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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Coyoacan · 28/04/2018 21:01

As for the toxins stuff, I haven't watched the whole of your link, but so far haven't seen homeopathy offered as a solution

You obviously didn't even click on my link or you would have realised that it is a radio programme.

Lilymossflower · 28/04/2018 21:17

:'(

Mymouthgetsmeintrouble · 28/04/2018 21:24

Why would people do this crap

2andcountingtodate · 28/04/2018 21:58

Terrible. One thing that can be done is if someone is touting that they can treat medicinally, they can be reported to the MHRA.

Original poster
hipposarerad · 28/04/2018 22:29

Rainydaydog, yes that's my point - children are being harmed and it shouldn't be allowed.

My diagnosed ds2 and ds1 who is awaiting assessment are high functioning. I am not interested in a cure, but I am interested in giving them tools and strategies to navigate life comfortably (as comfortably as possible at least) and find happiness. I have read of other families who describe the daily distress and struggle of their loved ones who have said they would be interested in a cure. Their experience is different to mine, and although I instinctively react against the notion of a cure I can't speak for everyone.

2accounting - thanks for that info about the MHRA, I'll bear it in mind.

OP posts:
Original poster
hipposarerad · 28/04/2018 23:13

I found this petition, started by Emma Delamayne. I've only just found out about her campaign so I'm going to read up on her work now.

www.change.org/p/phillip-dunne-make-autistic-cures-illegal-in-the-uk?recruiter=45050591&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition

I've also received a reply to my tweet from someone who blogs about UK Homeopathy regulation with this link

ukhomeopathyregulation.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/the-society-of-homeopaths-fruits-of.html

OP posts:
Gilead · 29/04/2018 00:19

Coyo a typo. Homeopathy is a placebo, nothing more and has nothing to do with Autism.

Coyoacan · 29/04/2018 00:38

Homeopathy is a placebo

Ergo, it is child abuse to give children placebos

Bloody hell. You lot are so brainwashed that you can't even get your arguments straight.

Gilead · 29/04/2018 01:15

Coyo, it's called peddling false hope. It's a con and that's abusive. Claiming you can cure something that can't be cured with a wee bit of sugar and lactose is a con. There is absolutely no peer reviewed evidence stating that homeopathy is effective in any way other than as a placebo; it therefore seems unlikely that we're the ones that are brainwashed...

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 29/04/2018 04:30

coyo as the person going on about toxins, ironnically in defence of Homopathy, something that autistic people can be very very sensitive to is well Lactose, so yes giving some one with a sensitivity Lactose and sugar delibately might be seen as at the very least conterproductive, if not fucking stupid,

Coyoacan · 29/04/2018 04:53

What I read in the article was that no-one was claiming it was a cure.

I live in a country where homeopathy is very well respected. It is taught as a medical degree at university and at least a third of the population use it as their go-to medicine. But you are so sure of yourself, Gilead, and I am sure you have never ever visited a properly qualified homeopath or bothered to think about anything very much.

For your information the radio programme I gave the link to was a BBC programme, not talking about either homeopathy or autism, but relevant at the same time. You thought you were very clever pretending that you had watched it, didn't you?

Snappymcsnappy · 29/04/2018 05:06

Are we sure it's homeopathy...?

Only homeopathy doesn't usually cause any negative side effects at all, inducing diarrhoea and the like sounds very unhomeopathic.
The remedies are very gentle, if non believers are correct nothing more than water in fact!

For what it's worth, I have a lot of respect for homeopathy, just because we can't understand HOW something could possibly work doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't.
It was the only thing to cure my daughter within days after conventional medicine failed and worsened the condition for weeks.
There are too many people who conventional medicine failed and made remarkable recovery on homeopathy to call placebo.

Placebo also doesn't really wash when dealing with animals, like mange ridden foxes who also often miraculously recover.

