -- that no one was impressed with "scrambler" or "MC-5A"...CTT doesn't yet appear to have bothered to request a proprietary designation for "TEMPR" so anyone could still use that for their TENS devices as well...and I don't think CTT would attempt patenting the device as such because then they might be required to offer evidence that it was actually "reprocessing" -- whatever that may mean -- the pain...
..."Since CTTC has always been in..."???...well, there you are...I was thinking of you when I posted about the want ad for a bugzapper clinic:
http://www.helpwantedhawaii.com/ViewListing.asp?jobid=101679
...note where it says:
"Patients will be assessed for pain areas and Calmare therapy treatments will be directly administered by candidate."
...and then under "qualifications," it says:
"Medical background (i.e. Certified Nurse Assistant, Medical Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, Emergency Medical Technician, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapy Assistant, Restorative Nurse Assistant, etc.)"
...now I seem to recall to recall that CTT originally said something to the effect that ONLY licensed MDs were going to be allowed to buy and use the bugzapper...that only trained "medical professionals" would have sufficient background to assess and treat patients with something as technologically sophisticated as the bugzapper...isn't that about right?...
...now I presume desperation drove CTT to lower their standards so that "chiroquacks" could buy and use bugzappers...and then they lowered them even more so even a lowly "physician assistant" could use one...
...but now EMTs and physical THERAPY assistants TOO????...an EMT or PT therapist will be allowed to "assess" AND treat patients???????...
...in other words, pretty much all that's required to become a bugzapper therapist is to have whatever degree one can acquire from whatever boondock backalley vocational diploma by mail mill there is and your set to go?...is that about right?...
...indeed, does a "therapist" need ANY kind of health care training at ALL:
http://discoveranewway.com/
...I don't see ANY indication that "clinic" has ANY healthcare trained individual associated with it...whatsoever...
...I vaguely recall some of your earlier posts at one point expressed displeasure at the idea that anything less than a MD would be assessing and treating patients...and I also seem to remember that you didn't even like the idea of "quackopractors" using it...how do you feel about EMTs and physical therapy assistants being used to assess and treat patients?...
..."What are the various clinical indications..."???...I really don't see that your post answers ANY of these questions:
"Just explain what exactly the electrical shocks are doing to "rewire" the brain? Why are these treatments and hour? Why once a week? Why 10 sessions? Were these times calculated? If the algorithm is so complex, it sure seems to fit with the standard calendar pretty well. What are the risks of doing the treatment EVERYDAY? Or longer than an hour? Scrambling is scrambling, right?"
...indeed, has anyone else tried to "rewire" a brain?...that sounds like the kind of idea that an electronics repairman might think up -- doesn't it?...
...indeed, why an hour?...why ten sessions?...why not just stop once the pain has been relieved?...does prolonging the therapy train the brain further?...if so, then how?...
...indeed, how was the algorithm arrived at?...no one that I know of has ever tried anything similar...what in the literature would lead Marineo to believe that a particular combination of voltages would produce a "scrambler" effect?...
...indeed, presuming the treatment poses no "risk" -- although several patients on the pain forums would disagree with that -- why an 45-60 minutes for 10 days?...how did Marineo establish that treatment beyond that would never be effective...
...I'll add another pertinent question -- why is the machine so expensive?...basically, it appears to be constructed like any other TENS device -- or, in the bugzapper's case, I guess it would be two devices in order to provide four leads...allegedly, the only difference lies in those marvelous "algorithms"...but they really don't look all that complicated and I'm pretty sure a $100 CPU could probably handle whatever "processing" would be necessary...EKG do much more highly complex data processing and they cost probably on average 5-6,000 dollars...what puts the bugzapper's price into the range of an ultrasound machine?...maybe CTT thought of the old joke about the salesman selling vacuum cleaners for a million bucks each -- tough but he only had to sell just one...
