Apology to Raymond Mandale
One of our blogs picked up on a story regarding Raymond who was suffering from Parkinsons - sometimes the drugs taken for this illness can create a desire in patients to take risks and from time to time indulge in gaming. We got the story wrong on a number of counts and so as to set the record straight we have published the letter from the gentlemans son in the hope that the good news aspect of the tale which is where the story should have been targeted comes out. We wish Raymond and Shaun all the best and thank them for taking the time to set the record straight.
Below is a letter Shaun sent to his local newspaper which sets the story straight as well as providing readers the information required, drug in question was not Mirapex.
As the son of Raymond Mandale I feel that I, on behalf of my family should write to the Times and Star in connection with your feature article '£30,000 surgery halts drug-induced gambling habit' (Times and Star, April 11th).
During the past weeks there have been inacurate and misleading stories relating to reports that his gambling problems had been 'cured' by brain surgery funded by the NHS. I feel that I should write to set the story straight but first I would like to give you a little insight into his situation. My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease at the age of 50, this came as a massive shock both to my family and his friends but he vowed that 'the disease would live with him, rather than he would live with the disease'
Over the next months and years the illness started to take hold and rapidly his health disintegrated, particulary his mobility. It was at this time that he suffered his documented problems relating to the side effects of his medication, these problems ceased when his medication was changed however he still suffered the progressive effects of the disease.
As a result of his health and not as a result of his problems he had the potential life-changing opportunity of having pioneering surgery called 'Deep Brain Stimulation' This was not a cure for his disease however it meant that he could, at last have a quality of life that he had not had for many years and a quality of life that he thought he would never see again. Eighteen months later he had the surgery, believed to be the first person in the county and the 120th person in the country to do so, as a result his health has improved dramatically. My dad shared his story as he believed he had a 'good news' story to share but in hindsight he now regrets this and that is why I am writing this letter, to set the story straight. The NHS has not paid for brain surgery to 'cure' an addiction to gambling, I do not believe that such surgery exists.
> Subject: RE: Parkinson's sufferer has drug-induced gambling addiction cured
> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:27:37 +0100
>
> Shaun, can you supply us what really went on and we will post your
> version. We picked this story up from the wires sorry if it is not accurate.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Hi
> Can i suggest you remove the story about my dad Raymond Mandale as this
> story is both inacurate and misleading.....you have even named the drug as mirapexin! which it isnt by the way.
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