A few days ago I received a copy of the Complaint (lawsuit) filed in US District Court in Washington, DC, against the United States Government, the Department of Defense, Tricare Management Activity, and Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates. You can read the Complaint HERE. Most of the letters cited in the complaint can be found in the Documents section here on Autism Salutes (scroll down on the left side).

As a parent who worked on and continually wrote about what was happening with the legislative efforts mentioned in the Complaint, I have been very aware for years that the reason the DoD set up the ECHO program the way they did was to avoid paying for the expensive therapy that benefit our children with autism.

Since the Complaint was filed in US District Court, TRICARE Management Activity issued a letter on June 30, 2010, to the CEO’s of all its’ contractor’s, one of which is Humana. You can read the letter HERE. The letter stated that TMA was reviewing its policy on whether or not they would provide ABA under the basic Tricare program and that they expected to have this review completed by September 20, 2010. The letter also stated the contractor’s for TMA were to hold in abeyance until the review was completed; claims filed and authorization requests, for ABA. That means NO MORE DENIAL LETTERS for claims or authorization requests are to be SENT until the review is complete. Keep in mind, the letter from TMA was issued June 30^th. On July 8, 2010, a denial letter was issued by one of TMA’s healthcare contractor’s. There will be more to come on that topic later.

All I can think of after reading the Complaint is that what the DoD has gotten away with, for YEARS, is criminal. There has been a complete lack of “checks and balances”. I’ll tell you honestly, I think the DoD under estimated military spouses and members who have spoken up to bring this about. I also think they have under estimated parents of children with autism across the ranks, and when I say that I mean those in the civilian world as well. We don’t put up with perfidy, and we certainly don’t tolerate crimes against humanity, which is exactly what has been committed by the DoD, and against CHILDREN! Military dependent children to start with; as a good friend of mine stated in a comment post the other day, “the genie is out of the bottle”.

I am of the belief that those in government who have not supported our military families who have dependents with autism, these two “gentlemen” (pictured to the left), and the CEO’s of the healthcare contractor’s for TMA, should all be brought up on UCMJ charges or the civilian equivalent of such. Should this happen, they should each be sentenced to one year in the Brig or Prison for each child they; denied a claim for, denied an authorization for, and the number of years collectively that a child was not able to access ABA under their “ECHO” program because providers were not available because of their failure to obey the Federal Code of regulations. Essentially, a life sentence in the Brig for each of them, because that’s what they’ve done to countless children. No chance for parole. Not a one.

They all have been willing to leave our kids in the prison that autism is; why do “they” deserve any less? “They” broke Federal Laws to avoid paying to help our kids.

Yes, indeed, the genie is out of the bottle. And this time, there is no more smoke screen, and the letter from TMA to the contractor’s was nothing more than that.

It does not feel good to bring a lawsuit against the very country and government that you took an oath to serve and protect, and knowing that to uphold that oath might possibly come at the expense of your own life. On the flip side, our families, who take the oath to serve and protect this great country, expect our government to provide the medical care and family supports that our families require to, uphold our oath to serve and protect our great nation.

In spite of the lack of medical care and family supports our men and women in uniform have upheld their oath. In spite of the lack of medical care and family supports our spouses have held down the home fronts. We have upheld our end of the oath and in doing so we all have paid a heavy price, but none heavier than the price our children have paid. Over the years I have spoken with many service members who have been wounded in action; “wounded warriors’. Every single one of them has told me that what they have endured pales in comparison to what our children with autism endure. Our government has failed to provide medical care and our military dependent children with autism have been the ones left laying wounded on the battlefield. The very government we swore to protect could care less, and we have simply had enough!

In the summer of 2005, TRICARE implemented the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) Program, and acceptance into this program is the only way a military dependent child with autism can receive medically necessary Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Keep in mind the child must be accepted into this program and that determination is made by someone sitting behind a desk that has never met, let alone examined, your child. If your child is accepted into ECHO, there is no guarantee that they will receive ABA as the child’s program must be run and/or overseen by a BCBA or a BCABA who is a TRICARE provider. We all know BCBA’s and BCABA’s are in high demand and short supply. To top all this off, TRICARE capped the annual benefit for ABA at $36,000. Retiree’s dependents are not eligible for ECHO, nor are those not on active duty, in the Guard and Reserve even though they are in most cases eligible to receive basic TRICARE benefits or have the option to purchase them as one would regular health insurance.

On June 24, 2010 I received a letter  (BELOW) put forth by Mantese, Honigman, Rossman & Williamson P.C. I’ve been waiting a very long time to see this come about for our military dependent children with autism. What far too many don’t understand is that yes, on paper, our kids have the ABA benefit, but what most don’t realize is that consistently over the past five years, less than 10% of dependents with autism are enrolled in ECHO because of a laborious enrollment process, and confused people charged with not only getting the information out, but the enrollment process as well.

My feeling, simply speaking as a parent, is that TRICARE is just fine with that. It lowers their expenses by decreasing paid claims, and increases their bottom line. That makes the Department of Defense happy because we all know that no one wants to pay for medically necessary care related to autism. If you read the letter sent to military families from the Attorney’s BELOW you will see that the DoD claims that TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) “has not made a formal policy determination as to whether ABA services might be covered as a Basic [Tricare] Program medical benefit”.

Like I said, I’m just speaking as a parent, and one who has had a few conversations of her own with the General quoted in the letter from the Attorney’s, but I cannot think of any way to make a more formal statement than DoD and TMA already have. TMA has clearly stated, in their Policy Manual for YEARS, that ABA is only available as a “special education benefit” through acceptance into the ECHO Program, which is completely separate from the basic TRICARE benefits. Any change to the TMA Policy Manual must be done through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and that requires legislation  being passed typically in both the House and  Senate and then the House and Senate versions are essentially meshed to provide something everyone is happy with that the President then signs into law. This happens every year; it is how we got an increase of $2,500 a month to $36,000 a year for ABA, and exactly why we have continually asked Congressional leaders to, introduce and get passed, language that would move the ABA treatment under the basic TRICARE program, and do away with the annual cap. Forgive my sarcastic and somewhat jaded tone, but puhleeeze… The DoD just wants the Berge case dismissed because if it is, then the DoD won’t face the risk of having to compensate military families for what they should have been providing all along, which is access to medically necessary treatment for autism without the discrimination of the ECHO Program, equal access for Retiree’s dependents, and the option for Guard and Reserve to access these benefits as well.

There are four affidavits available for you to review (BELOW); one for spouse’s of active duty members, one for spouse’s of retiree’s, one for active duty members, and one for retired members. If you can truthfully attest to and sign one of these affidavits, please do so and return it by July 5, 2010, to:

Brendan Frye, Esq.

Mantese, Honigman, Rossman, and Williamson, P.C.