...just for new visitors to the board, "driver stu benedict" previously posted some very pertinent questions that NO ONE seems to know the answers to:
"Just explain what exactly the electrical shocks are doing to "rewire" the brain? Why are these treatments and hour? Why once a week? Why 10 sessions? Were these times calculated? If the algorithm is so complex, it sure seems to fit with the standard calendar pretty well. What are the risks of doing the treatment EVERYDAY? Or longer than an hour? Scrambling is scrambling, right?"
...has anyone yet found ANY answers?...
..."AA believes that an award was issued in the underlying arbitration. This matter may be moot."???...CTT COULD have realized the whole matter was "moot" a YEAR ago IF their lawyer had done his job correctly...
...IF their lawyer had recognized the extent to which Nano's contract protected him and challenged it BEFORE CTT signed it...
...IF their lawyer had recognized that -- as the arbitrator pointed out -- Nano's contract was written by a GOOD lawyer, and, consequently, it provided Nano virtually airtight protection against dismissal for ANY reason short of felony...
...THEN maybe CTT would have saved an ENORMOUS amount of time, effort and MONEY wasted in pursuing arbitration and litigation against the "AA"...maybe someone should suggest the possibility of a malpractice suit...
..."Article showing how Calmare is ripe..."????...judging by the odor it emits, I'd say its overripe...I couldn't find anything about the bugzapper in the article until I saw:
"Some nonpharmacologic interventions may produce a benefit, including transcutaneous nerve stimulation..."
...oh, TENS units!...okay, that's fine since that's ALL a "calmare" is anyway...and no doubt every bit as effective...
..."the world economies are crashing, central banks are unable to stem the tide, governments are incapable of action for political reasons and, in the opinion of some, we might be heading for, no less than another recession or worse."????...well, if I'm not mistaken, this is the CTTC forum, not the "world economies" forum...consequently, I try to focus only on issues related only to CTT...
..."What proof do you have it's nothing?"????...who cares what it "is"?...it doesn't make ANY difference IF you CAN'T get the "signal" to the brain...in the last paper, Marineo apparently finally got around to reading a neuroscience text and realized his original proposed explanation was stupid beyond belief...since it's IMPOSSIBLE to for the neurons to even RECOGNIZE his zapping beyond whatever heat is produced and/or whatever pressure is sensed secondary to muscle contractions under the electrodes...
...he also appeared to recognize that even if he COULD reach the neurons, stimulating a neuron responsible for transmitting pain signals simply results in the neuron TRANSMITTING A PAIN SIGNAL...a neuron isn't like an egg that can be "scrambled"...it's either "on" or it's "off"..."on" means pain...stimulating it by ANY method means turning it "on" and that results in a signal that the brain recognizes as "get away from this" -- what we call "pain"...
...Marineo tried to work around that by -- and this really cracked me up -- saying maybe the machine was "scrambling" the receptors instead...a lovely explanation except that there are NO "zap" receptors and ALL of the other receptors could care less about "scrambled" since ANY signal that's not of the type that they're designed to recognize is a "scrambled" signal...think of someone trying to use sign language to communicate with a blind person...
...indeed, there really are NO pain receptors...there are simply receptors designed to measure various inputs -- pressure, heat, etc...and as the input exceeds a certain threshold, the brain begins to recognize a risk of damage and a need to get away from whatever is causing the stimulus...
...at some point, everyone will realize that the bugzapper is NOTHING but an ORDINARY TENS device...it is physically IMPOSSIBLE for it to do ANYTHING more than ANY other TENS device currently on the market...you can change the voltage applied and the frequency of stimulus and that's about it...
...I once knew a patient who broke his leg at a construction site...in order to distract himself from the pain while waiting for the ambulance to arrive, he took his pneumatic framing nailer and proceeded to drive a half dozen 3" nails into his skull...he reported it worked pretty well...now THAT might be an instance where some truly "scrambled" signals were generated...not recommended for everyday use, however...
..."Just explain what exactly the electrical shocks are doing to "rewire" the brain? Why are these treatments and hour? Why once a week? Why 10 sessions? Were these times calculated? If the algorithm is so complex, it sure seems to fit with the standard calendar pretty well. What are the risks of doing the treatment EVERYDAY? Or longer than an hour? Scrambling is scrambling, right?"???????...
