On the Hazards of Biomedical Autism Interventions
Chelation is highly controversial: most mainstream medical professionals believe that the theory behind chelation is flawed. In addition, they are concerned about the safety of the procedure.
A recent article in the Washington Post explains the pending court case:
The Department of State, which licenses physicians, filed six disciplinary charges in September against Kerry [the doctor against whom charges have been filed]. The department contends Kerry used the wrong formula of the drug and prescribed an IV push _ meaning the drugs are administered in one dose intravenously _ despite warnings that it could be lethal.While this is certainly a very tragic case, it does sound like a clear case of medical negligence. In other words, had the doctor correctly administered the chelation drugs and calcium additives, there should have been far less risk to the patient. Chelation, however, is by nature a potentially dangerous procedure.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the boy was given a synthetic amino acid to rid his body of heavy metals, instead of a similar chemical with a calcium additive. Both are odorless, colorless liquids and may have been confused, the CDC found.
The additive is used to replenish calcium, the loss of which can cause sudden cardiac arrest.
One of the problems with chelation and other biomedical interventions for autism is that they are often presented as "do it yourself" therapies - which they are not. In fact, parents can actually purchase "chelation detox" kits which they can use on their own with no medical supervision whatever. The same is true of megadoses of vitamins, special diets, and other biomedical interventions.
Biomedical interventions for autism are not simple, benign treatments. They bring with them significant potential for side effects and negative outcomes. Any parent interested in trying biomedical treatments for their children should assume that side effects and problems are possible, and proceed with all possible care.
Be sure you are working with a physician who is not only qualified but also experienced specifically in the procedure in which you're interested. Be sure you get at least two qualified opinions as to whether the procedure is appropriate and how it should be done. Check on your physician's background. Ask for references. And - most importantly - keep a close eye on your child, and report any changes or concerns immediately.
Comments
You provide sound advice. I have been advised by a respected physician that chelation should only be done under the supervision of an experienced physician, with supplementation and monitoring of kidney and liver function. Chelation is to treat heavy metal toxicity and is FDA approved for lead toxicity (DMSA).It is generally safe, albeit with risk, but the deaths reported that are associated with use of chelators resulted from the use of the wrong drug, not from the use of chelation itself.
According to the CDC the Pittsburgh case involved use of the wrong drug, disodium EDTA instead of Calcium EDTA resulting in hypocacacemia. While tragic, as a former prosecutor and criminal trial lawyer for almost thirty years, I am surprised and concerned that the doctor would have been indicted for involuntary manslaughter. He may well be civilly liable but criminal liability seems inappropriate. If he is convicted, and he is presumed innocent and we do not know all the facts, then perhaps tens of thousands of physicians should be in jail because of all the deaths from drug errors that occur. I do not see many involuntary manslaughter indictments for physicians or other medical practitioners who mistakenly gave the wrong drug. The impetus for prosecution here seems to derived from the fact that chelation was used in a child who was diagnosed with autism as well as heavy metal toxicity.
The purpose of many in publicizing this is to, apparently, condemn chelation as an intervention for autism. No one argues the chelation should be used for autism per se. It should be used only in children clinically diagnosed with heavy metal toxicity.
Chelation is relatively safe and those condemning chelation because of the Pittsburgh incident are doing a disservice to children with heavy metal toxicity. They deserve treatment – not a smear campaign.
The CDC MMWR report on this can be found here: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5508a3.htm
Kerry’s office didn’t even carry Calcium EDTA. Mr. Krakow, there was no right chelation drug for Tariq, because his blood levels did not indicate the need for chelation. Have you read the complaints? Tariq wasn’t being treated for lead poisoning – he was being treated for autism, and as the family’s attorneys correctly note, chelation is not an accepted treatment for autism.
Tariq was sent to Kerry by DR Usman because he was supposed to have high levels of aluminium, which were not going down in response to her treatment. She sent Tariq for chelation with calcium disodium EDTA (Versenate). According to Kerry’s case notes she even prescribed the dose. Kerry chose to use disodium EDTA (Endrate) instead because that is what he always used for chelation. He told Inspector Reiser of the Pennsylvania state medical board hat he knew about Versenate but only ever used Endrate.
