PSYCHIATRISTS: DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT.www.credence.org

[Guest guest]

Curing the Tiny Terrors

Dr Cosgrove is no ordinary psychiatrist.

He flouts government guidelines, but is unrepentant. He defies

manufacturers' recommendations, but doesn't care.

And Dr Cosgrove's controversial - but entirely legal - services are

in huge demand.

This week's Five Live Report focuses on the private psychiatrist who

has treated over 1500 children, some as young as two, with powerful

anti-psychotic medication not licensed for use on children.

Dr Cosgrove claims " bad genes " cause the behaviour of toddlers to

spiral out of control and has diagnosed all the children as

suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

With at least 73,000 children in the UK being diagnosed with ADHD,

Five Live reporter Esther Armah finds that Dr Cosgrove's legal but

unorthodox services are proving very popular.

Join her as she finds out more about his pioneering use of new drugs

on ADHD children which were developed to treat schizophrenia and

which have been linked to serious heart conditions.

BBC RADIO FIVE LIVE

PHILLIP DAY'S COMMENT: Cosgrove is the drug companies' ideal

psychiatrist. If you are six years of age and can fog a mirror,

there's a psychiatric condition for you and a corresponding drug

with your name on it. Remember, this same 'professional', who has

access to your kids, is the one who uttered in the same Five Live

interview:

" Oh, I do think there ought to be some other body [other than the

GMC] that looks at complaints of psychiatric practice. The current

bodies are only really interested in deaths - particularly under

surgery - and most of the consultants that are reported to these

various bodies happen to be surgeons, simply because they're in a

much more risky position. I guess physicians would come next, but

psychiatrists will always get away with it, because no one can ever

prove that what they did or what they didn't do was responsible for

the patient killing themselves. "

For a full exposé of the abuses of psychiatry, and the real

information on so-called 'mental illnesses', please obtain a copy of

my latest release, The Mind Game. Available through www.credence.org.

PSYCHIATRISTS: DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT.

> Doctor in child drug treatment row to face GMC

>

> TOM CURTIS

> HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

>

> A DOCTOR who used controversial drug treatments on a hyperactive

Scots child could be struck off after being accused of putting

patients' health at risk.

>

> Dr Cosgrove, a leading advocate of medication to curb

hyperactive behaviour, is due to appear before the General Medical

Council tomorrow accused of serious professional misconduct.

>

> The case is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK and

could have important implications both for the treatment of children

with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and for the use

of drugs on patients below the age for which they are licensed.

>

> Cosgrove, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist who runs

a private clinic in Bath, faces five allegations surrounding his

practice. His name could be removed from the medical register if the

GMC, which deals with complaints against doctors in the UK, finds

against him.

>

> The GMC said he was accused of " acting irresponsibly " in his

monitoring of two patients receiving treatment for ADHD.

>

> It is also claimed he failed to provide appropriate advice

regarding a patient's treatment to his GP, failed to conduct an

appropriate examination of a patient and failed, in response to a

request by a mental health NHS trust, to release a patient's medical

records.

>

> In addition, it is alleged that on a number of occasions he

made " unprofessional and unsustainable statements " about other

doctors involved in the treatment of his patients which were " likely

to cast doubt on their knowledge and skills " .

>

> One parent due to give evidence at the hearing in Manchester is

Liz from Glasgow, who said her son was one of

Cosgrove's patients for three years from the age of 10. had

behavioural problems from the age of four but a succession of

doctors in Scotland failed to find either a final diagnosis or an

effective treatment.

>

> said she later realised his symptoms appeared to match

those of ADHD, which makes children constantly fidgety, easily

distracted and impulsive, as well as abusive and sometimes violent.

>

> A support group then put her in touch with Cosgrove, who was

already well-known for treating ADHD patients and has previously

stated that he believes falling crime rates are the result of

tackling the condition with drugs.