...those are such GOOD questions, I felt obliged to "bump" them...good luck finding answers...I'm willing to bet Marineo doesn't have them...
..."if they did a CORRECTLY RANDOMIZED, CORRECTLY BLINDED, and APPROPRIATELY CONTROLLED study, you would admit that you were mistaken and apparently had such a stringent requirement for you personally that you must change your mind?"...yes, I would change my mind about its effectiveness...
...I would NOT change my mind about Marineo's bizarre explanation involving "scrambled signals" being transmitted along "artificial neurons" since that violates so many fundamental principles of biophysics and known neuroscience that its laughable to even consider it...
..."Other than surgeries, MDs don't do much hands-on stuff..."???...try telling that to the woman who who got worked on by Chalmer's physician assistant...she sounded none too happy to have shelled out 1500 bucks only to be treated by a PA...and to have the treatment fail to boot!...you may recall she was left wondering whether she should complain or not...not good for business in general...
..."What would it take for you to think it might work. Just the double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study published in a peer-reviewed journal?"????...wellllll...just some minor adjustments -- a CORRECTLY RANDOMIZED, CORRECTLY BLINDED, and APPROPRIATELY CONTROLLED study...these changes were required since Marineo apparently knows diddly squat about statistics and experimental design -- at least judging from the last paper...yep!...that's pretty much all I need...
...but I'm pretty confident that won't ever happen...at least never one that'll show the bugzapper will work better than a placebo...because in TWO YEARS, if it worked even a LITTLE then, the pain forums would be buzzing with discussion about it...and, of course, they're not...
...it popped up for discussion for about the last six months of 2010 and then -- blah, just fizzled out...my last survey showed ONE bugzapper fan, 11-12 no effect, and now -- if you choose to believe the one woman who says she knew 8 people with negative side-effects -- 12-14 NEGATIVE results...hardly what one would expect from a miracle painkilling bugzapper...right?...
..."Who cares how the want ad is worded..."???...well, potential customers might care...you see, CTT originally implied that they were going to sell the devices ONLY to medical professionals -- the implication being that this was a "special" device requiring the MD's advanced training which, in turn, would justify a healthy fee for service...
...since then CTT has pretty much made clear that if you got the money, they got the bugzapper and they don't care WHO uses it as long as CTT gets paid...NOW the MD is no longer "special"...how can he justify buying and charging a high fee when just any goober walking down the street can use it?...
...and then word gets around to prospective patients who -- like that woman I mentioned in my previous post -- are EXPECTING a MD to come in and do his MD thing...and are SERIOUSLY disappointed when some PA fresh from the Walt Disney Physician's Assistant Academy trots in and starts working on them...
...indeed, look back on this forum for some early posts by "mog1967"...it was VERY IMPORTANT to him that the bugzapper was restricted to just MDs... as I recall, he about stroked out when he learned that chiropractors would be able to acquire it as well...yep, PAs and EMTs assessing AND treating patients just takes a lot of the polish off the ol'bugzapper, don't you know?...
..."in a clear manner <speaking clearly>"???...oh, in other words you would tell her "in a clear manner" that bugzapper therapy really doesn't require any advanced knowledge of anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, etc...such as what one might reasonably expect from a MD?...that any EMT or physical therapist assistant or PA is perfectly capable of identifying the source of the patient's pain and deciding the appropriate places for optimal "scrambled signal" transmission?...
...consequently, she had no right to expect either direct contact with nor personal treatment by Chalmers?...since the results of the therapy are totally independent of the knowledge and training of the therapist?...after spending all that money, she might not like your explanation...regardless how "clearly" you provided it...
..."clearly"?????...so you maybe would tell her that bugzapper therapy really doesn't require any advanced knowledge of anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, etc...such as what one might reasonably expect from a MD?...that any EMT or physical therapist assistant or PA is perfectly capable of identifying the source of the patient's pain and deciding the appropriate places for optimal "scrambled signal" transmission?...
