Chelation death raises debate

[Guest guest]

Death raises debate

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/regional/s_411262.html

By Keat

or

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

/Saturday, January 7, 2006/

A new ruling that a controversial drug therapy for autistic children was

responsible for the death of a

5-year-old Monroeville boy is likely to intensify debates about the

treatment's safety and effectiveness.

The County Coroner's Office ruled that Abubakar Nadama suffered

cardiac arrest because of an injection of EDTA, a chelation therapy drug

administered to him in October by Dr. Roy E. Kerry at the Advanced

Integrative Medicine Center in Portersville.

Chelation treatment is designed to rid the body of heavy metals.

Therapy supporters believe autism can be caused by heavy metal

toxicity, particularly from mercury once used in a preservative in

childhood vaccinations.

That assertion has been refuted scientifically, said Dr. Myers, an

autism expert who specializes in neurodevelopmental pediatrics at

Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Montour County. The U.S. Food and

Drug Administration has approved chelation for treatment of heavy metal

poisoning, but not to treat autism.

" The people who don't believe in bio-medical approaches are going to

say the kid was murdered, that the doctor should have his license

revoked, " said Waeltermann, founder and director of the

Pittsburgh-based national support group AutismLink. " And the people that

do believe in it are going to say it's one isolated case, this doesn't

prove anything. "

The County District Attorney's Office said a coroner's inquest will

be scheduled to determine if criminal charges are warranted.

Nadama's family could not be reached for comment. Kerry declined to

comment.

Allegheny County Deputy Coroner Ed Strimian, who performed the

autopsy on Nadama, said there is a direct correlation between the

EDTA and the lack of oxygen to the brain and the heart muscle damage.

Myers said it is the first case he knows of in which chelation was

directly linked to the death of an autistic person. He hopes Nadama's

death and the coroner's ruling will serve as a warning.

" These are big stakes. This should have an impact, " Myers said. " It should

send a message to physicians who are prescribing this type of treatment

that something like this can happen. "

Some supporters of the treatment aren't phased by the coroner's ruling.

Marla Green, of Lower Burrell, said her autistic son has been taking

a " natural " oral spray form of chelation therapy for two years.

" We're still comfortable with what we're doing, " she said. " We're under

strict doctor's care and we follow up and test him and check him. "

Dan Hollenbeck, of Pine, said his autistic son benefitted significantly

from chelation therapy, and, " The other parents in the community who have

tried chelation reported very positive results. "

" One child dying from chelation therapy is very unfortunate, but medical

treatments are inherently risky, " he said. " It will remain a popular

therapy. "

Though she is unconvinced as to the safety and usefulness of chelation

therapy, Waeltermann said parents are drawn to it by testimonials from

people who say their children have been helped or even cured by it.

" I don't think parents should be beat up for wanting the best for their

kids, " she said. " When you see something that offers some hope and

somebody's telling you 'I've done it and it works,' you want to try it. "

*

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