>

> claimed Cosgrove diagnosed ADHD within 25 minutes,

without speaking to or examining her son, and immediately gave her a

prescription for Ritalin, a stimulant now in common use to treat the

condition. She said once her son started taking the drug he stopped

eating and sleeping properly, so she contacted Cosgrove again.

>

> She claimed he prescribed a second drug, Risperidone, which is

used to treat schizophrenia. took both drugs for three

years, during which he was initially less disruptive but

claimed he appeared to be " doped up " .

>

> When his behaviour began to deteriorate again, she sought help

from the Overload Network, an Edinburgh-based charity which

campaigns on behalf of ADHD sufferers and their parents.

>

> The organisation recommended received a second opinion

and a psychiatrist in Glasgow weaned her son off both drugs.

>

> Overload then complained to the GMC about Cosgrove in relation

both to and another parent of a hyperactive child he

treated. More than three years after the first complaints, the GMC

eventually decided to convene tomorrow's hearing.

said: " When I first went to see Dr Cosgrove I thought he was a

godsend - the answer to all my prayers.

>

> " I asked if still needed help along with the drugs and he

said he would not need any whatsoever, that these drugs would take

away any of the problems he had been experiencing. Nothing could be

further from the truth. "

>

> She claimed Cosgrove never recommended that had tests to

check how his body was dealing with the medication. Now 17, her son

still has psychological problems, which she believes were masked but

not treated by the drugs.

>

> Janice Hill, of Overload, said she hoped the case would highlight

the need to curb drug treatment for children with psychological

problems.

>

> Overload claims doctors write out prescriptions for Ritalin and

other drugs far too readily, without trying alternative treatments

such as altering diet or behavioural therapy.

>

> US drug company Janssen, which markets Risperidone under the name

Risperdal, says it is indicated for use only in schizophrenia and

manic depression.

>

> It is thought an adverse judgment against Cosgrove could make it

more difficult for psychiatrists to prescribe such drugs " off-label "

in the future.

>

> FOR ADULTS ONLY?

>

> MANY UK doctors routinely give patients under the age of 18

medicines that have been approved only for adults.

>

> Seven out of 10 children prescribed a drug in the UK are given a

substance that has not been officially approved for them, including

psychiatric medicines, hormones, painkillers, sedatives and asthma

treatments.

>

> Growing concern about the issue could see pharmaceutical companies

forced by the European Union to carry out clinical trials to check

that all medicines given to children are suitable for them. New

legislation could be introduced within two years.

>

> The Department of Health said that in hospital intensive-therapy

units up to 90% of children are given a drug which is either not

licensed for them or is supposed to be used in a different dose or

form or given only to older children.

>

> In normal hospital units the figure is between 36% and 67% of

children. Even in GPs' surgeries it is estimated at between 22% and

56%.

>

> The situation has arisen because very few drugs have been through

clinical trials involving children.

>

> On top of the difficulty of getting permission to test on

children, drug companies have little incentive to get involved

because children generally offer only a small market for a medicine.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ©2004 Scotsman.com | contact news feeds

>

>

> Jim - Norman

>

> " Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

> Strauss

>

>

[Guest guest]

Curing the Tiny Terrors

Dr Cosgrove is no ordinary psychiatrist.

He flouts government guidelines, but is unrepentant. He defies

manufacturers' recommendations, but doesn't care.

And Dr Cosgrove's controversial - but entirely legal - services are

in huge demand.

This week's Five Live Report focuses on the private psychiatrist who

has treated over 1500 children, some as young as two, with powerful

anti-psychotic medication not licensed for use on children.

Dr Cosgrove claims " bad genes " cause the behaviour of toddlers to

spiral out of control and has diagnosed all the children as

suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

With at least 73,000 children in the UK being diagnosed with ADHD,

Five Live reporter Esther Armah finds that Dr Cosgrove's legal but

unorthodox services are proving very popular.

Join her as she finds out more about his pioneering use of new drugs

on ADHD children which were developed to treat schizophrenia and

which have been linked to serious heart conditions.

