Re: Parents Coerced into Drugging their Kids//MEDICINE RUN AMOK!

In article <[email hidden]>, Rich Winkel says...

Quoted message said:

http://ablechild.org/press%20release/when%20the%20state%20takes%20your%20child%2012-4-03.htm

December 4, 2003

Press Release
Contact Information:
Patricia Weathers, President
(845) 677-8115
Sheila Matthews, National Vice President
(203) 966-8419

When the State Takes Your Child

The Asplunds nightmare began when Chucky was eleven and the school
diagnosed their son as emotionally disturbed and ADHD. The State
took custody of Chucky when the Asplund family refused to administer
behavioral drugs to their son. Chucky Asplund spent March 16, 2000
to August 24, 2001 in State Custody. As Ward of the State, the
State of Connecticut administered four drugs: Welbutrin, Haldol,
Ativan, Risperidal; drugs not FDA approved for use in children.

The Asplund have requested that Representative Hetherington on the
Program Review Committee in the State of Connecticut investigate
the current policies regarding children mandated into State care,
as well as what the Asplunds believe is their participation in
clinical drug trials without proper informed consent. Overall, the
Asplund are seeking accountability and a full investigation by the
State into the amount of children on behavioral drugs with little
or no oversight.

I believe my son, Chucky, was used in a clinical drug trial for
Welbutrin. The doctor told me they needed children for the drug
trial. I never wanted him on any of the drugs. I never gave my
informed consent. My child was trapped in the system and we had
no say, said Lynn Asplund.

The result was that the State of Connecticut released Chucky from
the Department of Family Services in March of last year. Lynn
Asplund asserts that she will stand firm and fight this outrage;
one that she believes violated her and her childs civil rights.

I plan on fighting back now that my son is home! We have a right
to know if he was used in a clinical drug trial. We have to protect
our children from this kind of abuse. Our hope is that Chuckys
ordeal will prevent children that are mandated into State care from
being used as human guinea pigs in clinical drug trials or from
being forced into taking drugs against their parents wishes, Lynn
Asplund said.

The Asplunds fight to regain custody of their son took them in front
of the State Legislature to pass the first State law of its kind
to prohibit schools from recommending behavioral drugs for children
and the removal of a child from their home based solely on the fact
that the parents refuse to administer these behavioral drugs.
Currently six other States have follow Connecticut s example and
passed similar laws. Another 13 have some form of legislation
pending or resolutions in place. This clearly demonstrates that
the problem is nationwide.

This crisis and outcry from parents has prompted the Federal
government to take action by introducing this year The Child
Medication Safety Act. This act is an anti-coercion bill stating
that schools cannot coerce parents to medicate their children as a
requisite for attending school. This bill passed the House of
Representatives 425 to 1 and is currently pending in a Senate
committee. The overall goal is that this bill will protect all
children in all States from being forced into behavioral drug use.

For more information on The Child Medication Safety Act or statistics
by State of parents coming forward with similar cases, visit
www.ablechild.org.