Mummyoflittledragon · 29/04/2018 06:03

It is reported the child, who was on the high vit C seemed as though “his autism almost disappeared”. The very fact that the child’s symptoms could be alleviated by a treatment, which helped but was not sustainable surely proves a point that toxicity plays a part in this particular child’s autism, doesn’t it?

2andcountingtodate · 29/04/2018 09:12

Did the aurism appear to 'get better' though because the side effects made the child drained, tired and ill?

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 29/04/2018 09:25

proves a point that toxicity plays a part in this particular child’s autism, doesn’t it?

No because autism is not caused by toxins its a neurological devolopment condition, toxins jave nothing to do with it.

Its more likely to be co incidence, or that feeling unwell was making his autism seem worse because he couldnt express things. I know when im tired of unwell i flap more, im more sensory senative, i tend to end up in bed with two duvets over my head with no sound or light, its not because of toxins, its cos i feel unwell, so this little boy might have had an upset stomach the diarea elivated that so he didnt seem so overwhelmed

Smeddum · 29/04/2018 09:26

It’s interesting that the views of people who are autistic aren’t being heard or listened to in this isn’t it?

Because unless you are actually autistic, or your autistic child has said they want a cure, you’ve no right at all to call for one. It’s that simple.

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 29/04/2018 09:27

coyo the group advocating it is called the complete erdivation of autism spectrum expressions, they are toutimg this as cure

Gilead · 29/04/2018 10:09

Coyo I have a brother and a sister both of whom are qualified homeopaths. My brother used to lecture on homeopathy in Europe. He still uses it for his family. His choice. My sister saw that scientifically a pill that has nothing added to it cannot do anything. Yes, I'm very sure of myself; I have done the necessary research as I was (before retirement) part of a ASC diagnostic team. I am Autistic myself as are my children.
There is not a cure for Autism. Some of us don't want a cure. We are wired differently and that is just fine, thank you.

Gilead · 29/04/2018 10:10

Because unless you are actually autistic, or your autistic child has said they want a cure, you’ve no right at all to call for one. It’s that simple.
Star Flowers

Vinorosso74 · 29/04/2018 10:21

I read that article yesterday and I was disgusted this is going on in 2018! People scamming parents of autistic children like this shouldn't be allowed.
I don't know enough about ASD but surely these families need support not fake cures for something which isn't an illness?

Smeddum · 29/04/2018 10:24

@Gilead I was expecting a flaming for that comment, so thank you Smile

It makes me very uncomfortable when non autistic voices are heard over autistic voices and are the ones considered most.

I would be prepared to stake my house on bleach enemas never being used on a child by an autistic parent, or other batshit “cures”.

The amount of media coverage, ideas, strategies and tv programmes professing to know about autism that never actually ask an autistic person or group of autistic people what we think is staggering.

The assumption that the benchmark for autism being “managed” is being able to pass for NT is hugely offensive as well. We are not wrong, we are not aberrations, we are autistic.

UpstartCrow · 29/04/2018 10:35

The very fact that the child’s symptoms could be alleviated by a treatment, which helped but was not sustainable surely proves a point that toxicity plays a part in this particular child’s autism, doesn’t it?

No it doesn't. Behaviour in children can be influenced by the expectations and attitudes of the parents. If a parent is disappointed by their child's autism, or deafness, or whatever - it will show.
If the parents expect 'better' (whatever that is) behaviour they can get it by changing their attitude towards the child.

Davros · 29/04/2018 11:09

It makes me very uncomfortable when non autistic voices are heard over autistic voices and are the ones considered most
While I agree with that somewhat, we do have a problem with "higher functioning" or Asperger voices being heard over "lower functioning" or Kanner's people. The media has become almost totally representative of one part of the community

Gilead · 29/04/2018 11:17

Davros, there are people in the community with Kanner Autism who are able and do speak out. As a parent, I had to make informed choices for my children, they now make those choices; this is possible for many people with Kanner autism too if we as a society work to ensure their voices are heard. At the moment though, we don't which is why those of us with the ability speak as part of the community.