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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think this is child abuse

153 replies

hipposarerad · 28/04/2018 15:59

www.theguardian.com/society/2018/apr/27/more-than-120-homeopaths-trying-to-cure-autism-in-uk

Homeopaths are offering a treatment which involves inducing diarrhoea, fever and other symptoms in autistic children order for them to eliminate 'toxins' and 'vaccine damage' in a bid to 'cure' autism. They advocate not doing anything to alleviate the effects of the treatment (which includes higher than recommended dose of vit C, among other claptrap).

I have never had much respect for homeopathy, but have thought that if people want to spend their money on placebo then fine, it's their money. But this is another level of disingenuity and exploitation.

I've tweeted this to the NSPCC, I hope they respond to me with their thoughts.

I'm feeling very upset by this. Am I, as parent to autistic children, being oversensitive? Is this OK?

OP posts:
SusanWalker · 28/04/2018 18:06

I totally agree with you. My son does not need curing. He's just fine as he is. The only thing that needs 'curing' is the attitude that people with autism should aim to come across to other people as if they were not autistic.

If my son had had proper understanding and support in primary school he would not have had the behavioural issues and poor mental health he is now recovering from.

Yes I'm talking to you if you were one of his teachers who said he needed to fit in better and that extra help would stop him learning how to be like everyone else. Tough love were the words used I think. And the suggestion that I should never tell him what he had so he couldn't use it as an excuse.

Sorry bit ranty there. But the whole thing makes me so cross.

NeverTooOldForAnything · 28/04/2018 17:55

It is absolutely disgusting that people are making money with these "cures".

And it is extremely worrying that people like that contribute to spreading nonsense about vaccination ; because of them we are seeing the return of diseases that should have been eradicated a long time ago AngrySad

Original poster
hipposarerad · 28/04/2018 17:31

I'm nodding in agreement with all of you.

I've retweeted my own tweet with a bit of a nudge to NSPCC (I don't use twitter much so I might not be hash tagging effectively - I'm doing my best though).

I've also sent a Facebook message to National Autistic Society to get their thoughts - I'm going to ask if some pressure can be put on lawmakers to do something about a) all this 'cures bullshit in general and b) these charlatans who are making kids suffer.

OP posts:
farangatang · 28/04/2018 17:18

This is horrific stuff! Positively superstitious and medieval.

and yes, bordering on child abuse.

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 28/04/2018 17:10

Tbh any "cure" for autism os child abuse

But fuck me what the actual fuck is this thing about curing and erdicating it anh way, if you talked that way about any other dusablity people would be horified!
Yet here we are with a group thats so open "complete edradication of autism". Its frieghtening sorry but it is. Maybe im biased, being autistic myself but, reading stuff like this makes me feel inwelcome in society that we should all be eradicated.

So it's a bit like the cures for when someone catches The Gay?*

This is actally a good comparison i think, all these conversion theapies for gay people read ABA for autistic people, cures for being gay and autistic.

You talk to most people now about those "gay cures" and they would go really cant believe we thought like that, yet its accepted and promoted when it comes to autism.

It upsets me

UpstartCrow · 28/04/2018 17:09

If these kids were dogs, this would be illegal. They are protected by the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

Its not just the quacks who are abusive, is it. It's also the parents who expose their children to this kind of treatment. I cant see how its legal for anyone other than a doctor to diagnose and treat a child.

DGRossetti · 28/04/2018 17:09

Sounds dangerously close to the "exorcisms" performed by some religious nutters (which have killed children all over the world).

BruceFoxton · 28/04/2018 17:05

Dan do you mean how does it work medically or how does it work in parting people from their cash

DanFmDorking · 28/04/2018 17:03

How does homeopathy work?

GrannyGrissle · 28/04/2018 16:58

So it's a bit like the cures for when someone catches The Gay?

Anniegetyourgun · 28/04/2018 16:52

Wow, that's like exorcism or something. Evil charlatans.

Notevilstepmother · 28/04/2018 16:47

It’s dreadful.

KitKat1985 · 28/04/2018 16:47

YANBU OP. It should be illegal.

Smeddum · 28/04/2018 16:33

As an autistic woman and the mother of 3 autistic children I find the peddling of cures very disturbing. As if we are somehow wrong and shouldn’t be here.

TypingoftheDead · 28/04/2018 16:31

I'm on the spectrum myself, not on the severe end but yeah, this BS makes me feel sick and incredibly angry. It's disturbing on so many levels.

Original poster
hipposarerad · 28/04/2018 16:28

Thanks for the unanimous (so far) responses. I knew I wasn't BU, I just wanted to share with you all in case you weren't aware.
If I hear back from the NSPCC I'll update here.

OP posts:
dayinlifeof · 28/04/2018 16:26

As I saw on Twitter, surely 1 millionth of a homeopath would be more effective?

I use homeopathy myself and have found it to be great for some conditions but things like autism certainly would not be something that I even began to consider homeopathy for and tend to think that the homeopaths promoting it for autism are, perhaps, approaching charlatan territory.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 28/04/2018 16:23

Appalling.

mumeeee · 28/04/2018 16:21

I agree it is abuse and pointless. You can't cure autism and it's not caused by toxins in the body

Uniglo18 · 28/04/2018 16:20

I had someone trying to peddle me a mumbo jumbo cure involving essential oils for my dc who have autism. She tried to imply that it was caused by vaccines which I shut down by stating that it was hereditary in my case. She had nothing more to say but it concerns me that people are trying to get rich quick on the back of desperate parents. Who wouldn't pay money to rid their child of a debilitating neurological condition. Any parent would but sadly there is no cure for it, just management techniques.

LoislovesStewie · 28/04/2018 16:19

I agree with you; it is very upsetting that some people think that autism is curable anyway, and some of the cures ( so called) are in my opinion abuse. Someone should be prosecuted for advocating such measures.( And then forced to take the so called cure)

Original poster
hipposarerad · 28/04/2018 16:12

Thanks for the clicking link DailyMail - a competent MNer!

OP posts:
Original poster
hipposarerad · 28/04/2018 16:10

Still perpetuating the autism-vaccine 'link' too. Pinkbicycles, I agree that anyone offering a 'cure' needs to be stopped.

What can be done though? A petition maybe, but there are a lot of petitions for various things floating around and I'm not sure if they do any good.

OP posts:
HermioneWeasley · 28/04/2018 16:10

How is that legal?

DailyMailDontStealMyThread · 28/04/2018 16:05

www.theguardian.com/society/2018/apr/27/more-than-120-homeopaths-trying-to-cure-autism-in-uk

Utter bollocks Angry

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