1361 E. Big Beaver

Troy, MI 48083

Or email it to: bfrey@manteselaw.com

The Department of Defense has already had an opportunity to correct this situation, multiple opportunities in fact, and the same is true for Tricare Management Activity. This is an opportunity for all military families who have dependents with autism to have their voices heard on behalf of all our children. As a parent who has lived this nightmare and been contacted by so many who have lived the same, at this point, I would trust a judge before I would trust the DoD and TMA. DoD and TMA left my boys on the battlefield. I had to go retrieve them on my own.

Disclosure: I have no idea if our family will be included in the class action, but hell yes I am signing the active duty spouse affidavit. I was made aware of this situation because I have been involved in the legislation pertaining to the issues for almost 3 years, and my son went without medical care in the form of ABA for 3 years due to TMA and DoD policies.

About the author of this article:

Angela Warner is an Air Force spouse and mom to four children under the age of 11. Her older two children are recovering from autism. Angela is the Military Contributing Editor for Age of Autism, the DoD Liaison for SafeMinds, and one of Autism One’s Liaison’s for Military Families.

MANTESE HONIGMAN ROSSMAN & WILLIAMSON, P.C.

ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS

Re:      Berge v. United States of America, U.S. Department of Defense, TRICARE Management Activity, and Robert M. Gates.

Dear Military Family:

I am an attorney representing Kenneth Berge, a retired Master Sergeant who served his country honorably in the U.S. Air Force, Dawn Berge, and their child with autism. The Berges have filed a putative class action lawsuit on behalf of all military families, both active duty and retired, seeking TRICARE Basic health benefit payments for all medically necessary Applied Behavior Analysis therapy for children with autism. We allege that payment of these benefits is required pursuant to the Military Health Benefits statue and that the Department of Defense and TRICARE Management Activity have wrongfully denied these benefits to retired TRICARE beneficiaries and have wrongfully capped these benefits at $36,000 for active duty TRICARE beneficiaries. The case is currently pending in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

We allege that benefits for ABA therapy have been wrongfully denied and/or capped for TRICARE beneficiaries because the Department of Defense has determined, in the words of former TRICARE Deputy Director, Major General Elder Granger, that “ABA therapy is an educational, as opposed to a medical benefit, and as such, is available only under” the Extended Care Health Option that has a $36,000 cap and is only available to active duty service members. However, in response to the Complaint we filed in United States District Court, the Department of Defense claims that “‘TMA has not made a formal policy determination as to whether ABA services might be covered’ as a Basic Program medical benefit.” The Department of Defense is seeking to dismiss the Berge’s case on this basis, for reconsideration by TMA.

If you have a child with autism for which you have filed a claim with TRICARE for ABA therapy benefits, we hope you will be able to assist our efforts by signing one of the attached affidavits. The purpose of the affidavits is to show the judge that TMA has already made an official policy determination that it has applied uniformly to deny and/or cap ABA therapy benefits, remand of the case is futile, and the Judge should decide the

MANTESE HONIGMAN ROSSMAN & WILLIAMSON, P.C.

ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS

Military Family June 24, 2010 Page 2

question of whether ABA therapy is a medically necessary benefit that TRICARE is required to cover under the TRICARE Basic program. The attached affidavits are substantially similar; however, one is for retired TRICARE beneficiaries and the other is for active duty service members. If you can truthfully attest to the facts contained in one of the affidavits, please be sure to sign the correct version and return it to me either by e-mail atbfrey@manteselaw.com. or by mail at:

Brendan Frey, Esq.

E MAIL CORRESPONDANCE:

Mantese Honigman Rossman and Williamson, P.C.

1361 E. Big Beaver Road

Troy, Michigan 48083

We are shocked that the Department of Defense claims that it denied and/or capped ABA therapy benefits for countless families without actually deciding the question of whether ABA therapy is available as a TRICARE Basic health benefit, and we imagine you are too. We are pushing forward with this case and we hope that our efforts will bring relief in the near future for all military families who have children with autism. If our case is certified as a class action and we prevail on the merits, all military families who have children with autism and who have been wrongfully denied ABA therapy benefits may be entitled to payment for benefits that were previously denied.

This is an urgent matter. We would like to receive the signed affidavits by no later than Monday July 5^th, 2010. If you can truthfully sign one of the affidavits please do so and return it to me as soon as possible.

Very truly yours,

MANTESE HONIGMAN ROSSMAN AND WILLIAMSON, P.C.

Attorneys for the Berge family

Brendan H. Frey

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

AFFIDAVITS:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SPOUSE/ACTIVE DUTY

AFFIDAVIT OF ___________________­­­_______

1.         I have personal knowledge of the following facts, and if sworn as a witness, I would be competent to testify thereto.

2.         My spouse is an active duty member of a United States Armed Service.

3.         I have a child with autism.

4.         My family and I, including my child with autism, are eligible for TRICARE Basic health benefits.

5.         I have previously filed a claim with, and/or requested authorization from TRICARE Management Activity or one of its contractors for payment toward Applied Behavior Analysis (“ABA”) therapy for my child with autism.

6.         I was informed that ABA therapy is only a covered benefit under the Extended Care Health Option, and is therefore subject to a $36,000 annual cap.

7.         Upon information and belief, any failure or delay in receiving the medically necessary number of hours of ABA therapy will probably have catastrophic developmental, emotional, and/or cognitive consequences for my child with autism.

I declare, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing matters are true and correct, and that I have personal knowledge of such matters:

Executed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, on this ___ day of _______, 2010.

________________________________

Signature

________________________________

Print Name

______________________________                 ________________________________

Mailing Address                                                       E-mail Address

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SPOUSE RETIREE

AFFIDAVIT OF ___________________­­­_______

1.         I have personal knowledge of the following facts, and if sworn as a witness, I would be competent to testify thereto.

2.         My spouse is a retiree of a United States Armed Service.

3.         I have a child with autism.

4.         My family and I, including my child with autism, are eligible for TRICARE Basic health benefits.

5.         I have previously filed a claim with, and/or requested authorization from TRICARE Management Activity or one of its contractors for payment toward Applied Behavior Analysis (“ABA”) therapy for my child with autism.

6.         I was informed that ABA therapy is only a covered benefit under the Extended Care Health Option, which is only available to active duty service members, and therefore my child with autism is ineligible for ABA therapy benefit payments.

7.         Upon information and belief, any failure or delay in receiving the medically necessary number of hours of ABA therapy will probably have catastrophic developmental, emotional, and/or cognitive consequences for my child with autism.

I declare, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing matters are true and correct, and that I have personal knowledge of such matters:

Executed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, on this ___ day of _______, 2010.

________________________________

Signature

________________________________

Print Name

___________________________________  ______________________________________

Mailing Address                                           E-mail Address

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACTIVE DUTY:

AFFIDAVIT OF ___________________­­­_______

1.         I have personal knowledge of the following facts, and if sworn as a witness, I would be competent to testify thereto.

