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GUEST OPINION: Universal Mental Health Screenings: A Call to Rally

Written by Able Child on . Posted in Interviews, Lawmaking.

By Penny Pullen, former state rep and President of Eagle Forum of IL.

OPINION — A recent letter-to-the-editor writer first asked how such an invasive law as Illinois’ new universal mental health screening atrocity could be passed, and then answered, essentially, that anything can pass any time if it’s characterized as being “for children.”

This may be true today, sad to say, but once upon a time, it was not. And so, I’m not so sure it is true.

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Ablechild Petitions Connecticut Governor And Public Health Commissioner To Provide Public With FDA Warning On Antidepressants Before Treatment

Written by Sheila Matthews on . Posted in Lawmaking, MedWatch.

Patricia Weathers
President
www.ablechild.org
(845) 677-8115

Sheila Matthews
National Vice President
www.ablechild.org
(203) 966-8419

 AbleChild has learned that last week the Connecticut Commissioner of Public Health, Dr. Galvin, submitted to Governor Rell a written opinion on Informed Consent relating to the recent FDA Antidepressant Warnings and their link to Suicide in adults and children. Ablechild requests that the office of Public Health, as well as the Governor’s office, provide this written opinion on informed consent to the public immediately, to ensure that the public is aware of the ongoing investigation and public health warnings regarding antidepressants and the implications surrounding this issue.

This year FDA warnings on Antidepressants immediately followed an FDA investigation, which was launched on a different class of antidepressants known as SSRI’s (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). This investigation and subsequent warnings comes after the United Kingdom banned the use of SSRI’s in 2003 for anyone under age 18, due to their propensity to cause suicidal ideations in children and adolescents. Currently the FDA has required that the drug companies re-label antidepressants with stronger warnings, requiring them to disclose their links to suicide.

This past week, on the Federal level, a Congressional Investigative Subcommittee Hearing, which was to investigate drug companies’ concealment of clinical data involving harm and negative side effects of Antidepressants, was abruptly shut down. This shut down, was a result of the Subcommittee Chairman’s (Congressman Greenwood-PA) acceptance of a job with one of the company’s under investigation. This recent news highlights the corruption within the political process, and the conflict of interest, both of which have sadly overrode our children’s health and safety.

In light of these facts, Ablechild has taken immediate action in Connecticut to increase public disclosure of the very real risks and life threatening warnings that these drugs have, in hopes of dispelling the myth that these drugs are safe and effective. Misinformation, comprising of the idea that these drugs are safe for our children, has been for many years, all too easily and eagerly, spread by the pharmaceutical industry manufacturing them, as well as a major portion of the mental health industry. Both of these industries have vested financial interests as top priority.

The State of Connecticut has a responsibility to protect public health. The public needs to have access to all warnings in order to make informed decisions regarding whether or not to use antidepressants for “treatment”, being recommended for depression and other psychiatric labels placed upon our children. These warnings need to be taken seriously, should be disclosed readily prior to “treatment”, and should not be overlooked. Informed Consent, hand in hand, with public safety, should be everybody’s top priority!

To read more on antidepressant warnings visit www.ablechild.org

Victims of Antidepressants Respond to Federal Corruption in Ongoing Investigation. Drug Companies’ Influence Suspends Hearing.

Written by Sheila Matthews on . Posted in Lawmaking, MedWatch.

Patricia Weathers
President
www.ablechild.org
(845) 677-8115

Sheila Matthews
National Vice President
www.ablechild.org
(203) 966-8419

 A hearing scheduled for yesterday, July 20, 2004, by the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, headed by Congressman Greenwood of PA, was abruptly shut down just hours before it was to convene. This hearing, requested by victims, was scheduled to address both the withholding of clinical trial data from the public by drug companies, and the role of the FDA in the antidepressant investigation. Representatives from 7 pharmaceutical companies, their trade association, as well as, representatives from the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and one top FDA official, were all scheduled to testify before the Subcommittee. Ablechild learned from the Associated Press that the hearing was suspended due to Congressman Greenwood’s announcement that he was seeking career opportunity from the pharmaceutical industry. This clearly raises ethical concerns.