...consequently, she had no right to expect either direct contact with nor personal treatment by Chalmers?...since the results of the therapy are totally independent of the knowledge and training of the therapist?...is that about right?...
..."no one afraid this might impugn the bugzapper's "professional" appeal?...nope..."????...so how would you respond to that one woman who complained she didn't like being seen and treated by a physician's assistant?...after paying all that money for such "sophisticated " therapy, she apparently expected someone more "professional" to be evaluating and treating her...especially since the treatment failed to work...how do you explain it all to her?...do you think she should have been offered a refund?...
...no one seemed particularly excited when I mentioned the want ad for the bugzapper clinic:
http://www.helpwantedhawaii.com/ViewListing.asp?jobid=101679
...where it says:
"Patients will be assessed for pain areas and Calmare therapy treatments will be directly administered by candidate."
...and then under "qualifications," it says:
"Medical background (i.e. Certified Nurse Assistant, Medical Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, Emergency Medical Technician, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapy Assistant, Restorative Nurse Assistant, etc.)"
...now I seem to recall to recall that CTT originally said something to the effect that ONLY licensed MDs were going to be allowed to buy and use the bugzapper...that only trained "medical professionals" would have sufficient background to assess and treat patients with something as technologically sophisticated as the bugzapper...isn't that about right?...
...now I presume desperation drove CTT to lower their standards so that "chiroquacks" could buy and use bugzappers...and then they lowered them even more so even a lowly "physician assistant" could use one...
...but now EMTs and physical THERAPY assistants TOO????...an EMT or PT therapist will be allowed to "assess" AND treat patients???????...
...in other words, pretty much all that's required to become a bugzapper therapist is to have whatever degree one can acquire from whatever boondock backalley vocational diploma by mail mill there is and your set to go?...is that about right?...
...indeed, does a "therapist" need ANY kind of health care training at ALL:
http://discoveranewway.com/
...I don't see ANY indication that "clinic" has ANY healthcare trained individual associated with it...whatsoever...
...CTT can't go much further down the ladder in terms of providers...is no one disconcerted at this?...no one afraid this might impugn the bugzapper's "professional" appeal?...
..."two new international distribution agreements"???...do you think they generate any more revenue than did Innovative Medical Technologies?...or Fintrade?...or my favorite -- Native Energy & Economic Development?...
...indeed, by my last rough count, CTT ALREADY had distributors to OVER THIRTY different countries...and their total sales via these distributors in the past TWO YEARS was what now?...but adding two more is going to make a big difference?...sure...
...speaking of "Native Energy & Economic Development," I thought they had the contract to distribute bugzappers to the VA...surely, CTT wouldn't do something so politically incorrect as to dump a Native American organization -- would they?...
..."Hello, friend! It is me..."????...yeah, and did you read the article:
http://www.ausl.fo.it/Percorsidisalute/Servizisanitaripercomune/Meldola/tabid/1136/ctl/Details/mid/3441/ItemID/1177/Default.aspx
...where it says:
"Has these characteristics, the scrambler therapy, a patent developed by bioengineer at the University Hospital Giuseppe Marineo of Tor Vergata..."
...now I know he doesn't work as a degreed engineer at Tor Vergata since Italian law requires all employed degreed engineers to register with the professional organization I've posted about before...
...and he's not on the faculty at Tor Vergata...
...and "Deltard Research" isn't part of Tor Vergata...
...so what's the closest thing related for which Tor Vergata MIGHT employ him?...perhaps an electronics repairman?...that would certainly be consistent with the level of scientific knowledge he displays in what he writes...and it would also be more consistent with the little yellow shack with the tile roof that he uses as his "contact" address...
...by the way, doesn't he look exactly the way you'd expect someone who would try to treat AIDS with a bugzapper would look...I wonder how many people died before the police finally shut down his "practice"...maybe CTT knows the number...