2.         I am an active duty member of a United States Armed Service.

3.         I have a child with autism.

4.         My dependants and I, including my child with autism, are eligible for TRICARE Basic health benefits.

5.         I have previously filed a claim with, and/or requested authorization from TRICARE Management Activity or one of its contractors for payment toward Applied Behavior Analysis (“ABA”) therapy for my child with autism.

6.         I was informed that ABA therapy is only a covered benefit under the Extended Care Health Option, and is therefore subject to a $36,000 annual cap.

7.         Upon information and belief, any failure or delay in receiving the medically necessary number of hours of ABA therapy will probably have catastrophic developmental, emotional, and/or cognitive consequences for my child with autism.

I declare, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing matters are true and correct, and that I have personal knowledge of such matters:

Executed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, on this ___ day of _______, 2010.

________________________________

Signature

________________________________

Print Name

______________________________                 ________________________________

Mailing Address                                                       E-mail Address

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RETIREE:

AFFIDAVIT OF ___________________­­­_______

1.         I have personal knowledge of the following facts, and if sworn as a witness, I would be competent to testify thereto.

2.         I am a retiree of a United States Armed Service.

3.         I have a child with autism.

4.         My dependants and I, including my child with autism, are eligible for TRICARE Basic health benefits.

5.         I have previously filed a claim with, and/or requested authorization from TRICARE Management Activity or one of its contractors for payment toward Applied Behavior Analysis (“ABA”) therapy for my child with autism.

6.         I was informed that ABA therapy is only a covered benefit under the Extended Care Health Option, which is only available to active duty service members, and therefore my child with autism is ineligible for ABA therapy benefit payments.

7.         Upon information and belief, any failure or delay in receiving the medically necessary number of hours of ABA therapy will probably have catastrophic developmental, emotional, and/or cognitive consequences for my child with autism.

I declare, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing matters are true and correct, and that I have personal knowledge of such matters:

Executed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, on this ___ day of _______, 2010.

________________________________

Signature

________________________________

Print Name

___________________________________  ______________________________________

Mailing Address                                           E-mail Address

By Shane “The People’s Chemist” Ellison

EDITOR’S NOTE: We at ATO are incredibly honored to have Shane Ellison submitting an article for the website. We will soon be posting the review for Shane’s newest best-selling book: Over the Counter Natural Cures. I will say this: EVERY SINGLE HOME ON THIS PLANET SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THIS BOOK! Every medical student should also have to read this book prior to the inculcation and brain washing that so many of them are subjected to in our universities worldwide! Also: look for my Linderman LIVE! radio interviews with Shane Ellison at the www.autismone.org  radio archives!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chad was a Marine Scout Sniper who served two tours in Iraq. Upon being honorably discharged as a Sgt. in 2007, he summoned the courage to ask for help in dealing with the images and emotions that gnawed on him from being dropped into combat. Like so many of his peers, the help he was given was “meds.” Although Chad was used to putting his life at risk, he never expected that his life would be more directly threatened by the “treatment” he was offered—psychiatric drugs.

After a single day of “following doctor’s orders,” Chad felt things were starting to look up.  He seemed to be more cognizant, and the weight of daily struggles was lifted. But, as he describes it, things “quickly flip-flopped.”

“As time passed, I began changing into someone I wasn’t. Once a focused, motivated sniper, my reaction time became stagnant. My thought process became dry and lethargic, while my independence drifted. I became unable to make decisions on my own and reluctantly found myself relying on others in ways I had never done before. I had become a sort of medicated drone. All emotion turned into apathy and I found myself lackadaisical and eventually felt meaningless. That’s where it got really bad for me, and it’s hard to talk about now…. It was as if my brain chemistry went whack.”

This bleak scenario is becoming all too common for today’s military. The psychiatric death threat is becoming riskier than combat.  In 2010, Time magazine reported that, “During the month of January, more soldiers committed suicide than were killed by enemy fire in Afghanistan and Iraq combined.” Mystified by the death toll among troops, Army Chief of Staff George Casey said that, “The fact of the matter is, we just don’t know why suicides have increased.”

A group of U.S. Senators have finally raised concern that the use of antidepressants and other prescription drugs are on the rise in the military, particularly among troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.   The U.S. FDA has warned these drugs can cause worsening depression, mania, psychosis, suicidal and homicidal ideation.   Senator Jim Webb, D-Va., who led the recent Senate Armed Services Committee’s hearing in Washington, said the apparent increase in prescription drugs is “on its face, pretty astounding and troubling.”  In fact, Department of Defense statistics show that from 2005 to 2008, there was a 400 percent increase in the prescription of antidepressants and other drugs used to treat anxiety.  And a 2007 Army report showed that about 12 percent of combat troops in Iraq and 17 percent of those in Afghanistan were taking antidepressants or sleeping pills.

The suicide trend is not inexplicable, and must be highlighted if troops like Chad are to be saved from the psychiatric death threat. Like the loss of power to a car that results from a broken fuse, mental circuitry is shut off with each and every dose of psychiatric medication. The latest cloning techniques and laboratory methods show this to be the result of “neurotransmitter hijacking,” which scrambles brain circuitry, leaving users like Chad feeling “dry and lethargic,” in times of deep emotional turmoil.

Once neurotransmitter hijacking takes place, users become fully under the spell of psychiatry. The brain can become so scrambled that all normal reality and reason are overwritten by a new confusing and violent agenda. A new personality arises—one with homicidal and suicidal tendencies. Commenting on the biochemical fiasco, CNN publicized that, “Antidepressant drugs actually create a perilous brain imbalance.” Chad barely escaped.

“Rebounding on and off the drugs, I reached the darkest point in my life, strangely enough at home. I packed up my ghillie suit—the same thing I used to camouflage myself as a sniper in enemy territory—and hiked into the wilderness late at night, where no one would find me.  I held my .45 cal pistol while attempting the unspeakable…many things raced through my mind, and at the forefront were feelings of worthlessness and my inability to relate to anyone, even myself. As a combat decorated Marine, it’s not something I’m proud of. But it’s a reality that seems to be more common among my peers, and it’s scary as hell.… To this day, I’m not sure what stopped me, probably an act of God. I walked backed vowing to reclaim my life – with everything I had.  And, since my mental health declined so drastically since getting on the meds, I felt that getting off them was the first place to start.”

No doubt, combat leads to emotional stress beyond what the rest of us can concede.  Listening to the combat experience of Chad paints painful images in my own mind. It’s no wonder indelible scars are left on the minds of our troops. And rather than help them cope, they are literally being drugged to death in a large-scale experiment that goes ignored. Former military psychiatrist, Dr. Grace Jackson, substantiated this stating that, “It’s really a large-scale experiment. We are experimenting with changing people’s cognition and behavior.”

Once off the drugs, Chad’s escape came from getting back to basics—really basic. He starts each day with rigorous exercise and ends it with a deep sleep, induced by L-tryptophan and valerian. His diet is fortified with whey isolate twice per day with meals that consist of unprocessed foods. Sugar and alcohol have been reduced to an absolute minimum. Sauna treatments are regular, and real therapy comes from writing and talking to others who share his experience, as well as giving back in the form of support. He knows his story is only “one of thousands” and that other veterans need help.

