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America’s Overmedicated Children – Vera Sherav

AMERICA’S OVERMEDICATED CHILDREN By Vera Sharav YOUTH and MEDICINES in June 1-3, 2005 KILEN: Consumers Institute for Medicines and Health SWEDEN “Forgotten Children” is an investigative report by Carole Keeton Strayhorn,[1] the Texas Comptroller (2004) who uncovered evidence that 60% of children in the Texas foster care system are being…

America’s Overmedicated Children, Presentation by Vera Sharav, Sweden

“Forgotten Children” is an investigative report by Carole Keeton Strayhorn,[1] the Texas Comptroller (2004) who uncovered evidence that 60% of children in the Texas foster care system are being drugged with powerful psychotropic drugs, most of which have not been tested in or approved for use by children. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledges that many of these drugs have serious adverse side effects, both physical and psychological. The Comptroller said she was alarmed that in her review of a single month (November 2003), two powerful antipsychotic drugs — Risperdal and Zyprexa — made up half of the drugs prescribed to foster children in Texas. These two drugs have been approved only for adults for the treatment of psychosis – primarily schizophrenia – yet, she found that children as young as four, were receiving these powerful, mind-altering drugs.

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Mechanical ventilation in ARDS: One size does not fit all – Editorial AJCCM

Fri, 20 May 2005 ARMA was a government-sponsored, $41 million experiment involving 861 critically ill patients with severe lung injury–i.e., acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It has been at the center of continuing debate prompted by revelations that researchers at 14 of the nation’s major medical research institutions comprising the…

The Power of $4 bill Drug Ads: Doctors Respond with Diagnosis & Prescription – WashPost

The Power of $4 bill Drug Ads: Doctors Respond with Diagnosis & Prescription – WashPost Thu, 28 Apr 2005 What does $4 billion dollars in drug advertising buy? The Washington Post reports that a University of Washington study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association confirms the insidious…

Vioxx Fallout: Merck Officials Intervened–NYT / FDA Officials Intervened–Mother Jones

Vioxx Fallout: Merck Officials Intervened–NYT / FDA Officials Intervened–Mother Jones Mon, 25 Apr 2005 Mother Jones and The New York Times focus on the Vioxx fall out–a case that encapsulates the corrupt practices in drug research. Merck and FDA officials intervened to conceal the lethal cardiac effect of Vioxx. Mother…

UK Pharma Association Displaying Acute Anxiety / FDA approves Focalin XR for ADHD

UK Pharma Association Displaying Acute Anxiety / FDA approves Focalin XR for ADHD Tue, 14 Jun 2005 The good news is that British physicians are taking a more cautious approach and cutting down on their prescribing of drugs whose adverse side effects often do more harm than good. But the…

Statement of the AHRP Opposing the SACHRP Children’s Committee Recommendations

THE ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION (AHRP) www.ahrp.org Proposed Changes to Subpart D Regulations Increase Risks to Children in Non-Therapeutic Research Statement of the AHRP Opposing the SACHRP Children’s Committee Recommendations April 18, 2005 The Alliance for Human Research Protection (AHRP) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the question “What…

Statement of the AHRP Opposing the SACHRP Children’s Committee Recommendations

The Alliance for Human Research Protection (AHRP) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the question “What is the Best Way to Protect Children?”

Our recommendation – which is backed up by evidence that children have suffered harm in medical research – is to significantly limit the discretion of IRBs to approve greater than minimal risk research without direct benefit for the child-subjects under 46.406.

We recommend staying the course in requiring that any such proposed experiment undergo a transparent open evaluation with ample opportunity for public oversight and comment – as required under the provisions of 46.407.

Depressing news for GSK

Depressing news for GSK Thu, 14 Apr 2005 A class lawsuit by US investors has been filed against GlaxoSmithKline in the US federal District Court in New York, alleging violation of securities laws. The suit charges GSK issued “false or misleading public statements” about the antidepressant, Paxil (Seroxat). The law…

NY Times Public Advocate: Extra! Extra! Read Not Quite Everything About It!

NY Times Public Advocate: Extra! Extra! Read Not Quite Everything About It! Sun, 10 Apr 2005 The New York Times Public Editor pointed the finger at the Times for its unprofessional journalistic lapses–such as prematurely publishing scoops planted by one of the parties to a dispute. The issue involved complaints…