'ART' Autistic Rights Together Press Release regarding abusive Autism Treatments.
We are currently campaigning on a worldwide level to help bring an end to the many abusive treatments being given to Autistic people.
Many of these so called 'Treatments' are unlicensed and unproven to be of any benefit to Autistic people, indeed many have serious and dangerous side effects on an individual's health and wellbeing.
We find it unacceptable that in 2015 society is allowing Autistic children and adults to be experimented on with these dangerous unproven treatments, that the marketing of and profiting from the sale of such 'treatments' continues to grow while completely unregulated by the authorities all around the world.
One of the worst of these treatments is MMS/CD, which is 'Chlorine Dioxide' in essence a toxic bleach solution deemed unfit for human consumption by the HPRA, FDA and many other authorities.
MMS is being administered to Autistic children and adults orally, via inhalation, baths and via invasive painful bleach enemas under the guise of a cure called the CD Protocol.
Autistic children and adults are suffering serious side effects such as vomiting, fevers, diarrhoea, weight loss, internal bleeding, low blood pressure, low sodium levels, burns on skin, hair loss, loss of bowel control due frequent ongoing enemas. The list goes on. We can only imagine what the long term internal damage will be.
Let us not forget the horrendous psychological truama, the fear and isolation as these children are kept hidden away as parents must keep this abusive treatment hidden from schools and the authorities.
Many of these children have been directly removed from school because of this MMS/CD protocol.
We know MMS/CD is used in over sixty Countries worldwide including Ireland and the UK.
We are also actively campaigning to bring other abusive unlicensed treatments under regulation.
Procedures such as:
• Chelation
• HBOT(Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy)
• Stem Cell Therapy
• Lupron therapy
• Immune Globulin Therapy
• GcMAF
• Secretin Therapy
• Nicotine Patch Therapy
• Marijuana Therapy
• Methyl B 12 injections Therapy
• Antifungal Agent Therapy
• Tran cranial Magnetic Stimulation
unfortunately there are many more.
Parents are seen as easy prey with those offering, administering and selling these treatments making massive profits.
Below is a brief description of some of the treatment already mentioned:
Antifungal Agent Therapy:
Some people believe that bacteria in the gut cause autism, and since antifungal medications can eliminate bacteria they believe they can simultaneously cure autism. There is no evidence to support any antifungal agent as an autism cure. Importantly, treating children with antifungal agents is potentially harmful; possible side effects include itching, irritation, burning, diarrhoea, stomach pain, and skin rashes. Some antifungal treatments, including Diflucan, Sporanox, Lamisil, and Nizoral, are absorbed in the body and can impede liver functioning over time.
Chelation:
Chelation therapy involves administering chemicals designed to bind to heavy metals and eliminate them from the body. Chelating agents have a legitimate use in the treatment of poisoning from lead, mercury and other metals. There is no evidence that supports chelation as a safe treatment alternative because autism is not caused by metal poisoning. In 2005, an Autistic died from chelation therapy, when the chelating agent bonded with calcium in his body and caused his heart to stop. No paper published in the peer-reviewed literature has reported abnormal levels of mercury in individuals with Autism. Moreover, symptoms of mercury poisoning are unlike symptoms of autism, making chelation an impractical way to improve symptoms.
Lupron Therapy:
Lupron is a testosterone-inhibiting drug used in the treatment of precocious puberty (which is rare) and prostate cancer, as well as for the “chemical castration” of sex offenders. Its use for autism is based on the hypothesis that testosterone magnifies the toxic effects of mercury (see above). There is no evidence that Lupron is safe or effective for the treatment of autism. In addition, it can have harmful side effects including hives, difficulty breathing/ swallowing, numbness, tingling, weakness, painful or difficult urination, blood in the urine, bone pain, testicular pain and osteoporosis.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT):
HBOT has been proven effective for treatment of gangrene, carbon monoxide poisoning, “the bends” and various other conditions related to oxygen in blood. There is no evidence to support Autism as an insufficiency of oxygen in the blood. Evidence also fails to support HBOT as safe or effective for the treatment of autism. Furthermore, the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen delivered in a soft-shelled chamber are no different than with a less expensive oxygen tent, or nasal cannula.
Gluten Free-Casein Free (GFCF) Diet:
Those who promote gluten (protein found in wheat, rye, and barley products) and casein (protein found in dairy products) free diets claim that children with autism have "leaky guts" that allow opioids to escape into the bloodstream and then travel to the brain and cause autistic behaviors. There is no evidence for this claim, and studies have found that compared to typically developing children, Autistic children have no more opioids in their blood. Furthermore, children on the GFCF diet have been found to have lower bone density than controls, which could lead to osteoporosis. A large-scale study of the safety and efficacy of the GFCF diet indicated that children on the diet had similar outcomes to those who were not on the diet.