Today, Chad has earned his bachelor’s degree—with honors—in a record 2.5 years. At the same time, he founded a Veterans center, which serves as a hub at his Alma Mater to offer support in all matters that relate to being a vet. And when he can, he helps others heed his warning about the military death threat: “Psychiatrists under contract with the Veteran Affairs—in my opinion—are legal drug dealers who almost took my life.”

About the Author

Shane Ellison is the bestselling author of Over-The-Counter Natural Cures and holds a masters degree in drug design (organic chemistry).  He is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his studies in biochemistry and physiology.  He has been quoted by USA Today, Shape, Woman’s World, as well as Women’s Health and has served as a guest speaker for large corporations like BP.  You can find his work anywhere books are sold or http://www.amazon.com

After returning from the Persian Gulf War, another veteran “developed [flu-like] symptoms, with fever, aching joints, and swollen lymph nodes. During the next three years [his health progressively deteriorated]. He became unsteady on his feet and increasingly tired. He suffered frequent headaches and often became disoriented, losing his way home from [familiar locations]. Today, he uses a wheelchair to get around, can’t work, drive, open a soft drink can, or stay awake long enough to read a book.”(104)

A naval reservist developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma (cancer) after returning from a six-month tour of duty in the Persian Gulf. He has since documented 86 lymphomas among fellow soldiers.(105)

A few months later the true extent of Gulf War damage was revealed. Little by little the facts seeped into public view. Nearly 43,000 Gulf War veterans are stricken with debilitating illnesses: bleeding rashes, gums, and sinuses; muscle aches, swollen joints, chronic fatigue, diarrhea, hair loss, severe headaches, and memory loss. Also, over time the symptoms tend to become more acute. Many vets are now confined to wheelchairs and hospital beds.(106,107)

“This is an epidemic.
This is absolutely comparable to AIDS.”

In addition, the syndrome appears to be contagious. Many veterans, their spouses, and scientists believe it can be passed through sex or sweat, or through the air. Apparently, veterans’ wives and their unborn babies are being damaged as well. According to Michigan Senator Donald Riegel, Jr., of the 600 vets his office surveyed, 77 percent say their spouses have the symptoms, 65 percent say their postwar babies are damaged, and 25 percent report that their children born before the war have new debilitating illnesses as well. According to one medical researcher, “This is an epidemic. This is absolutely comparable to AIDS.”(108)

Many Gulf War couples also report that they are no longer able to make love. Intercourse causes the women to experience immediate abdominal cramping and intense burning sensations, as though their genitals were being torched. For many, their labias crack and bleed. Also, the semen burns both husband and wife within minutes of contact with skin. It causes open sores — blisters that bleed.(109)
Many Gulf War families are being advised against pregnancy. Babies are being born with extra toes and fingers, undeveloped lungs, and missing body parts. One child was born with an oversized umbilical cord that wrapped around his body six times, nearly strangling him. This child appears to be developmentally delayed and exhibits other debilitating symptoms similar to his father’s. Another child was born without a thyroid gland. She also has dozens of tumors all over her body and inside her mouth. Still another child has intermittent vaginal bleeding.(110)

One Gulf War spouse had two miscarriages in the year after her husband’s return. She complains of headaches, rashes, and frequent vaginal infections. In a third pregnancy, a son was delivered two months premature. The child required three months of intensive care and numerous painful operations. He now has vision and hearing problems, a lung ailment, and cerebral palsy. This woman has subsequently miscarried again.(111)

Another Gulf War spouse has lumps, rashes, and cysts throughout her body. Her skull is thinning, threatening to destroy her brain. She has splitting headaches and painful genital infections. Their son is sick as well.(112)

The Cause: Although speculation on the roots of this dilemma ranged from pesticides and burning oil wells to undetected Iraqi nerve gases, it appears that American troops are the only ones suffering. The ailment is largely unheard of in British, Canadian, Saudi, and Iraqi soldiers.(113) Even though the media refrained from implicating vaccines as a potential cause, it awoke the country to a national dilemma: how to support our vets who unquestionably served their country.

On May 6, 1994 — 10 full days before the first stories began to circulate — the truth was told. In an opening statement at a hearing before the Senate Committee on Veteran’s Affairs, Senator John D. Rockefeller IV shared with members of the committee the results of his extensive investigation into the roots of the problem. Here are a few excerpts from that meeting:

OPENING STATEMENT
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, Chair
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
United States Senate

Is Military Research Hazardous to Veterans’ Health?
Lessons from the Cold War, the Persian Gulf, and Today

“A few months ago, Americans were shocked to learn that our government had intentionally exposed thousands of U.S. citizens to radiation without their knowledge or consent. Although many of us expressed horror at the apparently unethical behavior of our government, we were all relieved to hear that such experiments had been stopped long ago.

“We’d like to think that these kinds of abuses are a thing of the past, but the legacy continues. During the Persian Gulf War, hundreds of thousands of soldiers were given experimental vaccines and drugs, and today we will hear evidence that these medical products could be causing many of the ‘mysterious illnesses’ those veterans are now experiencing.

“Today’s hearing will examine the results of an intensive 6-month investigation conducted by Committee staff. The investigation focuses on Persian Gulf War veterans, but extends from World War II-era veterans to the present.

“The results of our investigation showed a reckless disregard that shocked me, and I think they will shock all Americans. The use of investigational drugs in the Persian Gulf is especially troublesome. The Pentagon…threw caution to the winds, ignoring all warnings of potential harm, and gave these drugs to hundreds of thousands of soldiers with virtually no warnings and no safeguards.

“If that wasn’t bad enough, they administered these drugs and vaccines in such a way that there is a very good chance they wouldn’t have even worked for the intended purpose. They would not have protected most soldiers from chemical or biological warfare.

“These are strong statements and I don’t make them lightly.

“The situation is unfair from start to finish. It begins with soldiers who are asked to participate in research, to take experimental drugs, but are not told what the risks are before, during, or after.

“Then, information about the exposures is not included in soldiers’ medical records, putting them at even greater risk. And, when these soldiers leave the service and become veterans, the VA lacks information about the exposures, and about any resulting illnesses, making it more difficult to help them.

“Finally, when these veterans become ill, they are unable to get the medical records and other information they need in order to prove that their illnesses are related to military service.