Versenate is only indicated for lead poisoning. What was Usman doing prescribing this treatment for aluminium?
Kerry did not do Versenate. Why did he accept the referral and change the medication? Endrate is only indicated for the emergency treatment of hypercalcemia and for the control of ventricular arrhythmias associated with digitalis toxicity.
even then, Kerry used the wrong dose at the wrong concentration (50 percent solution instead of 3 percent) via the wrong method (IV push instead of slow infusion) He did this three times and the third time was enough to kill Tariq.
This was not a mistake. It is what he always did and he will continue doing it until he is stopped.
Kerry was using it to treat Tariq for lead poisoning even though he knew Tariq’s lead levels were in the normal reference range.
As the prescribing physician what was Usman doing to monitor her patient’s progress at the hands of Kerry?
“the Hazards of Biomedical Autism Interventions”
From one incident involving once form of biomedical intervention your comment title generalizes to the hazards of biomedical autism interventions? That is an overstatement by any measure.
I have never supported chelation as an intervention and I agree that it is dangerous but ALL biomedical interventions? Your Neurodiversity biases are betraying you.
What’s the deal, Lisa? Are you going all evidence-based medicine on us?
Hi, Harold!
I stand by my statement that parents should absolutely have medical support as they engage in any biomedical intervention (for autism or anything else, really!). There’s a huge amount of misinformation out – and children are particularly vulnerable when it comes to things like overdoses of supplements; nutritional deficits as a result of specialized diets; and certainly do-it-yourself use of powerful chelating agents.
Used correctly, and with supervision, I’m certain that some of these interventions work very well for some children. But I’ve seen some things on the internet that really worry me – for example, parents taking advice from other parents about how to dose their children with huge amounts of B vitamins…articles that say gastrointestinal distress is perfectly normal on a GFCF diet – it’s just a form of detox…
I’m not sure how Neurodiversity comes into it (tho as you know, I do generally lean on the neurodiversity side of the fence…) Granted, it easy for me to NOT engage in biomedical interventions because my son doesn’t have GI issues or other physical symptoms – but even when I did (when Tom was 3 and 4 and had almost no real language) I was uncomfortable with the idea of taking medical advice not from a medical or nutritional expert but from other moms.
Lisa
Good for you. Too many parents lack that simple common sense. Unfortunately, getting advice from an MD is not always an assurance of safety, as the Nadama’s found out to late. That’s why I lean toward evidence based, and away from the DAN! protocol, which is what sent Tariq to Kerry in the first place. Yes, the referring DAN! physician, Dr. Usman, did for Tariq what she does for other autistic kids every day -prescribing unproven and disproven treatments. Alternative medicine may sound cutting edge, but it’s just unproven and disproven medicine. Whenever an alternative treatment is proven, it ceases to be alternative, and becomes evidenced based.
Here’s a great video I hope you enjoy:
http://tinyurl.com/2mgadn
It’s Richard Dawkins on alternative medicine, and why it’s so vital we stick to evidence.
Does anyone know what is the difference between organic mercury and inorganic mercury.
Thank you,
Organic mercury is grown by hippies, and it costs more.
Proponents of alternative therapies always blather about the dangers of evidence based medicine, yada yada, yada. When they do, they often brink up the risk benefit ratio issue.
Here, there was, and could not be, a benefit. There is no credible evidence that Autism is caused by Thimerosal, lead, aluminum, etc. Therefore, removing these substances cannot have a benefit to the Autistic patient. Since there is NO benefit, there is only risk.
As for your turning away from the Dark Side, and moving toward Neurodiversity, please continue. May the enlightenment be with you.
Lisa
I don’t disagree that biomedical interventions should be approached cautiously and with professional guidance. Nor do I dispute that biomedical interventions do not currently meet evidence based standards as proven effective in treating autism. I was simply commenting on the title of your post and the over generalizing from one tragic incident with one highly questionable form of intervention.
I have not pursued biomedical intervention with my son Conor. I have, thankfully, had some access to ABA (Another intervention frowned upon by ND ideologues) for Conor.