..."Another quote from Trudy:..."...well, how about a quote from my response to her claiming she never found any incidence of harm:
" ...an addendum re: "I have never found any incidence of harm from this therapy."???...well, how hard did you look:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfmaude/detail.cfm?mdrfoi__id=1942154
...where it says:
"Dr (b)(6) of (b)(6) treated (b)(6) with calmare therapy -mc-5a- causing intense pain and (b)(6) required treatment by the hospital emergency room. This is not the first time that i have learned of treatment by the calmare therapy -mc-5a- increased and intense pain. What is very concerning is that dr (b)(6) is the most experienced and trained doctor in the u. S. With the calmare therapy -mc-5a-. Dr (b)(6) has trained other doctors on this device at (b)(6) medical center and universities. In prior events, it was believed to be due to operator error by the doctor. In this case, it is very unlikely to be operator error. The cause is most likely due to the calmare -mc-5a- device. Calmare therapy -mc-5a- several adverse events have been reported with this device increasing the intensity of the pt's pain. Event abated after use: no. Event reappeared after reintroduction: yes."
...or how about:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=156495&highlight=calmare
...where "alaska49" says:
"I have read about and have gone through the therepy. I have full body and internal rsd and for me it caused more pain then help. I dreaded every visit and in the end really depressed me as the shocking it gives the body really hurts. I went through 2 weeks and then stopped. I now have a heart condition that the specialist say the acutual therepy is the cause and he has 8 more patients that had full body and after the therepy which made them worse too they have the then too developed the same heart disease. So my doctors are warning RSD patient if your full body to really be careful and if they do, do the treatment that if after like 2-3 and it causes pain to discontinue it."
...or how about:
http://www.heathermills.eu/forum/index.php?showtopic=5851&st=0&p=75122&hl=+calmare%20+&fromsearch=1entry75122
...where "stubby" gives advice:
"I would not recommend Calmare Therapy to amputees however, which is sad for me to say considering the money we spent on it. My wife and I believe that it is a good therapy if all you have is phantom pain. However, that is really hard to tell and this therapy costs a lot."
...must I continue?..."
...and, of course, she never bothered to respond to my comment...ditto for Cooney...gee, I wonder why...
..."Trudy lives in Las Vegas."?????...HAW!!!...I wondered who would catch that?!...and by golly I was right!!!!!...HAW, HAW, HAW!!!!!...
..."rrtz has a problem understanding how"???...no, I have no problem whatsoever understanding that...my point was that sonny boy would be unlikely to respond to interviewer questions with answers that might threaten parental cash flow -- e.g. loss of employment...and not only is sonny unlikely to say anything critical or derisive of bugzappers, he may actually be financially motivated -- maybe looking forward to a little boost in his allowance if he says stuff that helps bring in customers...right?...
..."This unbiased host Trudy Thomas..."????...yeah, right...this "unbiased host" from Utah -- probably one of Kocherans relatives...and you really should provide a link:
http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy-discussions/general-support/3051516-calmare-therapy/limitstart/20#3066849
....I was hoping that Trudy whatshername would come back and argue a little...but she apparently punted after I showed her up after all her babbling about doing research but "never found any incidence of harm from this therapy"...I even included links so she could check them out herself!...I am soooooooo generous!...
..."Not at all surprising"????...I agree -- especially when considering that one of his parents works for Chalmers...no doubt sonny wouldn't say anything to upset mom and dad's cash flow now, would he?....
..."He responded..."????...did he happen to mention that one of his parents is employed by Chalmers?...awww, I bet he didn't, did he?...wouldn't that fall under "conflict of interest"?...
..."What can't you understand..."???...yes, I understand that they say that "all payments have been received"...what I don't understand is WHEN and EXACTLY HOW MUCH money did they receive?...if you look under revenue from sales, they say:
"In the three months ended June 30, 2011, we recorded $311,000 in revenue from the sale and shipment of 6 (2 internationally, 4 domestic) Calmare pain therapy medical devices; with a cost of product sales of $122,000."
...I don't see anything there about getting any money from LEI for 50 machines, do you?...and looking back through the previous two 10qs, I couldn't find ANYTHING that clearly stated they received "x" dollars from LEI for delivery of 50 machines...