“This situation is unacceptable.”(114)

Senator Rockefeller credited his information to an extensive investigation conducted by Committee staff. Here are excerpts from their discoveries:

PRELIMINARY STAFF FINDINGS

Is Military Research Hazardous to Veterans’ Health?
Lessons from the Persian Gulf

INTRODUCTION

“For more then 50 years, hundreds of thousands of military personnel have been involved in human experimentation and other intentional exposures conducted by the Department of Defense (DoD), often without soldiers’ knowledge or consent. Our May 6, 1994, hearing examines the extent to which these exposures endangered individuals who are now veterans, and explores the implications for soldiers and veterans today…

“U.S. troops [in the Persian Gulf War] were intentionally exposed to investigational drugs and vaccines… In still other cases, soldiers were exposed to biological agents or other dangerous substances that DoD was studying; the goal was to study the substances, not their effect on humans…

“Some of the studies that have been conducted had more questionable motives. For example, DoD now admits they conducted ‘Man Break’ tests, exposing soldiers to chemical weapons in order to determine how much was necessary to ‘break a man.’ Similarly, DoD admits that they subjected hundreds/thousands of soldiers to hallucinogens without their knowledge or consent, in an effort to determine how incapacitating those substances could be. Most Americans would agree that the use of soldiers as guinea pigs in experiments that were designed to harm them…is not ethical.

“These experiences put hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops at risk, and may have caused lasting harm to many individuals.

“In this report, we will examine how decisions made by DoD regarding the use of investigational drugs and vaccines in the Persian Gulf War were based on inadequate information and in some cases by ignoring evidence that soldiers would be harmed unnecessarily. We will also discuss how the DoD’s failure to provide medical treatment or information to soldiers was unjustifiable, unethical, sometimes illegal, and caused unnecessary suffering.

“In addition, information about the use of these investigational drugs and vaccines, and adverse reactions that resulted, usually were not included in soldiers’ medical records. As a result, veterans who became ill following the use of these medical products are often unable to prove that their illness or disability was related to their military service.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

“A few months ago, Americans were shocked to learn that federal agencies intentionally exposed thousands of U.S. citizens to radiation without their knowledge or consent. Although many Americans expressed horror at the apparently unethical behavior of the federal government, many believed such experiments occurred in a bygone era with less stringent ethical standards.

“Post-Holocaust Standards of Research: The Nuremberg Code is a 10-point declaration governing human experimentation which was developed in response to the inhumane experiments conducted by Nazi scientists and physicians. The Code states that voluntary and informed consent is absolutely essential at al times, wartime included. Additionally, current law prevents funds appropriated to the Department of Defense from being used for research involving a human being as an experimental subject unless the informed consent of the subject is obtained in advance…

“The Nuremberg Code should have guided the experiments whereby LSD and other hallucinogens were given to military servicemen in the 1950s without their knowledge or consent; however, those studies were kept secret until the mid-70s. Similarly, the Nuremberg Code should have prevented hundreds of radiation experiments that several federal agencies conducted on thousands of soldiers, veterans, and civilians during the Cold War without their knowledge or consent; however, those studies continued for years and were never made public until a few months ago.

INVESTIGATIONAL DRUGS AND VACCINES
IN THE PERSIAN GULF

“Under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, all vaccines and medical products must be proven safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to be sold and distributed in the United States.

DoD/FDA Agreements to Waive Informed Consent
for Investigational Drugs During the Persian Gulf War

“In August 1990, DoD contacted FDA to review regulatory restrictions on DoD’s plan to use pyridostigmine and botulism vaccine for U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf. According to minutes of the meeting, ‘FDA expressed some concern about liability and the need to comply with the regulations,’ and Dr. Peck, FDA’s Deputy Director for Drug Review, `pointed out the need to establish an appropriate investigational framework to collect observational data and evaluate the military medical products in question.’

“The major focus of the meeting was informed consent. In summary, DoD did not want to abide by informed consent regulations, and FDA officials pointed out that pyridostigmine and botulism vaccine were investigational and that there are laws regulating how they can be used. DoD claimed that they had the authority to `dictate the use of unapproved FDA regulated products’ in the Persian Gulf, but they would prefer to obtain a waiver from FDA.

“The issue was debated by the two agencies for several months. Finally, at a meeting on December 31, 1990, it appeared that an agreement was reached. DoD officials agreed that the vaccine would be administered by trained individuals with a health care background, and that information would be provided orally ‘at minimum, and in written form if feasible, to all personnel receiving the vaccine.’ DoD officials said the feasibility of distributing an information sheet would depend on many factors, and would vary from location within the military theater of operation. DoD officials ‘reiterated that at least verbal information would be provided to each person receiving the vaccine.’ The FDA Informed Consent Waiver Review Group recommended that pregnant women be excluded from receiving the vaccine and that information about the vaccine be ‘posted at places where vaccine is administered.’ However, DoD argued that pregnant women would be at greater risk from exposure to botulism toxins than to the vaccine, and FDA agreed that instead of excluding pregnant women, a statement would be added to the recipient information stating that, ‘If you are pregnant, it is not known if this vaccine will hurt the unborn baby, however, most vaccines do not.

“Despite these agreements between FDA and DoD, and DoD’s official subsequent decision to administer the vaccine voluntarily, many PGW veterans claim that they were not told what vaccine they were being given, or what the risks were, either orally or in writing. Many report that they were told not to tell medical personnel that they had received a vaccination, even if the vaccination caused pain or swelling. No record of the vaccine was available in medical records; as a result, physicians who were concerned about any local or systemic reactions were uninformed about the possible causes. Veterans who claim they were harmed by the vaccine or pyridostigmine frequently have no proof that they were vaccinated or took the pills, or that they had an adverse reaction. Moreover, virtually none of the soldiers received more than two of the botulism vaccinations, even though DoD informed FDA they would administer the three shots necessary for protection…

“On January 8, 1991, Dr. David Kessler, FDA Commissioner, wrote to the Assistant Secretary of Health of DoD, regarding the waiver for informed consent… In his letter, Dr. Kessler agreed that since there was ‘no available satisfactory alternative therapy’ for protection…he would ‘concur with your assessment that informed consent is not feasible.’

“Since the end of the Persian Gulf War, DoD has repeatedly requested that the waiver of informed consent be made permanent, arguing that ‘to not finalize it provides an arguable defect under the Administrative Procedures Act and leaves both DoD and FDA open to greater liability.’ To finalize the interim rule would grant unrestricted use of investigational drugs by military personnel, even when efficacy and safety have not been established.”(115)

Survey of 146 Persian Gulf War Veterans

“In the early months of 1994, staff of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs interviewed 146 Persian Gulf War veterans… The respondents complained about numerous negative side effects of the vaccines and pills… One claimed that two people in his unit had heart attacks after taking [the experimental drugs] and that one died. There were numerous complaints about the quality of care and the lack of compassion of VA physicians and nurses. This included a doctor’s comment claiming that the Persian Gulf War ‘wasn’t a real war’ and a patient’s complaint that a doctor told her that she was fine, after using a stethoscope that he had forgotten to put in his ears.”(116)

Here are a few selected comments from the survey:

On Medical Records:

“Seven months of medical records are missing.”
“Asked for my medical record and was told all had been disposed of.”
“Medical record is lost forever.”
“20 years of medical records are now mysteriously gone.”
“All our medical records were destroyed.”
“Doctors refused to put vaccinations in my medical record.”
“Was told my leave would be held up if I wanted copies of my medical record.”
“My medical record says my illness is not related to Agent Orange. This VA doctor has the wrong war!”

