ONE in four children who have been removed from the care of their parents and placed in foster homes are being heavily medicated to control their emotions and behaviour.
Somehow, I have 'fallen' into the role of Advovcate over the years of strife in batting archaic Policy that does not address the best interests of children, thus have come across personal stories of such children. Against the will of natural parents, who come to Government seeking services for children with issues such as severe Autism are pressed to relinquish guardianship on a temporary basis to achieve help. A few months - originally planned - for treatment, turns into indefinite periods. If a child is deemed 'difficult' then medicine is utilized with or without the consent of parents. Some, who have already gone down that road only to find that drugs were not the 'fix' to help the child and that is the reason they are opposed to that treatment. ***Then, there is the little issue of stimulant and type medications (Hey, by the way, I am not anti-med... These can be wonderful aids for some), the problem lies in the distribution of such medicines to children without proper medical follow-up or warning. Prior to beginning any of these meds, children need to have a thorough heart check! How many physicians refer for testing or even advise parents that this can be a deadly combination in a portion of the population who may have an undiagnosed heart condition? All children and athletes should have an ECG AND a heart ultrasound prior to aggressive sports or commencement of stimulant drugs often prescribed for ADHD and other prevelent diagnoses.
Absolutely true...
ReplyDeleteSomehow, I have 'fallen' into the role of Advovcate over the years of strife in batting archaic Policy that does not address the best interests of children, thus have come across personal stories of such children. Against the will of natural parents, who come to Government seeking services for children with issues such as severe Autism are pressed to relinquish guardianship on a temporary basis to achieve help. A few months - originally planned - for treatment, turns into indefinite periods. If a child is deemed 'difficult' then medicine is utilized with or without the consent of parents. Some, who have already gone down that road only to find that drugs were not the 'fix' to help the child and that is the reason they are opposed to that treatment. ***Then, there is the little issue of stimulant and type medications (Hey, by the way, I am not anti-med... These can be wonderful aids for some), the problem lies in the distribution of such medicines to children without proper medical follow-up or warning. Prior to beginning any of these meds, children need to have a thorough heart check! How many physicians refer for testing or even advise parents that this can be a deadly combination in a portion of the population who may have an undiagnosed heart condition? All children and athletes should have an ECG AND a heart ultrasound prior to aggressive sports or commencement of stimulant drugs often prescribed for ADHD and other prevelent diagnoses.