Autistic Children to be guinea pigs? (treatment, mental, medications, evaluation) - - City-Data Forum

citigirl · 06-21-2007, 01:43 PM

Study medication to treat Autism in children (http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/vol/356505925.html - broken link)

The Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences is currently conducting a study to treat Autism. Participants will receive a free psychiatric evaluation, study related labs, and investigational medication to treat Autism.

This was posted on Craigslist. If you have an autistic child you should be outraged!

irishmom · 06-21-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by citigirl

Study medication to treat Autism in children (http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/vol/356505925.html - broken link)

The Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences is currently conducting a study to treat Autism. Participants will receive a free psychiatric evaluation, study related labs, and investigational medication to treat Autism.

This was posted on Craigslist. If you have an autistic child you should be outraged!

Why should you be outraged?

With out study participants there is no way to do research. I would think as a parent of an Autisic child you should be happy that someone is trying to find a therapy for the condition and grateful to those that participate in the study.

skoe · 06-21-2007, 01:57 PM

My son has taken part in studies for ADHD. These are not medication studies. He loves going to them and it feels great knowing we may be helping in some way. I agree with irishmom, how else are they going to do research?

When we found our current doctor he tried our son on 6 different kinds of medications until we found the one he is on now. That was a form of 'study' with meds. There really is no other way. It is so hard to find treatments for kids with disorders I think this is the only way it can be done.

citigirl · 06-21-2007, 01:58 PM

I don't have time right now to go into it but drug companies have been looking for new markets for their psychotropic drugs that have horrible side effects on children

skoe · 06-21-2007, 02:26 PM

There was one drug that was being given for autism, adhd and a few other disorders. My friend had her daughter on it for almost a year. Well, she phoned me one day saying they had to take her off of it immediately by advice of her doctor because the drug was found to cause strokes. The drug company didn't know this until thousands of kids were on the drug already and a few of them had strokes.

That is where the argument of "to drug or not to drug" comes into play. I hate the side effects ritalin may have on my son but there is no other alternative right now. He is either on the medication or has a very poor quality of life. Other parents can bash me for making this decision asking "why would you put your child on a medication that has been known to cause heart problems and stunted growth?", well, until they have walked a mile in my sons shoes they should mind their own business. It does make me mad when other people think they know what is right and have no compassion for people like me who don't want their kid on drugs but have no choice. Do we have to be told over and over how there are bad side effects?

I could also say it is really bad to drive your kids anywhere, we all know the statistics on accidents.

To you it may seem shocking that parents will even consider studies like these but in a lot of cases the parents are desperately trying to help their child and unfortunately have no choice. It is a heart breaking decision so I know they would appreciate the support if not understanding from society.

Read my post on "ADHD isn't going to steal my son" and you will see why we made the heartbreaking decision to medicate even though we knew there are bad side effects of medication.

ADVentive · 06-21-2007, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishmom

Why should you be outraged?

With out study participants there is no way to do research. I would think as a parent of an Autisic child you should be happy that someone is trying to find a therapy for the condition and grateful to those that participate in the study.

I agree. How do you expect them to do studies without subjects? They are voluntary you know. You should be outraged if you are given experimental medications without your consent.

deerislesmile · 06-22-2007, 05:44 AM

Hmm. Have an autistic son, and yet- not outraged. If I lived in WA, I might participate in the study, actually. My son has a disorder that greatly impacts our lives (and his is mild in comparison to others), and I would jump through rings of fire if i thought there was some magic pill that would make him feel better and be able to do so many of the things that his brain holds him back form doing. Some of the medications are going to fail, but that doesn't mean that researchers should stop trying to find some chemical that causes the desired reactions in the brain. I want my son to have a better life than he does now, plain and simple. We work with what we have, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't use better tools if they were offered.

mom2gurls · 06-22-2007, 06:06 AM

Not outraged..but rather applaud the proactive parents who KNOW that there may be risks involved for THEIR OWN CHILD...will still participate so other people THAT THEY DONT EVEN KNOW..may benefit.

Brava to the parents..thank for helping the medical community find a cure.

More people who dont even have a disorder should get involved (donation of blood, marrow and the like)...it doesnt cost anything to be nice in this world.

And they do say "What goes around comes around".

jkmewright · 06-22-2007, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deerislesmile

Hmm. Have an autistic son, and yet- not outraged. If I lived in WA, I might participate in the study, actually. My son has a disorder that greatly impacts our lives (and his is mild in comparison to others), and I would jump through rings of fire if i thought there was some magic pill that would make him feel better and be able to do so many of the things that his brain holds him back form doing. Some of the medications are going to fail, but that doesn't mean that researchers should stop trying to find some chemical that causes the desired reactions in the brain. I want my son to have a better life than he does now, plain and simple. We work with what we have, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't use better tools if they were offered.

Bravo! I have lived w/an autistic child and feel the same way. Like you, I would give anything to improve his quality of life.

BrianH · 06-22-2007, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mom2gurls

More people who dont even have a disorder should get involved (donation of blood, marrow and the like)...it doesnt cost anything to be nice in this world.

And they do say "What goes around comes around".

I agree 100% I gave blood every time I was asked in Ireland, and loved doing it. My company even gave half days to staff who donated.
Since I came stateside I have been unable to. Their excuse was "Mad Cow Disease". The guy even told me that blood donations are down because of the Wars America is in in foreign countries, when the heros come back they get told the same thing I was.

BTW, a test for Mad Cow in humans in coming soon, well, in around 10 years the tech said :S