BBC RADIO FIVE LIVE

PHILLIP DAY'S COMMENT: Cosgrove is the drug companies' ideal

psychiatrist. If you are six years of age and can fog a mirror,

there's a psychiatric condition for you and a corresponding drug

with your name on it. Remember, this same 'professional', who has

access to your kids, is the one who uttered in the same Five Live

interview:

" Oh, I do think there ought to be some other body [other than the

GMC] that looks at complaints of psychiatric practice. The current

bodies are only really interested in deaths - particularly under

surgery - and most of the consultants that are reported to these

various bodies happen to be surgeons, simply because they're in a

much more risky position. I guess physicians would come next, but

psychiatrists will always get away with it, because no one can ever

prove that what they did or what they didn't do was responsible for

the patient killing themselves. "

For a full exposé of the abuses of psychiatry, and the real

information on so-called 'mental illnesses', please obtain a copy of

my latest release, The Mind Game. Available through www.credence.org.

PSYCHIATRISTS: DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT.

> Doctor in child drug treatment row to face GMC

>

> TOM CURTIS

> HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

>

> A DOCTOR who used controversial drug treatments on a hyperactive

Scots child could be struck off after being accused of putting

patients' health at risk.

>

> Dr Cosgrove, a leading advocate of medication to curb

hyperactive behaviour, is due to appear before the General Medical

Council tomorrow accused of serious professional misconduct.

>

> The case is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK and

could have important implications both for the treatment of children

with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and for the use

of drugs on patients below the age for which they are licensed.

>

> Cosgrove, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist who runs

a private clinic in Bath, faces five allegations surrounding his

practice. His name could be removed from the medical register if the

GMC, which deals with complaints against doctors in the UK, finds

against him.

>

> The GMC said he was accused of " acting irresponsibly " in his

monitoring of two patients receiving treatment for ADHD.

>

> It is also claimed he failed to provide appropriate advice

regarding a patient's treatment to his GP, failed to conduct an

appropriate examination of a patient and failed, in response to a

request by a mental health NHS trust, to release a patient's medical

records.

>

> In addition, it is alleged that on a number of occasions he

made " unprofessional and unsustainable statements " about other

doctors involved in the treatment of his patients which were " likely

to cast doubt on their knowledge and skills " .

>

> One parent due to give evidence at the hearing in Manchester is

Liz from Glasgow, who said her son was one of

Cosgrove's patients for three years from the age of 10. had

behavioural problems from the age of four but a succession of

doctors in Scotland failed to find either a final diagnosis or an

effective treatment.

>

> said she later realised his symptoms appeared to match

those of ADHD, which makes children constantly fidgety, easily

distracted and impulsive, as well as abusive and sometimes violent.

>

> A support group then put her in touch with Cosgrove, who was

already well-known for treating ADHD patients and has previously

stated that he believes falling crime rates are the result of

tackling the condition with drugs.

>

> claimed Cosgrove diagnosed ADHD within 25 minutes,

without speaking to or examining her son, and immediately gave her a

prescription for Ritalin, a stimulant now in common use to treat the

condition. She said once her son started taking the drug he stopped

eating and sleeping properly, so she contacted Cosgrove again.

>

> She claimed he prescribed a second drug, Risperidone, which is

used to treat schizophrenia. took both drugs for three

years, during which he was initially less disruptive but

claimed he appeared to be " doped up " .

>

> When his behaviour began to deteriorate again, she sought help

from the Overload Network, an Edinburgh-based charity which

campaigns on behalf of ADHD sufferers and their parents.

>

> The organisation recommended received a second opinion

and a psychiatrist in Glasgow weaned her son off both drugs.

>

> Overload then complained to the GMC about Cosgrove in relation

both to and another parent of a hyperactive child he

treated. More than three years after the first complaints, the GMC

eventually decided to convene tomorrow's hearing.

said: " When I first went to see Dr Cosgrove I thought he was a

godsend - the answer to all my prayers.