Ablechild received a flood of calls from families outraged over the government’s depraved indifference to human rights, its lack of responsibility, and its blatant disregard for the public safety. Ablechild has put in an emergency request to the Senate to reopen these hearings to the public immediately, due to this Subcommittee’s inability to act in the best interest of the public. Parents contacting Ablechild know that the Subcommittee is unduly influenced and request that immediate action should be taken to uphold the integrity of this investigation.

On behalf of parents nationwide, Ablechild contacted Senator Santorum, from PA, specifically requesting that he take steps to reopen these hearings to ensure that the health and well being of our children is not, in any way, compromised. Ablechild points to the death of little Shaina Dunkle, from Pennsylvania, who at the age of 10, died from the direct result of antidepressants. Mrs. Vicky Dunkle, has repeatedly appealed to both Congressman Greenwood and Senator Santorum, asking for accountability in the death of her daughter. We have appealed to Pennsylvania, reminding them that Shaina Dunkle’s death should not be disregarded by the power plays of special interest groups influencing politicians and investigative hearings.

The government has the responsibility to protect public safety. Ablechild eagerly awaits Senator Santorum’s response.

National Association of School Psychology Down Plays Drug Deaths and Misleads Public on State Laws On National Public Radio

Written by Sheila Matthews on . Posted in Lawmaking, Violence.

Patricia Weathers
President
www.ablechild.org
(845) 677-8115

Sheila Matthews
National Vice President
www.ablechild.org
(203) 966-8419

 In a NPR radio segment on the Here and Now show that aired yesterday, the National Association of School Psychology Spokesman, Peter Welley, told the public that Connecticut’s law that prohibits school personnel from recommending psychotropic drugs for children was rescinded. Connecticut’s legislation signed into law on June 28, 2001, has served as model legislation for other states around the country. Peter Welley, speaking on behalf of the organization for school psychologists, further indicated that there were many complaints launched against the Connecticut legislation.

Ablechild.org knew this public claim aired live was an outright falsehood. We suspected it to be an outlandish and meager attempt at best, to mislead the public by steering it away from the fact that this nation has been passing legislation in order to counter the epidemic of children being forced onto drugs via the public schools. Ablechild immediately launched its own investigation into this serious matter by placing a direct call into Republican Lenny Winkler’s office, the Sponsor of the Connecticut Law, as well as a practicing emergency room nurse. Her office confirmed our beliefs by assuring us that the law has not been rescinded, or in any way changed. Furthermore, AbleChild.org has learned from their office that the only complaints that they have received regarding this legislation, were from, not surprisingly, The National Association of School Psychologists. Questioned more in depth, Representative Winkler’s office indicated to us that there was not one parent complaint.

There could be several motivating factors, which prompted this organization to misrepresent the facts publicly. The possible loss of grant money is just one incentive for continuing today’s trend of labeling and drugging our children. Ablechild suspects that there will be many more similar attempts to misrepresent and divert public attention by organizations that have preyed off of our children for many years. These group’s financial incentives are on shaky ground, and it is not surprising that they grasp at thin air, in lieu of so many facts arising to the public nationwide regarding legislation and drug risks. It could be that the nation’s widespread anti-coercion Federal and State legislation, Great Britain’s ban last year of the use of 8 different antidepressants for children and adolescents, America’s own on-going FDA investigation and warnings on antidepressants, and the many Federal legal cases pending regarding informed consent and drug risks, all had a hand in making many groups a tad bit jumpy.

Children’s health and safety are being compromised daily and The Association of School Psychology takes no responsibility for this reality associated with their diagnoses and recommendations. This is a national mental health crisis, and confirms the fact that we need Federal protection in place for our children. To read about the current Federal Legislation called “The Child Medication Safety Act” and to help ensure a child’s right to grow up healthy and drug-free click here  Legislation.

Access Denied to Parents in Public Schools – A National Crisis on Informed Consent

Written by Sheila Matthews on . Posted in Lawmaking.