As for your Neurodiversity influence, the Neurodiversity ideology, which is promoted on this site, holds to the view that autism is not a disorder and should not be cured. Surely those beliefs would influence any analysis of the appropriateness of interventions for autism, biomedical or otherwise?
Aw, heck, Harold! I’ve never said that autism isn’t a disorder and shouldn’t be cured – though I am uncomfortable with the perspective that says “normalcy” (whatever that is)should be the goal of all autism treatment. I’m more inclined to support therapies that build on individual strengths, promote a sense of engagement in the world, and improve the ability to communicate.
But of course there are many people on the autism spectrum who are in real pain – physical as well as psychological – and of course those people should be receiving appropriate interventions – biomedical and otherwise! (If I didn’t believe in treating autism, I certainly wouldn’t be including two whole categories on autism treatments on my site!)
One of the problems we obviously face is that autism, as a vast spectrum of disorders, includes such a range of people and symptoms. For some, it really is a difference; for others it’s a major disability.
Mom of a child with autism,
Do you understand the difference between organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry? Organic mercury is found in complex molecules containing carbon and hydrogen. Inorganic mercury exists as a pure metal or in compounds as a salt or more famously as an acid. It was the poisonous effect of the fumes of mercuric acid used in the hat trade that led to the phrase “mad as a hatter.”
I still think Heralblog’s answer was funnier.
I didn’t realize this site was for grim and humorless people.
My son and I both chelate. Me via IV push and my son via IV push and suppositories. I can personally say from direct experience there are tests to indicate heavy metal toxicity, specific chelators used for certain metals, and tests to not only measure metal output, but to monitor liver health during the process. It is done at low levels, over a long period of time. Chelation has been used for decades successfully.
I highly recommend anyone dissmissing the need and/or effectiveness of this protocol do their research. From reading some of the messages already, it is apparent that most of you have not done your homework.
It is tragic what happened to this ONE child, but it doesn’t mean chelation isn’t a valuable treatment for ASD kids, and their mothers, who often have heavy metal burdens as well, as in my case.
There is a D.A.N. Conference October 11-14 in California for those of you who want to actually learn about the chelation process. http://www.danconference.com
Short of direct experince with this procedure, I don’t think anyone has the right to determine that chelation (or the rest of the DAN protocol) is not a valuable or credible treatment for ASD kids.
-Devin’s Mom
“Short of direct experince with this procedure, I don’t think anyone has the right to determine that chelation (or the rest of the DAN protocol) is not a valuable or credible treatment for ASD kids.”
No right? Really? So you’re suspending first amendment rights now?
Let’s please agree to disagree and cease flaming. I’m in the process of deleting the nasty back-and-forth comments, and will continue to do so.
Thanks.
Lisa
Lisa-
It appears the only comments you’ve deleted are the ones from myself and ‘Mom of an Autistic son’, which were only responses to Heralblog’s antagonism. I find most of his comments distracting, but I guess they have been allowed. I’m going to permanently sign off from this weekly enewsletter because I’m not finding them constructive. Heraldblog, enjoy your spotlight.
-Devin’s Mom
Lisa,
You know nothing of Autism! Stop posting. Please! For the sake of all families with affected Loved Ones and for your credibility.
Sincerely,
Elucidatus
I am sick and tired of these on line
“theories saying that autism is genetic or that the biomedical treatments don’t work. I have identical twins and I can tell you without hesitation that treating children with diet DOES WORK!. One of my children is completely recovered undistinguishable from his peers. The psychologist at his school says he no longer qualifies as being atuistic and has no special education whatsoever. Not only that, he is in kindergergen and reads at a second grade level His math is at a fifth grade level. My other twin also reads at a first grade level and math at a fifth grade level. They should not be considered learning disabled in any way. They are smart kids and deserve recognition to the the intelligent children they are because I treated them by removing allergies-gluten and casein and healing their intestine. Pennicilin helps a lot of children too, but not all children can tolerate it. Autism requires individual treatment and there is no pill that will help every child, as chelation is not appropriate for every child. Heavy medication in doses meant for adults is ALSO not appopriate for every child. I’m sorry that you disagree because you are missing an opportunity to heal your children.
hi very nice