Stem Cell Therapy:
Stem cell therapy for Autism is illegal in the United States, but that hasn’t stopped some from offering this as a treatment for Autism in Costa Rica, China, and other countries. There is no evidence that the treatment is safe or effective for autism, and no guarantee that the stem cells used in these countries are even human.
Secretin Injections:
Secretin is a hormone that controls digestion. It is currently prepared from pigs as a synthetic human form is not available. The FDA has approved use of single doses of secretin in diagnosing gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers or impaired pancreatic function in adults, but it has not formally approved the hormone for autism treatment. No data exists on the safety or efficacy of repeated doses of secretin or its use in children. In a report, the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development states that the efficacy of secretin as an Autism treatment is currently unknown.
Vitamin Supplements:
It is important to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. To achieve this goal, healthcare providers may recommend nutritional supplements to people with and without autism. Use of supplements can be problematic however, when they are misused in an attempt to cure an individual of autism. There is no scientific evidence suggesting that vitamin supplements can cure autism. Using supplements without consulting a healthcare provider can be dangerous. Some supplements (e.g., vitamin A) can be toxic when taken in high doses for sustained periods; others may not contain what they claim.
Raw Camel Milk:
Raw camel milk has been alleged to cure autism-related ills with benefits ranging from improved eye contact and motor skills to decreased inflammation. Although it may be nutritious, there is no scientific research that upholds claims that raw camel milk is an autism “cure-all.”
Marijuana Therapy:
Marijuana is an illicit drug whose use as an Autism treatment is neither medically nor scientifically supported. Reported short-term side effects of marijuana use include distorted perception; impaired coordination; and impaired thinking, problem solving, learning and memory. Long-term marijuana use has been associated with decreased learning abilities, increased risk of respiratory diseases associated with smoking, and decreased motivation.
Nicotine Patch Therapy:
Research studies have uncovered abnormalities in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brains of people with autism, and some scientists have posited that core symptoms of Autism could be attributed to these alterations. Some findings specifically indicate a shortage of these receptors, leading some to believe that stimulating or increasing these receptors could eliminate Autism symptoms. Proponents of nicotine patch use in individuals with Autism believe that the nicotine released into the body from the patch activates and upregulates receptors, and thereby reduces Autism symptoms. Despite having a rationale that is based on scientific findings, use of this treatment is not supported by scientific evidence. No clinical trials have demonstrated that nicotine patches are safe or effective in the treatment of Autism. Common side effects reported in clinical studies evaluating safety and efficacy of the patches include skin irritation; sleep problems, including insomnia and nightmares; headaches, indigestion, and nervousness.
Bleach Therapy/MMS:
In bleach therapy, an individual with Autism is given a diluted form of bleach orally or through an enema in an attempt to cure their symptoms. Bleach doses are given repeatedly; supporters of this treatment have recommended that children drink the bleach mixture up to eight times per day or receive an enema up to three times per week. The rationale for the treatment is that bleach can eliminate bacteria, parasites, yeast, and heavy metals and consequently eliminate Autism symptoms. This treatment has been widely denounced for the harm it can cause as well as its complete lack of scientific basis. Ingesting bleach can lead to severe fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and other complications.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation:
TMS is a procedure in which magnetic fields are used to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to enhance or reduce certain functions. TMS is currently used to treat mental illnesses, including depression and schizophrenia. The most commonly reported short-term side effects include headaches and scalp discomfort. Therapeutic TMS is relatively new so long-term side effects, if any, are unknown. Investigations into the efficacy of TMS as an Autism treatment are currently underway, but presently there is no evidence to support its use.
The Biomedical Autism treatment industry has grown into a monstrously rich minefield of quackery.
The Irish Government has yet to enact the Autism Bill, it has been three years since the Bill was drawn up and still today it lays waiting at the committee stage. As a consequence we have no laws in place to protect the Autistic Community.
We have brought these issues to the attention of the government many times yet still there is no appetite for action.
Autistic Rights Together call on the government to bring in urgent legislation to regulate and outlaw these unlicensed, unsafe treatments! All Autism treatments must be fully regulated and deemed safe and beneficial before they can be marketed to the public.
ART have also reached out to many Autism organisations on this issue and sadly we have had little support, we call on these organisations to act now to support the rights of the Autistic Community!
Autistic people are entitled to the same rights and protections as every other Irish citizen. The fact is, that in 2015 people are freely allowed to force toxic substances into their Autistic children! What does this say about us as a modern inclusive society?
