Autism Groups Call on Congress to Protect Treatment Options for Children with Autism

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PRESS

RELEASE

For Immediate Release:

May 1, 2007

Contact:

Fournier, NAA 877-622-2884

Autism

Groups Call on Congress to Protect Treatment Options for Children with

Autism

Groups Oppose

Draft Legislation Giving FDA Broad Authority to Restrict Access to

Compounded Medicines

WASHINGTON – A coalition of autism organizations today expressed concerns

regarding draft legislation that would restrict or eliminate access to

compounded medicines doctors prescribe to treat children with autism. The

organizations – A-CHAMP, Autism One, the Autism Research Institute, Defeat

Autism Now!, Generation Rescue, Moms Against Mercury, the National Autism

Association, NoMercury, REAACH, SafeMinds, SOAR Autism Network, TACA – Talk

About Curing Autism, US Autism and Asperger Association and Unlocking

Autism – issued a position paper outlining their concerns with the

so-called Safe Drug Compounding Act of 2007. The organizations’ position

statement can be found at www.nationalautismassociation.org.

“As a mother and advocate for children with Autism, I am committed to

ensuring our children have access to safe and effective treatments,” said

Fournier, president of the National Autism Association. “This

legislation would have unintended consequences that would severely limit or

completely deny access to the custom compounded medications that so many

children rely on.”

The organizations’ concerns with the legislation center on the expanded

authority it would give the Food and Drug Administration, which would

restrict the availability of many commonly compounded medicines, some of

which are prescribed to treat children with autism.

“Giving the FDA this kind of broad, unchecked authority is bad for

patients,” said J. Krakow, president of A-CHAMP. “The FDA’s current

track record on food and safety overall is deplorable. Its track record on

protecting children with autism is even worse. The FDA needs to do a better

job protecting patients and consumers under existing authority before it

can be trusted to take on more.”

" We have an absolute epidemic of autism in this country,” said

Representative Dan Burton (R-Indiana). “Parents and doctors are struggling

to find appropriate treatments options; and I personally believe that

Congress has a responsibility to make sure that children with autism and

their families receive the help that they need. Any legislation that

unnecessarily limits medical treatment options is, in my opinion, deeply

troubling, and potentially dangerous and should be opposed. "

The groups will hold a conference call for reporters on Tuesday, May 1 at

11:00 AM EST. To participate, dial 800-351-4895, passcode: Autism.

For more information, visit www.nationalautismassociation.org.

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