The MS Watch Website is Changing
We have, since 2002, grown and changed with the multiple sclerosis community, who learn, share and cheer each other on every day. We’ve changed the look and feel of MSWatch.ca, we’ve added resources regularly and we’ve adapted when you reached out to tell us what you want from the website. It’s been a delightful and inspiring journey, one that we hope to keep going for years to come.
Part of that growth and change has included the MS Watch forum, where community members exchange ideas, information and personal messages. It is with deep regret that we must announce that on October 15th 2010, the MS Watch forum will be closed. This was an extremely difficult decision to make, with personal implications for everyone who has read or shared their thoughts and feelings in a forum post.
Because the forum grew over time into a popular place to discuss Multiple Sclerosis, patients naturally gathered together to discuss their individual treatments which included both the good and bad that may have impacted themselves and their MS. Unfortunately, for any pharmaceutical company sponsored website, the company is responsible to ensure that the content conforms to the requirements of the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. Teva Canada Innovation is responsible for all content that might be on the site regardless of whether it is mentioned in a community forum. We believe that your discussion of your therapy is an integral part of your discussion of the issues you face with MS. As a result, we felt that it would be inappropriate for us to monitor, edit and/or remove any posts that could be misleading or promotional about any individual therapy.
This has left us with the difficult decision to close the forum element of the website as of October 15th. This is not a decision that Teva Canada Innovation takes lightly. We know how much the forum conversations mean to everyone in the MS Community – us included – and it is difficult for us to make this announcement. When you come back on October 18th, you’ll still be able to log in as always and see all of the great content of the site, but the Community Forum will no longer be there.
The connections all of you have made with each other and the support you consistently offer are truly inspiring. We encourage you to take that spirit of camaraderie and extend it to other spaces for the MS community. We are now and will remain available to community members by email at info@mswatch.ca or by phone to Shared Solutions at 1-800-283-0034.
It is our privilege to play a role in this very special community. Our sincerest thanks go to the members who were always posting, following up and keeping the conversation going. It’s our hope that you’ll continue to consider MS Watch a valuable destination for MS information.
Sincerely,
The whole team at MSWatch.ca
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