>

> " I asked if still needed help along with the drugs and he

said he would not need any whatsoever, that these drugs would take

away any of the problems he had been experiencing. Nothing could be

further from the truth. "

>

> She claimed Cosgrove never recommended that had tests to

check how his body was dealing with the medication. Now 17, her son

still has psychological problems, which she believes were masked but

not treated by the drugs.

>

> Janice Hill, of Overload, said she hoped the case would highlight

the need to curb drug treatment for children with psychological

problems.

>

> Overload claims doctors write out prescriptions for Ritalin and

other drugs far too readily, without trying alternative treatments

such as altering diet or behavioural therapy.

>

> US drug company Janssen, which markets Risperidone under the name

Risperdal, says it is indicated for use only in schizophrenia and

manic depression.

>

> It is thought an adverse judgment against Cosgrove could make it

more difficult for psychiatrists to prescribe such drugs " off-label "

in the future.

>

> FOR ADULTS ONLY?

>

> MANY UK doctors routinely give patients under the age of 18

medicines that have been approved only for adults.

>

> Seven out of 10 children prescribed a drug in the UK are given a

substance that has not been officially approved for them, including

psychiatric medicines, hormones, painkillers, sedatives and asthma

treatments.

>

> Growing concern about the issue could see pharmaceutical companies

forced by the European Union to carry out clinical trials to check

that all medicines given to children are suitable for them. New

legislation could be introduced within two years.

>

> The Department of Health said that in hospital intensive-therapy

units up to 90% of children are given a drug which is either not

licensed for them or is supposed to be used in a different dose or

form or given only to older children.

>

> In normal hospital units the figure is between 36% and 67% of

children. Even in GPs' surgeries it is estimated at between 22% and

56%.

>

> The situation has arisen because very few drugs have been through

clinical trials involving children.

>

> On top of the difficulty of getting permission to test on

children, drug companies have little incentive to get involved

because children generally offer only a small market for a medicine.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ©2004 Scotsman.com | contact news feeds

>

>

> Jim - Norman

>

> " Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

> Strauss

>

>

[Guest guest]

Curing the Tiny Terrors

Dr Cosgrove is no ordinary psychiatrist.

He flouts government guidelines, but is unrepentant. He defies

manufacturers' recommendations, but doesn't care.

And Dr Cosgrove's controversial - but entirely legal - services are

in huge demand.

This week's Five Live Report focuses on the private psychiatrist who

has treated over 1500 children, some as young as two, with powerful

anti-psychotic medication not licensed for use on children.

Dr Cosgrove claims " bad genes " cause the behaviour of toddlers to

spiral out of control and has diagnosed all the children as

suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

With at least 73,000 children in the UK being diagnosed with ADHD,

Five Live reporter Esther Armah finds that Dr Cosgrove's legal but

unorthodox services are proving very popular.

Join her as she finds out more about his pioneering use of new drugs

on ADHD children which were developed to treat schizophrenia and

which have been linked to serious heart conditions.

BBC RADIO FIVE LIVE

PHILLIP DAY'S COMMENT: Cosgrove is the drug companies' ideal

psychiatrist. If you are six years of age and can fog a mirror,

there's a psychiatric condition for you and a corresponding drug

with your name on it. Remember, this same 'professional', who has

access to your kids, is the one who uttered in the same Five Live

interview:

" Oh, I do think there ought to be some other body [other than the

GMC] that looks at complaints of psychiatric practice. The current

bodies are only really interested in deaths - particularly under

surgery - and most of the consultants that are reported to these

various bodies happen to be surgeons, simply because they're in a

much more risky position. I guess physicians would come next, but

psychiatrists will always get away with it, because no one can ever

prove that what they did or what they didn't do was responsible for

the patient killing themselves. "

For a full exposé of the abuses of psychiatry, and the real

information on so-called 'mental illnesses', please obtain a copy of

my latest release, The Mind Game. Available through www.credence.org.

PSYCHIATRISTS: DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT.