Patricia Weathers
President
www.ablechild.org
(845) 677-8115

Sheila Matthews
National Vice President
www.ablechild.org
(203) 966-8419

 May 19, 2004, a national news story ran out of Connecticut regarding a 7-year-old child that attacked a teacher, after he would not stop tapping his pencil. The school called in the police to subdue the child. The fact is, that this isn’t the first problem Stratford Elementary School has had with its teaching style and psychological services.

On February 12, 2004, Connecticut Stratford Police were called to Nichols Elementary School when a mother of an 8-year-old boy told police that the school administrators physically abused her son who had been diagnosed with the subjective label “ADHD”.

Ablechild.org contacted both the elementary school and the Stratford police department to request that information on the current federal Investigation into the use of behavioral drugs for children, be provided to both parents with children involved in the recent acts occurring at the school. Ablechild.org stressed to the police department the importance of providing this information to the parents to ensure that they were given proper informed consent. The Stratford Police department, though sympathetic to our request, referred us to the board of education, which outright refused our organization’s request. We strongly urged the board to provide information to the parents on the current federal investigation into the dangerous drug ‘treatment” for the controversial label “ADHD” to comply with full informed consent.

This raises serious questions regarding the lack of information parents are receiving about the label “ADHD”, behavioral drugs linked to bizarre behaviors, and suicide ideations in children that are currently under review on the Federal level.

On May 17, 2004 CBS 11 out of DALLAS-FORT WORTH Report By Investigator Ginger Allen and Producer/Photojournalist Dave Manoucheri revealed that, “Medicating children to control behavior has become a trend over the last decade, but now drug manufacturers and even the U.S. government are in the hot seat, questioned about a potentially deadly side-effect of what is supposed to be a life-saver.”

Informed consent is such an important part of the decision making process for all parents. This is a national crisis when 7 and 8 year olds need to be restrained by the police. It is time we look at the psychological programs at these elementary schools to ensure that proper informed consent is occurring.

Is 8 Year-Old Boy Victim of ADHD Fraud?

Written by Sheila Matthews on . Posted in Articles.

Patricia Weathers
President
www.ablechild.org
(845) 677-8115

Sheila Matthews
National Vice President
www.ablechild.org
(203) 966-8419

Connecticut-Channel 12 News Report of 2/11/04 out of Stratford, Connecticut entitled “Allegations of physical abuse at Stratford Elementary School” reported that Stratford Police were called to Nichols Elementary School on charges of abuse by school personnel. The mother of the 8 year-old boy, Marsh Davis, told the Stratford police that her son was physically abused by the school administrators. Channel 12 News reported that the boy was said to be suffering from the controversial label “adhd”.

Our organization, www.ablechild.org contacted the parties involved in this news report: Connecticut Channel 12, The Board of Education of Nichols Elementary, and the Stratford Police Department to request that Marsha Davis, the legal guardian of this child be given proper informed consent regarding the subjective label of “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder”. This must be done to ensure that her and her child’s basic rights of “informed consent” and the “right to refuse” at the time of the diagnosis was properly followed. We simply asked to provide Ms. Davis with our organization’s name. The Stratford Police Department told us to contact the board of education. Channel 12 and the Board of Education have been contacted by our organization and have not yet responded.

Marsha Davis must have access to the latest legislative actions on the local, state, and federal level regarding the over-identification of children, the right to refuse, and the one directly in question here, “informed consent”. Information must be provided to the parent on the controversial nature of the label “adhd”. This is of the utmost importance so that the legal guardian making decisions on that child’s behalf can make an informed decision to ensure the safety and well-being of the child.

The bottom line, we all need to find out what this mother “was told” about “adhd” and by whom. All parents deserve accurate information on the labels that are marketed to our children.

50,000 Children Taking Antidepressants

Written by Able Child on . Posted in Articles.

Sarah Boseley, Health Editor, The Guardian

· Drug withdrawn over fears it made youngsters want to kill themselves
· New questions for pharmaceutical firms

An antidepressant which GPs have been prescribing to thousands of children, in spite of the fact that it is not recommended for their use, can cause youngsters to want to kill themselves, the government’s regulatory agency warned yesterday.

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