Comments on: Of charges filed, chelation, and the temptations of a single cause theory of autism http://www.blisstree.com/articles/of-charges-filed-chelation-and-the-temptations-of-a-single-cause-theory-of-autism/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:59:48 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Doctor Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Death of Abubakar Tariq Nadama http://www.blisstree.com/articles/of-charges-filed-chelation-and-the-temptations-of-a-single-cause-theory-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-536678 Doctor Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Death of Abubakar Tariq Nadama Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:24:15 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/of-charges-filed-chelation-and-the-temptations-of-a-single-cause-theory-of-autism/#comment-536678 [...] Dr. Roy Eugene Kerry has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Abubakar Tariq Nadama. Two years ago, the 5-year-old autistic boy went into cardiac arrest while undergoing chelation therapy in Dr. Kerry’s office at the Advanced Integrative Medicine Center in Portersville, Pennsylvania. Notes today’s WXPI News (Pittsburgh): The receptionist at Kerry’s Greenville office said he was too busy treating patients to come to the phone. [...] [...] Dr. Roy Eugene Kerry has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Abubakar Tariq Nadama. Two years ago, the 5-year-old autistic boy went into cardiac arrest while undergoing chelation therapy in Dr. Kerry’s office at the Advanced Integrative Medicine Center in Portersville, Pennsylvania. Notes today’s WXPI News (Pittsburgh): The receptionist at Kerry’s Greenville office said he was too busy treating patients to come to the phone. [...]

]]> By: Autism Vox » What’s breaking news about autism? http://www.blisstree.com/articles/of-charges-filed-chelation-and-the-temptations-of-a-single-cause-theory-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-533950 Autism Vox » What’s breaking news about autism? Sat, 28 Apr 2007 04:04:59 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/of-charges-filed-chelation-and-the-temptations-of-a-single-cause-theory-of-autism/#comment-533950 [...] chelation “ineffective at best and dangerous, even potentially deadly, at worst” (Abubakar Tariq Nadama, who died in August of 2005 after receiving chelation treatment in western Pennsylvania, is not [...] [...] chelation “ineffective at best and dangerous, even potentially deadly, at worst” (Abubakar Tariq Nadama, who died in August of 2005 after receiving chelation treatment in western Pennsylvania, is not [...]

]]> By: Autism Vox » Turning a Negative Into a Positive http://www.blisstree.com/articles/of-charges-filed-chelation-and-the-temptations-of-a-single-cause-theory-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-533556 Autism Vox » Turning a Negative Into a Positive Tue, 17 Apr 2007 06:10:11 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/of-charges-filed-chelation-and-the-temptations-of-a-single-cause-theory-of-autism/#comment-533556 [...] specific names of the two children—one of whom was Abubakar Tariq Nadama , who died in August 2005—are not referred [...] [...] specific names of the two children—one of whom was Abubakar Tariq Nadama , who died in August 2005—are not referred [...]

]]> By: Autism Vox » Vaccines and Autism in India http://www.blisstree.com/articles/of-charges-filed-chelation-and-the-temptations-of-a-single-cause-theory-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-529455 Autism Vox » Vaccines and Autism in India Sun, 03 Dec 2006 07:42:15 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/of-charges-filed-chelation-and-the-temptations-of-a-single-cause-theory-of-autism/#comment-529455 [...] It seems to me that the “ban” referred to here is on the use of the mercury-based preservative thimerasol in vaccines, rather than the vaccines themselves. The Tehelka article also notes that chelation—”detoxification of heavy metals present in the system and in the brain”—has been proven to be “the most effective treatment to limit the disability caused by autism.” Again, while some parents in the US have claimed that their children have greatly improved due to chelation, not everyone has found this to be the case (this would be my husband and I; highly structured and individualized teaching of our son Charlie has been especially effective, in his case; a child died last year due while undergoing chelation treatment). [...] [...] It seems to me that the “ban” referred to here is on the use of the mercury-based preservative thimerasol in vaccines, rather than the vaccines themselves. The Tehelka article also notes that chelation—”detoxification of heavy metals present in the system and in the brain”—has been proven to be “the most effective treatment to limit the disability caused by autism.” Again, while some parents in the US have claimed that their children have greatly improved due to chelation, not everyone has found this to be the case (this would be my husband and I; highly structured and individualized teaching of our son Charlie has been especially effective, in his case; a child died last year due while undergoing chelation treatment). [...]