> Doctor in child drug treatment row to face GMC

>

> TOM CURTIS

> HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

>

> A DOCTOR who used controversial drug treatments on a hyperactive

Scots child could be struck off after being accused of putting

patients' health at risk.

>

> Dr Cosgrove, a leading advocate of medication to curb

hyperactive behaviour, is due to appear before the General Medical

Council tomorrow accused of serious professional misconduct.

>

> The case is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK and

could have important implications both for the treatment of children

with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and for the use

of drugs on patients below the age for which they are licensed.

>

> Cosgrove, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist who runs

a private clinic in Bath, faces five allegations surrounding his

practice. His name could be removed from the medical register if the

GMC, which deals with complaints against doctors in the UK, finds

against him.

>

> The GMC said he was accused of " acting irresponsibly " in his

monitoring of two patients receiving treatment for ADHD.

>

> It is also claimed he failed to provide appropriate advice

regarding a patient's treatment to his GP, failed to conduct an

appropriate examination of a patient and failed, in response to a

request by a mental health NHS trust, to release a patient's medical

records.

>

> In addition, it is alleged that on a number of occasions he

made " unprofessional and unsustainable statements " about other

doctors involved in the treatment of his patients which were " likely

to cast doubt on their knowledge and skills " .

>

> One parent due to give evidence at the hearing in Manchester is

Liz from Glasgow, who said her son was one of

Cosgrove's patients for three years from the age of 10. had

behavioural problems from the age of four but a succession of

doctors in Scotland failed to find either a final diagnosis or an

effective treatment.

>

> said she later realised his symptoms appeared to match

those of ADHD, which makes children constantly fidgety, easily

distracted and impulsive, as well as abusive and sometimes violent.

>

> A support group then put her in touch with Cosgrove, who was

already well-known for treating ADHD patients and has previously

stated that he believes falling crime rates are the result of

tackling the condition with drugs.

>

> claimed Cosgrove diagnosed ADHD within 25 minutes,

without speaking to or examining her son, and immediately gave her a

prescription for Ritalin, a stimulant now in common use to treat the

condition. She said once her son started taking the drug he stopped

eating and sleeping properly, so she contacted Cosgrove again.

>

> She claimed he prescribed a second drug, Risperidone, which is

used to treat schizophrenia. took both drugs for three

years, during which he was initially less disruptive but

claimed he appeared to be " doped up " .

>

> When his behaviour began to deteriorate again, she sought help

from the Overload Network, an Edinburgh-based charity which

campaigns on behalf of ADHD sufferers and their parents.

>

> The organisation recommended received a second opinion

and a psychiatrist in Glasgow weaned her son off both drugs.

>

> Overload then complained to the GMC about Cosgrove in relation

both to and another parent of a hyperactive child he

treated. More than three years after the first complaints, the GMC

eventually decided to convene tomorrow's hearing.

said: " When I first went to see Dr Cosgrove I thought he was a

godsend - the answer to all my prayers.

>

> " I asked if still needed help along with the drugs and he

said he would not need any whatsoever, that these drugs would take

away any of the problems he had been experiencing. Nothing could be

further from the truth. "

>

> She claimed Cosgrove never recommended that had tests to

check how his body was dealing with the medication. Now 17, her son

still has psychological problems, which she believes were masked but

not treated by the drugs.

>

> Janice Hill, of Overload, said she hoped the case would highlight

the need to curb drug treatment for children with psychological

problems.

>

> Overload claims doctors write out prescriptions for Ritalin and

other drugs far too readily, without trying alternative treatments

such as altering diet or behavioural therapy.

>

> US drug company Janssen, which markets Risperidone under the name

Risperdal, says it is indicated for use only in schizophrenia and

manic depression.

>

> It is thought an adverse judgment against Cosgrove could make it

more difficult for psychiatrists to prescribe such drugs " off-label "

in the future.

>

> FOR ADULTS ONLY?

>

> MANY UK doctors routinely give patients under the age of 18

medicines that have been approved only for adults.