On Vaccinations:

“Passed out after anthrax shot.”
“We were told not to tell we got anthrax shots because there wasn’t enough for British and French troops.”
“Several reported flu symptoms at time of vaccinations.”
“I argued that I was pregnant, so finally they let me not take the shot. It was a big argument.”
“They made me sign something, but the form was folded so I couldn’t read what I signed.”
“We were ordered to sign the consent form.”
“I could refuse the shot if I wanted court martial.”
“I tried to refuse anthrax; was threatened with Leavenworth.”

On the VA Hospital System and Doctors:

“Military doctors are harassing me because I’m sick.”
“VA doctors don’t want to know what is making you sick.”
“VA is minimizing our illnesses.”
“Navy doctors told my wife to terminate her pregnancy.”

On Illnesses:

“Lots of men in the unit have swollen testicles.”
“Sometimes I forget to feed my son.”
“I got lost while going to get my children from school.”
“I don’t have a spleen and wonder if I should have taken those drugs and vaccines.”(117)

Reproductive Dysfunction:
Additional evidence regarding the potential damage inflicted on Gulf War personnel — and insight into the magnitude of the problem — continues to accrue. For example, on August 5, 1994, the United States General Accounting Office released testimony given before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Here are a few brief excerpts:

OPERATION DESERT STORM

Potential for Reproductive Dysfunction
Is Not Being Adequately Monitored

Statement of Kwai-Cheung Chan
Issue Area Director
Program Evaluation and Methodology Division

“We are here today to present our report on possible reproductive dysfunction among the U.S. armed forces who served in the Persian Gulf war. Since their return from the war in the Persian Gulf, many veterans have complained of a variety of health problems including reports of an increased number of birth defects and other reproductive problems. It is now known that before, during, and after the war, U.S. troops were exposed to a variety of potentially hazardous substances. These include but are not limited to…investigational drugs and vaccines.

“Questions remain unanswered concerning the potential reproductive and developmental dysfunction that may have occurred…”(118)

Racial Extermination: A pattern of individual and collective abuse is beginning to emerge. Some of the players include drug companies, medical policymakers from the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Defense (DoD), and federal lawmakers who turn the other cheek as the human race is subjected to a slow and methodical process of extermination.

Despite vaccine propaganda claiming the shots are safe and effective, consumers should beware of these potentially dangerous drugs and the unscrupulous forces pressing for our compliance. We are not their human guinea pigs! Whether you’re trying to protect your own physical health, or the well-being of a young child or close friend, always remember to give credibility to your own concerns: trust your inner voice. Don’t allow yourself to be pressured into a situation against your will. If you are still unsure, seek out additional information until you are positive that the decision you are making is yours alone, and is right for you and your family.

This article was excerpted from the vaccine archives of Neil Z. Miller.
See Immunization Theory vs. Reality for more information.
Copyright © 1995-2005. All Rights Reserved.

Information about Military and Civilian Biodefense/Terrorism Countermeasures, vaccines, laws and policies

March 5, 2009

Viral Pandemic H5N1 flu threat: Baxter contaminates European labs by error

http://www.lifegen.de/newsip/shownews.php4?getnews=2009-02-25-5123

It could be a Hollywood Worst Case Thriller, but it is real: According to the scientific network PROMED, Baxter International Inc. in Austria “unintentionally contaminated samples with the bird flu virus that were used in laboratories in 3 neighboring countries, raising concern about the potential spread of the deadly disease”. As PROMED reports, the contamination has been discovered when ferrets at a laboratory in the Czech Republic died after being inoculated with vaccine made from the samples early this month. “The material came from Deerfield, Illinois-based Baxter, which reported the incident to the Austrian Ministry of Health, Sigrid Rosenberger, a ministry spokeswoman, said today in a telephone interview”, the network-alert-system is quoting. “This was infected with a bird flu virus,” Rosenberger said. “There were some people from the company who handled it.” There are severe signs that the long expected pandemic avian influenza could be on its way to conquer the world – even without Baxter’s error driven help.

First deaths in Asia concern little children, which from virological point of view is a rather new aspect, and could be the evidence for a new spread. While scientists expect this pandemic to happen in the near future, the new President should also stay alert: A coming influenza pandemic would deteriorate the global economy even without financial crisis, recession – or Baxter.

Evidence for the global threat comes from China, where a 2 year old girl has been confirmed to be infected with bird flu in the northern Shanxi Province, as government officials said last Saturday. The child was found ill on 7th of January in the central Hunan province – the little patient still is in critical condition. According to the test result of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the girl had been tested positive for the H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

On the other site of the globe, the Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt announced a new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection last week, the case being a 21 month old girl Kerdasa District.

“Infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus was diagnosed by PCR at the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and subsequently confirmed by the U. S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3) laboratories”, reports the special wire PROMED. According to PROMED, investigations into the source of her infection indicate a recent history of contact with sick and dead poultry – 23 similar cases in Egypt have been fatal up to date.

Old Europe as leading research power?

Given such facts, Mr. Obama should follow European research policy: European research on vaccine development for pandemic influenza has been financed since 2001 by the European Union. Early projects worked to develop an egg-free vaccine, which is faster and safer to produce, along with innovative application techniques. Research is now underway with the objectives of fighting the disease at the source (infected birds) and protecting human populations through pandemic influenza vaccines. Future EU research will improve vaccine efficiency by adding adjuvants, substances that boost the body’s immune response to vaccine antigen. Additionally, research teams are currently focused on developing a universal flu vaccine that could provide a lifetime of protection from influenza.

Latest surveillance data coming through the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) from virologists and clinicians indicates that the influenza A(H3N2) virus is the predominant strain in Europe so far this season (2008/2009). Based on the data published by ECDC the pharmaceutical company Roche confirms that the oral antiviral Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is fully active against influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B, which currently comprise 94 percent of circulating viruses in Europe this year. Tamiflu resistance reported in the 2008-2009 influenza seasons is confined to H1N1. No resistance has been seen with other circulating seasonal viruses – H3N2 and influenza B.

“Recent media reporting has elevated awareness of the H1N1 seasonal resistance seen this year in the United States and the Far East. However, in Europe the picture is different with H3N2 being the dominant strain so far. The circulating H3N2 viruses, which often cause a more severe illness than H1N1, are sensitive to oseltamivir, which means that oseltamivir will be active against the vast majority of influenza infections in Europe this season, if current trends continue,” comments Prof Albert Osterhaus, Head of Virology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam. “It is important that doctors understand that oseltamivir remains an effective treatment for patients across Europe.”

