Medical Advisory Board of Experts 'Occupational Diseases' at BMAS
In the meantime, the committee met on 11th September 2018. On their agenda the item "Fume Events".
Prof. Dr. Astrid HEUTELBECK, former lecturer at the University of Göttingen, now Professor of Occupational and Social Medicine at the University of Jena, was heard as an "external expert" who held the so-called „Fume Event Consultation Hour“ at the UMG in Göttingen until the end of 2017. Which however had to close because the BG Verkehr refused to pay the costs for fume-event patients, which would actually be it's duty.
Prof. HEUTELBECK reported mainly on her findings, i.e. experiences and clinical pictures of her more than 350 fume event patients.
However, the committee in which several representatives of the so-called „VALENTIN School“ sit, is not satisfied with this information:
"After examining the findings presented and the documents submitted, the Advisory Board concludes that there are currently no sufficient indications to enter into an in-depth scientific examination. At present the general situation of knowledge is still unclear, it lacks epidemiological evidence and further peer reviewed literature on the topic of Fume Events' , states the responsible BMAS official, Harald GOEKE (Dept. IV a 4) in a letter to the ‚patient initiative’ p-coc.com.
Now it depends on further studies to confirm these (mostly denied) connections, which requires appropriate funds.