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Antivaccine nonsense Autism Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Quackery

Justice may yet prevail in the case of Abubakar Nadama

Good news! Dr. Roy Kerry, the quack whose careless use of intravenous chelation therapy for autism resulted in the death of a five year old autistic boy named Abubakar Tariq Nadama, will be charged with involuntary manslaughter:

PITTSBURGH – A doctor was charged with involuntary manslaughter Wednesday for administering a chemical treatment that state police say killed a 5-year-old autistic boy.

The child, Abubakar Tariq Nadama, went into cardiac arrest at Dr. Roy E. Kerry’s office immediately after undergoing chelation therapy on Aug. 23, 2005.

Chelation removes heavy metals from the body and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating acute heavy metal poisoning, but not for treating autism. Some people who believe autism is caused by a mercury-containing preservative once used in vaccines say chelation may also help autistic children.

The boy’s parents had moved from England to the Pittsburgh area to seek treatment for his autism. They have filed a wrongful death suit against Kerry, and the Department of State is trying to revoke his license.

The Department of State has alleged that Kerry prescribed an IV push — meaning the drugs are administered in one dose intravenously — despite warnings that the method could be lethal.

Slippery Rock District Judge Clifford Woessner’s staff confirmed that an arrest warrant was issued for Kerry. It wasn’t immediately clear if police planned to arrest Kerry or mail a summons.

It took two years, but perhaps justice will prevail in this case after all, although no doubt the antivaccinationists who, despite all the evidence otherwise, that thimerosal in vaccines causes autism, will paint Dr. Kerry as a martyr to the cause, “persecuted” by the medical establishment. As I’ve said before, this was about as close to a “clean” kill as one can get. Dr. Kerry is a dangerous quack, and I’m hoping that this prosecution will send a clear and strong message to others treating autistic children with chelation therapy: No more Abubakar Tariq Nadamas.

By Orac

Orac is the nom de blog of a humble surgeon/scientist who has an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his copious verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few probably will. That surgeon is otherwise known as David Gorski.

That this particular surgeon has chosen his nom de blog based on a rather cranky and arrogant computer shaped like a clear box of blinking lights that he originally encountered when he became a fan of a 35 year old British SF television show whose special effects were renowned for their BBC/Doctor Who-style low budget look, but whose stories nonetheless resulted in some of the best, most innovative science fiction ever televised, should tell you nearly all that you need to know about Orac. (That, and the length of the preceding sentence.)

DISCLAIMER:: The various written meanderings here are the opinions of Orac and Orac alone, written on his own time. They should never be construed as representing the opinions of any other person or entity, especially Orac's cancer center, department of surgery, medical school, or university. Also note that Orac is nonpartisan; he is more than willing to criticize the statements of anyone, regardless of of political leanings, if that anyone advocates pseudoscience or quackery. Finally, medical commentary is not to be construed in any way as medical advice.

To contact Orac: [email protected]

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