]]> By: David N. Andrews MEd (Dec 2006) http://www.blisstree.com/articles/of-charges-filed-chelation-and-the-temptations-of-a-single-cause-theory-of-autism/comment-page-1/#comment-528950 David N. Andrews MEd (Dec 2006) Tue, 31 Oct 2006 21:00:55 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/of-charges-filed-chelation-and-the-temptations-of-a-single-cause-theory-of-autism/#comment-528950 I read the new report on this poor lad's death. I am really very unimpressed with his father even going along with this chelation 'therapy'. It really is unbelievable, to me, that someone with his training would consider this path. Sorry if this seems unsympathetic, but - as a medical practitioner - Nadama should have known well the dangers involved in chelation when it's done for the right reasons, let alone when it's done for the wrong ones. He was prepared to take a very serious risk with his child, one that could have had fatal repercussions for the child (if the initial premise for that action turned out to be incorrect - as it in fact did!). To do such is, as far as the law in England and Wales is concerned, 'reckless endangerment' (in the legal vernacular). I can understand wanting to do something to help one's child: I have a child of my own who is autistic herself, but there is no way that I would consent to anything that would put her life in any sort of danger in order to save myself from feeling that I was doing nothing to help her. As it is, I'm doing the job of a professional psychologist with regard to her, since there is nobody here in Finland with this specialist training that I have. Sadly, nobody's paying me for doing this job, but the local school psychologist attached to her school is less than useless (as most Finnish school psychologists are). With a background in educational psychology, I am determined that any educational methods used with her have a sound basis, and do not strip her of her dignity as a human being. And I can't help feeling that Nadama should have used his expertise in general medicine (his MB BS degrees) to the same ends for his son, rather than go off hunting for a different child 'within' the one he lost. There is no different child in there with autistic children: that child is who you get. About time really that autism was well and truly (by law if necessary) removed from the clutches of an over-active medical profession and placed where all developmental issues belong: with education and psychology. Might sound a bit partisan, but it does reduce the risk of deaths like Abubakar's from continuing. I read the new report on this poor lad’s death.

I am really very unimpressed with his father even going along with this chelation ‘therapy’. It really is unbelievable, to me, that someone with his training would consider this path.

Sorry if this seems unsympathetic, but – as a medical practitioner – Nadama should have known well the dangers involved in chelation when it’s done for the right reasons, let alone when it’s done for the wrong ones. He was prepared to take a very serious risk with his child, one that could have had fatal repercussions for the child (if the initial premise for that action turned out to be incorrect – as it in fact did!). To do such is, as far as the law in England and Wales is concerned, ‘reckless endangerment’ (in the legal vernacular).

I can understand wanting to do something to help one’s child: I have a child of my own who is autistic herself, but there is no way that I would consent to anything that would put her life in any sort of danger in order to save myself from feeling that I was doing nothing to help her.

As it is, I’m doing the job of a professional psychologist with regard to her, since there is nobody here in Finland with this specialist training that I have. Sadly, nobody’s paying me for doing this job, but the local school psychologist attached to her school is less than useless (as most Finnish school psychologists are). With a background in educational psychology, I am determined that any educational methods used with her have a sound basis, and do not strip her of her dignity as a human being. And I can’t help feeling that Nadama should have used his expertise in general medicine (his MB BS degrees) to the same ends for his son, rather than go off hunting for a different child ‘within’ the one he lost. There is no different child in there with autistic children: that child is who you get.

About time really that autism was well and truly (by law if necessary) removed from the clutches of an over-active medical profession and placed where all developmental issues belong: with education and psychology. Might sound a bit partisan, but it does reduce the risk of deaths like Abubakar’s from continuing.

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