>

> Seven out of 10 children prescribed a drug in the UK are given a

substance that has not been officially approved for them, including

psychiatric medicines, hormones, painkillers, sedatives and asthma

treatments.

>

> Growing concern about the issue could see pharmaceutical companies

forced by the European Union to carry out clinical trials to check

that all medicines given to children are suitable for them. New

legislation could be introduced within two years.

>

> The Department of Health said that in hospital intensive-therapy

units up to 90% of children are given a drug which is either not

licensed for them or is supposed to be used in a different dose or

form or given only to older children.

>

> In normal hospital units the figure is between 36% and 67% of

children. Even in GPs' surgeries it is estimated at between 22% and

56%.

>

> The situation has arisen because very few drugs have been through

clinical trials involving children.

>

> On top of the difficulty of getting permission to test on

children, drug companies have little incentive to get involved

because children generally offer only a small market for a medicine.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ©2004 Scotsman.com | contact news feeds

>

>

> Jim - Norman

>

> " Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

> Strauss

>

>

[Guest guest]

Curing the Tiny Terrors

Dr Cosgrove is no ordinary psychiatrist.

He flouts government guidelines, but is unrepentant. He defies

manufacturers' recommendations, but doesn't care.

And Dr Cosgrove's controversial - but entirely legal - services are

in huge demand.

This week's Five Live Report focuses on the private psychiatrist who

has treated over 1500 children, some as young as two, with powerful

anti-psychotic medication not licensed for use on children.

Dr Cosgrove claims " bad genes " cause the behaviour of toddlers to

spiral out of control and has diagnosed all the children as

suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

With at least 73,000 children in the UK being diagnosed with ADHD,

Five Live reporter Esther Armah finds that Dr Cosgrove's legal but

unorthodox services are proving very popular.

Join her as she finds out more about his pioneering use of new drugs

on ADHD children which were developed to treat schizophrenia and

which have been linked to serious heart conditions.

BBC RADIO FIVE LIVE

PHILLIP DAY'S COMMENT: Cosgrove is the drug companies' ideal

psychiatrist. If you are six years of age and can fog a mirror,

there's a psychiatric condition for you and a corresponding drug

with your name on it. Remember, this same 'professional', who has

access to your kids, is the one who uttered in the same Five Live

interview:

" Oh, I do think there ought to be some other body [other than the

GMC] that looks at complaints of psychiatric practice. The current

bodies are only really interested in deaths - particularly under

surgery - and most of the consultants that are reported to these

various bodies happen to be surgeons, simply because they're in a

much more risky position. I guess physicians would come next, but

psychiatrists will always get away with it, because no one can ever

prove that what they did or what they didn't do was responsible for

the patient killing themselves. "

For a full exposé of the abuses of psychiatry, and the real

information on so-called 'mental illnesses', please obtain a copy of

my latest release, The Mind Game. Available through www.credence.org.

PSYCHIATRISTS: DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT.

> Doctor in child drug treatment row to face GMC

>

> TOM CURTIS

> HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

>

> A DOCTOR who used controversial drug treatments on a hyperactive

Scots child could be struck off after being accused of putting

patients' health at risk.

>

> Dr Cosgrove, a leading advocate of medication to curb

hyperactive behaviour, is due to appear before the General Medical

Council tomorrow accused of serious professional misconduct.

>

> The case is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK and

could have important implications both for the treatment of children

with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and for the use

of drugs on patients below the age for which they are licensed.

>

> Cosgrove, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist who runs

a private clinic in Bath, faces five allegations surrounding his

practice. His name could be removed from the medical register if the

GMC, which deals with complaints against doctors in the UK, finds

against him.

>

> The GMC said he was accused of " acting irresponsibly " in his

monitoring of two patients receiving treatment for ADHD.

>

> It is also claimed he failed to provide appropriate advice

regarding a patient's treatment to his GP, failed to conduct an

appropriate examination of a patient and failed, in response to a

request by a mental health NHS trust, to release a patient's medical

records.

