A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO DESIGNATE MAY 12 OF EACH YEAR AS FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS DAY.
Whereas, fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal aches, pain, and stiffness, soft tissue tenderness, general fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Neurological complaints such as numbness, tingling, and burning are often present and add to the discomfort of the patient; and
Whereas, approximately 130,000 North Carolinians and 6 million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia; and
Whereas, fibromyalgia is an invisible ailment and as such the normal physical appearance of its victims makes many patients' family, friends, employers, and even some uninformed physicians regard them as malingerers; and
Whereas, the lack of public awareness of fibromyalgia contributes to some persons with its symptoms not seeking treatment, thus also contributing to depression and prolonging severe discomfort; and
Whereas, in 1990, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) legitimized fibromyalgia as a medical syndrome and established a widely accepted protocol for diagnosing fibromyalgia. ACR's clinical criteria require that a patient have widespread pain and at least 11 of 18 specific tender point sites in all four quadrants of the body lasting at least three months in duration; and
Whereas, the Social Security Administration issued a ruling in 1999 that fibromyalgia is a medically determinable impairment in the context of its disability insurance program; and
Whereas, some unscrupulous health care practitioners have preyed on fibromyalgia patients and their families by selling them unproven, worthless, and even dangerous treatments often at exorbitant cost; and
Whereas, it is in the best interests of the citizens of this State to be made aware of fibromyalgia syndrome in order to facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment of the syndrome; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 103 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:
"§ 103‑11.  Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
The twelfth day of May of each year is designated as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in North Carolina."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.