Re: Boy Dies from Forced School Drugging

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

Quoted message said:

http://ablechild.org/press%20release/press2.htm

Father whose son died due to coerced psychiatric drugging in school,
testifies in support of Michigan House Bill 4025

My sons death should urge lawmakers to support informed consent and
the right to refuse the coerced psychiatric drugging of children
in our public schools.

On March 21, 2000, Matthew Smith, 14, died from a heart attack while
skateboarding. The coroner determined his death was caused by the
long-term use of the stimulant forcibly prescribed to him through
the school.

It all started for Matthew in the first grade, when the school
social worker kept calling us in for meetings, complaining that
Matthew was fidgeting and easily distracted, said Lawrence Smith.
She told my wife and I that if we wouldn't consider drugging our
son, after the school had diagnosed him with Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), that we could be charged for neglecting
his educational and emotional needs. After also being told that the
stimulant was safe and effective, the Smiths acceded to the pressure.

On March 25th 2003, Mr. Smith testified before the Michigan State
Legislature in support of House Bill 4025, which would prohibit
school personnel from making a psychological diagnosis of a child
and would also prohibit school personnel from recommending psychotropic
drugs for any child.

Smith states, The violation of parents rights occurs when they are
not informed about the unscientific nature of so-called disorders
such as ADHD or the risks of the drugs prescribed to treat their
children. Not one more family should have to undergo the tragedy
that mine has suffered, due to schools coercing parents to drug
their child.

"If we hadn't been pressured by the school system, Matthew would
still be alive today," says Mr. Smith. "I cannot go back and change
things for us at this point. However, I can speak out against the
injustice to my family and families across the nation who are being
coerced into drugging their children, in the hopes that legislators
will enact safeguards for parents rights."

Reports of parents being threatened with medical neglect or child
expulsion, have prompted several states to enact state laws prohibiting
school personnel from recommending drugs and reinforcing a parents
right to refuse drug treatment. Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota
and Virginia have passed such laws over the past two years. Since
2003, 15 more states have introduced similar laws, including Hawaii,
Texas, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi,
New Hampshire, New York, Michigan, Vermont and West Virginia.

A federal bill, The Child Medication and Safety Act, has also been
introduced in Congress.

Lawrence Smith can be contacted at [email hidden]