An issue that was brought before 74th District State Representative Dan Swanson by constituents was treatment for Lyme Disease.
Swanson passed the “Lauryn Russell Lyme Disease Prevention & Protection Law” through the Illinois House on Friday to allow physicians to prescribe more aggressive treatment for Lyme Disease without the fear of disciplinary action. “It requires the Illinois Department of Public Health to create a Lyme Disease Task Force and also amend the Medical Practice Act that requires the treatment of Lyme Disease in certain individuals,” Swanson said. The legislation was inspired by Lauryn Russell, a 12-year-old student from Mercer County, who has Lyme Disease and has had to seek treatment out of state due to potential disciplinary action that could be taken against her Illinois physician for treating Lauryn’s post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) or Chronic Lyme Disease. “After local families reported these problems to me with treatment of Lyme Disease, I felt compelled to act on behalf of my constituents,” Swanson said. Advocates for Lyme Disease sufferers say the current recommended treatment of the disease, 10 to 21 days of antibiotics, is insufficient for people with advanced or chronic levels of the disease. Nine states have enacted similar legislation including: Iowa, California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Virginia.
