Autism therapy: Doctors sued over ‘dangerous’ autism treatment - chicagotribune.com
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This important case involves the father of a 7 year old boy who was diagnosed with autism. Two local Chicago family practitioners, Dr. Anjum Usman and Dr. Daniel Rossigno, both followers of the DAN and Defeat Autism Now movement which promotes "alternative" treatments (treatments which are not scientifically accepted by the majority of the medical community and may have very little research report: See related articles at www.sciencebasedmedicine.com) advised the father that expensive and risky chelation therapy for "heavy metals" was necessary. These treatments, which risk kidney failure and death, were prescribed over the phone according to the court documents. Never having seen the child! The lawsuit also spotlights a test often used to diagnose metal poisoning in children with autism. "To conduct the tests doctors give children a chelation drug that forces the release of metals from the body "that exist in everyone," healthy or sick, in trace amounts.
In this case the doctors then examined the results and compared them to a reference range calculated from patients who had never been given the chelation drug. Based on this apples to oranges comparison the doctors claimed the child had "90 percent range of metal contamination."
What is disturbing is that here in Canada, especially in British Columbia, if a parent seeking help for their child with autism seeks out information on the internet they will find very similar chelation treatments in the top of their google search! They won't find too many web sites for those providing Applied Behavioural Analysis (which has been clearly shown to help) or social cognitive therapy's like those from Michelle Winner and others for higher functioning children or those with autism. Instead they find chelation therapy, NOW doctors telling patients their child have "gut problems" that are cured with diet and everything from chiropractors, acupuncturists and homeopaths (naturopaths) offering treatment to young children with autism!
This moth several of my patients seen for diagnostic services had spent thousands of dollars of "eye focusing" therapy, audio-tuning, metronome therapy and "neuro-feedback." They were left with nothing for behavioural therapy and family-parent education that might actually help. What I can recommend, again, is reading all you can from the website of science-based medicine, quack watch and other scientific based sites.
For more information on diagnosis or autism, asperger's or science based behavioural treatment interventions please feel free check out my website at www.socialcognitivetherapy.com
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