Press Release
July
18, 2005
Contact
Information:
Sheila
Matthews
National
Vice President
203-966-8419
Gloria
Wright
Vice
President
Majority Leader Fights for Parents’ Rights
Ablechild, a national parent
organization, dedicated to educating the public on informed consent and an
individual’s right to refuse psychiatric services, stands with Majority Leader
Tom DeLay in support of H.R. 181 - The Parental Consent Act of 2005.
"The federal government
should become advocates in strengthening American families and encouraging
parental participation in decisions that directly effect their children's health
and overall wellbeing," said Majority Leader Tom DeLay. "In the
wake of the creation of psychiatric labels, every parent should be wary of
relinquishing their responsibility to the government to define and assess their
child's mental health status," he added.
Ablechild has recently been
informed that H.R. 181- The Parental Consent Act of 2005, may die in committee
and the House of Representatives may not get a chance to vote on this critical
informed consent bill.
H.R. 181 prohibits the federal government from being able to fund any universal or mandatory mental health screening programs. According to Michael Cannon and Marie Gryphon of the Cato Institute, “Empowering public schools to ‘play a larger role in mental health care for children’ could do special needs students and their parents more harm than good.”
Without passage of H.R. 181,
the federal government will fund universal mental health screening programs and
provide the mental health and psychiatric industry open access to
On June 29, 2005, the FDA
determined the need to add new warnings regarding psychiatric side effects to
the drugs used as treatment for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder),
a highly subjective diagnosis and the subject of much debate within the medical
establishment and among the public. The FDA’s recent determination was
prompted by reports of hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, and aggressive and
psychotic behaviors brought about by the use of these drugs.
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, “Every indicator available, including scientific abuse liability studies, actual abuse, paucity of scientific studies on possible adverse effects associated with long-term use of stimulants, divergent prescribing practices of U.S. physicians, and lack of concurrent medical treatment and follow-up, urge greater caution and more restrictive use of Methylphenidate.” Methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin, is only one such drug, which is widely prescribed to children labeled ADHD.
To err on the side of caution is prudent, both on the subject of mandating mental health screening programs for children and prescribing drugs. Ablechild and parents nationwide are encouraged by Congressman Tom DeLay’s willingness to stand up for parental rights and the health of children.