>

> In addition, it is alleged that on a number of occasions he

made " unprofessional and unsustainable statements " about other

doctors involved in the treatment of his patients which were " likely

to cast doubt on their knowledge and skills " .

>

> One parent due to give evidence at the hearing in Manchester is

Liz from Glasgow, who said her son was one of

Cosgrove's patients for three years from the age of 10. had

behavioural problems from the age of four but a succession of

doctors in Scotland failed to find either a final diagnosis or an

effective treatment.

>

> said she later realised his symptoms appeared to match

those of ADHD, which makes children constantly fidgety, easily

distracted and impulsive, as well as abusive and sometimes violent.

>

> A support group then put her in touch with Cosgrove, who was

already well-known for treating ADHD patients and has previously

stated that he believes falling crime rates are the result of

tackling the condition with drugs.

>

> claimed Cosgrove diagnosed ADHD within 25 minutes,

without speaking to or examining her son, and immediately gave her a

prescription for Ritalin, a stimulant now in common use to treat the

condition. She said once her son started taking the drug he stopped

eating and sleeping properly, so she contacted Cosgrove again.

>

> She claimed he prescribed a second drug, Risperidone, which is

used to treat schizophrenia. took both drugs for three

years, during which he was initially less disruptive but

claimed he appeared to be " doped up " .

>

> When his behaviour began to deteriorate again, she sought help

from the Overload Network, an Edinburgh-based charity which

campaigns on behalf of ADHD sufferers and their parents.

>

> The organisation recommended received a second opinion

and a psychiatrist in Glasgow weaned her son off both drugs.

>

> Overload then complained to the GMC about Cosgrove in relation

both to and another parent of a hyperactive child he

treated. More than three years after the first complaints, the GMC

eventually decided to convene tomorrow's hearing.

said: " When I first went to see Dr Cosgrove I thought he was a

godsend - the answer to all my prayers.

>

> " I asked if still needed help along with the drugs and he

said he would not need any whatsoever, that these drugs would take

away any of the problems he had been experiencing. Nothing could be

further from the truth. "

>

> She claimed Cosgrove never recommended that had tests to

check how his body was dealing with the medication. Now 17, her son

still has psychological problems, which she believes were masked but

not treated by the drugs.

>

> Janice Hill, of Overload, said she hoped the case would highlight

the need to curb drug treatment for children with psychological

problems.

>

> Overload claims doctors write out prescriptions for Ritalin and

other drugs far too readily, without trying alternative treatments

such as altering diet or behavioural therapy.

>

> US drug company Janssen, which markets Risperidone under the name

Risperdal, says it is indicated for use only in schizophrenia and

manic depression.

>

> It is thought an adverse judgment against Cosgrove could make it

more difficult for psychiatrists to prescribe such drugs " off-label "

in the future.

>

> FOR ADULTS ONLY?

>

> MANY UK doctors routinely give patients under the age of 18

medicines that have been approved only for adults.

>

> Seven out of 10 children prescribed a drug in the UK are given a

substance that has not been officially approved for them, including

psychiatric medicines, hormones, painkillers, sedatives and asthma

treatments.

>

> Growing concern about the issue could see pharmaceutical companies

forced by the European Union to carry out clinical trials to check

that all medicines given to children are suitable for them. New

legislation could be introduced within two years.

>

> The Department of Health said that in hospital intensive-therapy

units up to 90% of children are given a drug which is either not

licensed for them or is supposed to be used in a different dose or

form or given only to older children.

>

> In normal hospital units the figure is between 36% and 67% of

children. Even in GPs' surgeries it is estimated at between 22% and

56%.

>

> The situation has arisen because very few drugs have been through

clinical trials involving children.

>

> On top of the difficulty of getting permission to test on

children, drug companies have little incentive to get involved

because children generally offer only a small market for a medicine.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ©2004 Scotsman.com | contact news feeds

>

>

> Jim - Norman

>

> " Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

> Strauss

>

>