Flu alert for the new President

However, the situation in the United States is more alerting, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A new University of Colorado at Boulder study showed the resistance of the avian flu virus to a major class of antiviral drugs “is increasing through positive evolutionary selection, with researchers documenting the trend in more than 30 percent of the samples tested”, as the scientists report. Even if the expected influenza pandemic did not start yet, there is no doubt about the comeback of the lethal virus: The first Pandemic Influenza occurred in three waves in the United States – exactly 90 years ago, between 1918 and 1919.

www.autismsalutes.com

Here is the quick background on this situation:

According to the Department of Education statistics 1 in every 67 children and their families is impacted by autism. You can read that report HERE. The military is no exception.

In September of 2005, the Department of Defense implemented a separate program under TRICARE called the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO). The purpose of the ECHO program was to create access to Intensive Behavioral Interventions proven to reduce the behavioral symptoms of autism.

Unfortunately, the ECHO program did just the opposite. Military dependent children with autism have been cut off from these medically necessary therapies for over two and a half years. ECHO has prohibited children with autism from receiving continuity of care across duty stations. Data indicates that only 5% of military children with autism have received some level of help through the TRICARE ECHO program. It is unacceptable that 95% of our most vulnerable military population have been forced to go without care. Lack of effective services has taken its toll. Our families are reaching crisis state. ECHO has also negatively impacted combat readiness, retention, and most importantly the physical and mental well being of our military families.

In response to parent and service member led advocacy for change to ECHO policies through legislation; TRICARE has announced the DoD Enhanced Access To Autism Services Demonstration. Families have been awaiting the arrival of this program to improve access to the medically necessary treatment our children require. Sadly, the new demonstration project misses its proposed target to ease access to care and creates additional barriers to care; some of which border on discrimination.

WE NEED CHANGE!

The below letter of endorsement I put together (“with a little help from my friends” which has been sent to all of our national autism organizations. For the purpose of this posting Autism Salutes, and on Age of Autism; (will run on 03-17-08) the term AUTISM COLLABORATION means every single child, adult, and parents of children and adults with autism spectrum disorders, medical professionals, teachers, and therapists who work with children and adults with autism, and of course, autism advocates.

Here are the changes that need to be made to existing policy:

Dr. Robert Gates
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000

Dear Secretary Gates:

On behalf of thousands of military parents who have children with autism spectrum disorders; we write asking the Department of Defense (DoD) to work in a leadership capacity supporting and reimbursing for the numerous therapies applicable to the treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

The Autism Collaboration is comprised of the longest standing autism organizations devoted to research, support, advocacy and treatment for children with autism and their families. The Autism Collaboration knows that when TRICARE policies are further reviewed and revised, these further revisions based on our recommendations (below), and that of many others which you’ve already received will have the potential to effectively help thousands of families and children with autism in the short term. In the long term, further revision of TRICARE policies, and the DoD Enhanced Access to Autism Services Demonstration will serve as a model for other insurers and health plans to emulate.

While the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the number of children with autism is currently 1 in 150; the Department of Education statistics show that 1 in 67 children are impacted by autism. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued a policy of early diagnosis and early intervention. Early diagnosis does absolutely no good if children with autism are not able to receive early treatment. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and that old adage applies to treating children with autism as well. It is estimated that over the course of a life time it will cost anywhere from 3.2 million to 5 million dollars to care for a person with autism. It is currently estimated that there are between 250,000 and 500,000 children with autism in the United States, and the number of children diagnosed with autism continues to grow every year. And America thinks the war in Iraq was expensive! If left unchecked, the autism epidemic will prove far more costly, and will do so for several generations to come.

Autism is treatable and children with autism are actually recovering, but when treatment is delayed the effectiveness of treatment is significantly diminished; thus the increased and real possibility that a child with autism will need life long care. It is time for DoD to work in a leadership role which will benefit children with autism, families, and the long term financial health of our country.

With over 75 years of experience in successfully providing answers that make a difference in treatment options for autism, the Autism Collaboration brings to your attention the following recommendations. It is when these recommendations are acted upon and implemented; DoD and TRICARE will be demonstrating leadership in the treatment of children with autism.

INSERT: I’m sure it’s safe to say that we as parents, medical professionals, teachers, therapists, and advocates have hundred’s of thousands of hours of combined experience, if not millions, or possibly billions? How many years would that be equal to??? It is time for our politicians and military leadership to start listening to The AUTISM COLLABORATION, and The AUTISM COLLABORATION!!!

AUTISM COLLABORATION Recommendations:

DoD revise the Code of Federal Regulations to recognize the medical necessity of treatment for autism spectrum disorders. Treatment for autism spectrum disorders is medically necessary to treat a neurological disorder and necessary to prevent future physical and mental injury to the patient.

Treatment for autism spectrum disorders should include the following care prescribed, provided, or ordered for an individual diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder by a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist who determines the care to be medically necessary: Habilitative or rehabilitative care, pharmacy care, psychiatric care, psychological care, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and any care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder that is determined to be medically necessary by the beneficiary’s physician.

Habilitative and rehabilitative care should include professional counseling and guidance services and treatment programs, including Applied Behavior Analysis and related structured behavior programs that are necessary to develop, improve, maintain, and restore to the maximum extent practicable, the functioning of the individual with autism spectrum disorders. Applied Behavior Analysis and related structure behavior programs are not special education and this categorization requires correction.

DoD, TRICARE, and ECHO policies need to include specific language pertaining to the exact diagnosis, and include all categories of autism spectrum disorder under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders in the DSM-IV.

When a child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, eligibility and enrollment of the child into ECHO needs to be physician directed, automatic, and seamless. The enrollment process as it is now, serves to second guess and scrutinize physician recommendations and the treatment needs of children with autism.

Eliminate the arbitrary monthly cap of $2500.00 of covered treatment. The Demonstration has reduced the rate of payment to providers in order to maintain this cap. This reduction in rate to maintain the cap provides little incentive for highly educated professionals providing therapies to become TRICARE providers. This is not to the benefit of children or families. There is no other health condition a child may have that has a monthly cap on the dollar amount of services a child can receive.

Eliminate the requirement of a clinical review of each child’s diagnosis and treatment plan. The child’s treatment plan should be directed by his or her physician and the provider of specific services rendered, not TRICARE. Submission of an IEP/IFSP is not necessary if treatment is physician and provider directed, thus reducing paperwork and ECHO program overhead.

Eliminate the requirement of children under the age of six to undergo IQ testing. There is no other disability in which any insurance or health plan requires a child to score a minimum of 35 on an IQ test before medically necessary services will be provided and covered. Furthermore, as ECHO currently covers IBI as a “special education” service; it would be a violation of federal law for public educational services to be denied to a child with autism who might score below 35 on an IQ test. The AUTISM COLLABORATION is very concerned about this requirement as it appears discriminatory, and would be considered such in California as it is against the law to require IQ testing for African American children.

Given that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children begin intensive intervention as soon as the child is diagnosed; there should be no age requirement for enrollment. Enrollment should happen immediately upon diagnosis.

