For years medical practitions around the world have recognized the need for clinical definitions and guidelines for ME/CFS and FMS. Many patients were sent to many doctors before they were accurately diagnosed. Therefore there was a obvious need clinical definitions that would enhance the family physician to be able to diagnose and treat these illnesses with confidence. This in turn will enable the patient to be diagnosed quickly and receive appropriate treatment.

Canada led the world with the first Clinical Definitions for ME/CFS and FMS. The focus of the clinical case definitions was to provide a flexible conceptual framework based on the characteristic patterns of symptom clusters, which reflect specific areas of pathogenesis. Greater emphasis was put on the potential spectrum of physiological dysfunctions, which will more adequately reflect the complexity of symptoms of a given patient's pathogenesis. Symptoms that share a common region of pathogenesis are grouped together for clarity.

•  Haworth Press Release
  
  Articles Regarding the Consensus Documents
  

• Canada Leads the World
  

• Importance of Clinical Definitions for Defining and Studying Syndromes 
  Dr. Bruce Carruthers
  

• Comparing the Canadian ME/CFS Clinical Criteria with the Fukuda Criteria  
  Dr. Leonald Jason, prominent American epidemiologist. Dr. Jason stated that he hoped the results of his study will encourage more physicians to use the Clinical Definition.
  

• Members of Expert Consensus Panel Collaborate on Research