Tag: invisible illness

Making Invisible Illnesses Visible: Recognizing and Responding to Infection Associated Chronic Conditions

Abstract:

The emergence of post-COVID conditions (PCC) has renewed attention to infection-associated chronic conditions and illnesses (IACCI), including myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and Lyme disease-associated chronic symptoms. Millions of Americans are affected by these debilitating, misunderstood conditions, which share symptom profiles and pathophysiologic abnormalities. IACCI have received insufficient clinical attention and research investment.

We outline elements of a patient-centered approach to care, emphasizing validation of patients’ experiences, multidisciplinary management, and symptom-focused treatment. Opportunities to strengthen clinical practice include a new CMS code for chronic condition management, extended visits, and creation of welcoming care environments. Advances in PCC and ME/CFS research provide a foundation for exploring shared mechanisms and developing targeted therapies. Improved surveillance, harmonized research, and inclusive trial designs are needed to define disease burden and accelerate therapeutic progress. Coordinated action by clinicians, researchers, and policymakers can help address longstanding gaps and improve outcomes for all individuals with IACCI

Source: Iskander JK, Haridopolos S. Making Invisible Illnesses Visible: Recognizing and Responding to Infection Associated Chronic Conditions. Clin Infect Dis. 2026 Apr 9:ciag240. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciag240. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41967005. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41967005/

Seeing is Believing: Identifying the “Ideal Manifestation of Hidden Disability” in Ontario’s and Quebec’s Social Benefits Tribunals

Abstract:

The phenomenon of disability skepticism, especially in relation to “hidden” disabilities like chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), has fostered a culture of doubt among medical, legal, and public entities. This paper explores the intersection of such skepticism with the social benefits adjudication processes in Ontario and Quebec. In drawing parallels to feminist critiques of the “ideal victim” in sexual assault cases, it argues that the tribunals’ biased framework for believability is based on a claimant’s conformity to stereotypical expectations of what an “ideal” claimant with a hidden disability looks like.

By comparatively examining 10 years worth of Ontario and Quebec tribunal decisions featuring claimants with CFS, this study highlights how those with hidden disabilities are evaluated based on visible manifestations of their disability/emotion, medical/expert evidence, and the apparent credibility of themselves or others as witnesses. This research not only addresses a significant gap in the literature but also calls for reforms in the legal treatment of hidden disabilities, advocating for a shift away from entrenched stereotypes towards a more inclusive and equitable system.

Source: Pascale Malenfant, “Seeing is Believing: Identifying the ‘Ideal Manifestation of Hidden Disability’ in Ontario’s and Quebec’s Social Benefits Tribunals” (2026) 48:2 Dal LJ 753. https://digitalcommons.schulichlaw.dal.ca/dlj/vol48/iss2/1/ (Full text available as PDF file)