The current ECHO respite benefit is unavailable to most families due to the current policy restricting access to this vital service as well as the current $2,500 financial cap. It is unethical to force parents to choose between treatment for their child and respite care. Respite care is vital to the physical and mental well being of those parenting a child (ren) with autism.

The AUTISM COLLABORATION is aware that, the current ECHO program has and the Demonstration project will continue, to interfere with combat readiness and military retention. The DoD has a moral and ethical obligation to the United States of America to provide the treatment and care that military dependent children with autism desperately need. The Department of Defense needs to set the standard for treatment and care of children with autism, and in doing so continue to protect this great country of ours.

We thank the DoD for the serious consideration and action you will take based on the recommendations of the AUTISM COLLABORATION.

Very Respectfully,

The AUTISM COLLABORATION
Alright everyone… let’s go… Call to action! Comment, suggest, and endorse away! Our kids need some help – let’s get them the help they need and deserve! If you want to go further than just commenting here and send a letter to your own Representative, Congressmen, or Senators, you can get the needed contact info by visiting HERE. Feel free to use all or any portion of the above letter in telling them what needs to be done to help our kids. Thank you all! And future THANK YOU’s to any of our wonderful national autism organizations who are willing and/or able to sign on! YOU! the autism organizations AUTISM COLLABORATION have enabled soooo many of us to not only seek out and get the treatment our children need, but have set an example and supported us in our own advocacy efforts. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Angela Warner (Ang)

www.autismsalutes.com

On December 4, 2008 David Kirby wrote an article full of excellent questions and information, “The Pentagon – A Voice of Reason on Vaccines and Autism?”. You can read it HERE or HERE or HERE.

If we are going to send in the Army to fight autism, these brave soldiers need to know they will be fighting the Department of Defense.

This past week I learned that, “For immunization requirements, the Air Force follows the CDC recommendations, which are endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)”, and that every single vaccine on the CDC’s recommended schedule is mandated for children who are attending military installation Child Development Centers, Family Child Care and School Age Programs. This includes the flu vaccine for infants as young as six months. You can read the Memorandum HERE . (My apologies as it is not the best copy)

This information came to me last week by way of an email. A fellow Air Force mom needed help and support in obtaining an exemption for her children who have egg allergies and have had systemic adverse vaccine reactions previously. They have done nothing but give this mom who has a BSN and MBA, the runaround. I have seen what they’ve done, and it is completely unacceptable.

Over two days ago, I sent an email to Ms. Eliza Nesmith requesting that she “provide me with studies that have been conducted demonstrating safety and efficacy of the kind and number of vaccines that are now mandated for children attending, including the flu vaccine now required for babies as young as six months old.” I have heard nothing from her. When folks at the Pentagon are out of the office, you always receive an auto-reply. If, “all CDC recommendations should be instituted as AF-wide requirements and should not be dependent upon local law”, I expect an answer to my question. If my child is enrolled in a military installation child care or school age program, federal vaccination mandates have taken away my God given right to make health care decisions for my children, and I do not appreciate that one little bit. Vaccination is the only mandated and invasive medical procedure, why is this?

The CDC recommendations for vaccination are not just instituted as Air Force requirements to attend child care or school age programs, but are requirements for the same through all branches of service. This is not an Air Force problem; this is a Department of Defense problem.

US Army Colonel Renata J. M. Engler, MD, Director of the Vaccine Healthcare Centers, (a “collaborative network” of the Defense Department and the CDC), wrote to Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) (HERE) , “We have preliminary findings from one of our many on-going research studies that suggest a relationship between adverse events and multiple vaccinations exist. These findings will require validation, but heighten our concern for the current clinical practice of multiple vaccinations.”

If there is heightened concern that a relationship exists between adverse events (including autism) HERE and multiple vaccinations, then why in the world is the Department of Defense mandating the CDC’s recommended vaccine schedule for military children? Especially considering Dr. Engler also said, “However, our work over the past years has been humbling in relation to the knowledge gaps which the Institute of Medicine Reports has also highlighted.”

UPDATE: After David Kirby’s article HERE and this article were sent to certain officials the original link (above) now looks like this GO HERE

Although I am not sure when, I know as of 2004 the military was checking titers to disease prior to recruits receiving vaccines in Basic Military Training (BMT). It is therefore reasonable to ponder that children (both military and civilian) are receiving far more vaccines (and I mean vaccines – not injections) at one visit than our military members receive at one time. Titer testing saved my husband from receiving vaccines against five different diseases in BMT.

It is obviously beneficial for the Department of Defense to check titers against disease in potential members. Is this monetarily beneficial, beneficial to the future members health, or are they one and the same? If it wasn’t one or the other, or the same, they wouldn’t be doing it.

Does it therefore not make monetary and health wise sense for ALL children to spread our vaccines? Would it not make monetary and healthwise sense to restore the vaccine schedule of say, 1983 (HERE), starting at four or six months instead of two, substituting the OPV for IPV, DTP for DtaP, and checking titers before proceeding with further vaccination? And to get rid of the RhoGam shot until after birth like it was previously as well? Infants are not only born with immunity to certain diseases, but have continued immunity to those diseases while breastfeeding. I am a breastfeeding mother to a 26 month old UNVACCINATED child and I know and see and live, how immunity works!

We have an epidemic of unprecendented proportions on our hands and in our homes and schools around the globe! The autism epidemic, and the autism epidemic continues to grow with each passing minute.

I received an email last night from a good friend in which they said, “The only possible conclusion at this time is that the US vaccine schedule is dangerous and un-monitored. It is a government program that has run off the tracks. Nuts! One government branch says one thing and another says something completely different”. My response was this, “It is scary for me to think about where this is all going to go to stop the program that is off the tracks. It is dangerous that’s for sure. But they think they’re doing a fantastic job… of monitoring themselves. It is not just nuts! It is Insane!

“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, and expecting different results.”
Rita Mae Brown

It’s time to do something different. Government officials on all levels keep adding vaccines to the recommended schedule. They continually assure us while they don’t know what causes autism; they KNOW it is not caused by vaccines. It seems there is much truth to Rita Mae Brown’s words.

A few goodies for military parents. Need childcare where you will have state exemptions available…possibly more? GO HERE for options!

Need base childcare? Here’s the bottom line. The medical exemption is the usual and stands, but that “administrative exemption” which is “rarely, if ever granted”, is the religious exemption which must be on letterhead from your clergy stating the grounds for exemption, and I was informed today from a local Army base and by a person in a position to make such a statement, “We don’t mess with either of those”, meaning the medical or what the Air Force calls “administrative” exemption. So if you have either exemption, do the paper work, and do it right.

Yes, I think the Army is ready to fight the autism epidemic. I know the Marine Corps, and Navy have led the way as well, when it comes to fighting autism. It’s all documented on Autism Salutes. My only question is where is the Air Force? I think we may need some Air support on this one!

As an Air Force spouse, I say: The Department of Defense might be working, but it isn’t working fast, hard, nor diligently enough given the crisis of the autism epidemic!