AMA submission to the Senate of Community Affairs Inquiry into the growing evidence of an emerging tick-borne disease that causes a Lyme‑like illness for many Australian patients

The AMA discusses its concerns surrounding the presence of Lyme disease and a potential Lyme-like illness in Australia in its submission to the Senate of Community Affairs Inquiry into the growing evidence of an emerging tick-borne disease that causes a Lyme-like illness for many Australian patients. In particular, it notes that legitimate questions around these issues has not been assisted by some of the public commentary that ignores a number of the facts established to date. The AMA supports the efforts made by the Department of Health to find, share and understand the evidence to date, and supports further scientifically rigorous research into this issue.

The submission explains that medical practitioners do their utmost to accurately diagnose the cause of an illness and provide an appropriate treatment and that a practitioner’s role is to make clinically appropriate treatment recommendations based on the best available evidenc