I need to capture what Parkinson's Disease is in a paragraph and in that brief space I don't want to misspeak so any suggestions would be gratefully received. Thanks, Guy

Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurological disease that includes several movement disorders that rear themselves once the substantia nigra region of the brain looses it ability to produce Dopamine (one of the chemical agents involved in smooth muscle control). The person living with PD experiences tremors, slowness of movement, muscular rigidity, loss of balance and a host of cognitive, physical and emotional symptoms resulting from the disease and side-effects from medications used to treat it. The average Islander with PD can expect to spend $300.00 - $400.00 per month or more for essential prescription medications. In my “Proposal for a Parkinson’s Disease Drug Program” I’m asking the Minister of Health, to consider enhancing the “Drug Assistance Act” to include coverage for uninsured Islanders (age 18-64) with Parkinson’s Disease. Currently seniors are covered under the Seniors’ Drug Program and similarly folks with Multiple Sclerosis are covered under the Multiple Sclerosis Drug Plan.
… then I follow with 3 paragraphs that review other Canadian provinces and territories that currently have such programs in place.

I was about to attempt to write a definition of PD that could/would "fit" into one paragraph, Guy, but before doing that, I would like to know exactly your aim. Are you looking for a technical definition or a more simplified one that any average person can and WILL take the time to read and glean a good undstanding of this disease? Is it your aim to convey in ONE paragraph a message/definition that SO many people do not know about PD so that many more people will be inclined to "take up the cause"? I'd like to make an attempt at this...just need to know more about the "tone" of the paragraph.

Therese

I would add these "weasel words" to the following sentence:

The person living with PD will experience their own unique combination of tremors, slowness of movement, muscular rigidity, loss of balance and a host of cognitive, physical and emotional symptoms resulting from the disease and side-effects from medications used to treat it.

Thanks Carey: The person living with PD will experience their own unique combination of tremors, (is much more accurate).

Hello Therese,

This paragraph will live in 2 places. Firstly, in the Introduction and Background section of a cross-jurisdictional study I’ve done of provincial and territorial drug programs as they relate to uninsured people living with Parkinson’s Disease. The study is addressed to the Minister of Health and the Director of Pharmacy Programs. Secondly, this same paragraph is the start of an Executive Summary, no more than 1˝ pages, for the Minister, himself.


10 of 13 jurisdictions provide affordable drug plans enabling their citizens to purchase medication. My goal is to get PEI in line with the other 10. I need a lay person’s explanation of what PD is. The rest of the document will deal with high drug costs, how they are handled and why we need new drug programs to address current gaps in service.

Explaining myself, like this, is a great help. The thumbnail below is clickable and shows what I mean in a graph. Thanks. Guy

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