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I don't think that most on this list blame doctors generally for misdiagnosis, or missed diagnosis (two distinctly different problems). There has been so much research in recent years, and so much progress in the treatment of illness of every kind, that I don't envy any MD who has to run like hell just to stay in one place. That said, I *do* blame some who teach medicine, and some researchers, who start out with a misconception and perpetuate it, ignoring empirical evidence to the contrary. Even if they don't believe the evidence offered by others, they should at least gather the evidence themselves, whilst avoiding the trap of a priori reasoning, and biased selection procedures. As an example, I read the report of a recent research project as to whether or not there was any evidence linking agricultural pesticides to PD. In one section of the survey, they only carried out testing on subjects who said they *had* been exposed to such chemicals. There were several problems here - What pesticides? For how long? What constitutes "exposure"? When did it occur in relation to onset of PD or chronological age? - the other being that by improper selectivity, one ignores the possibility that similar results may be obtained from those *not* selected, as from those who are. This is not a recrimination of medical professions - just a plea on the one hand to consider *all* possibilities, and on the other, to *listen* to sufferers and carers, and not dismiss them as ignorant laity, not only with PD, but *any* medical problem, and to consider the whole person. In other words holistic medicine. Jim Slattery, Australia [log in to unmask] Webmaster, Central West PD Web http://www.lisp.com.au/~cwpdweb [log in to unmask]