Friday, July 3, 2009

The Perfect Child

DRUGGED UP into OBLIVION!

Sepracor hopes to market its insomnia treatment, Lunesta, for use by children.
Sepracor hopes to market its insomnia treatment, Lunesta, for use by children. (Istockphoto.com)

Related:
Poisoning Our Kids: From Potions to Pills to Playgrounds

Btw, it is NOT ABOUT the KIDS!

"Sepracor suffers a pair of setbacks

Sepracor Inc., a Marlborough drug maker, reported a pair of research setbacks. Its experimental drug for depression, SEP-22589, did not reach its main goal in an eight-week mid-stage trial, Sepracor said, because it did not significantly reduce symptoms of depression, compared with a placebo. Also, the Food and Drug Administration placed a hold on two studies of the company’s sleep aid, Lunesta. That could hurt its efforts to market Lunesta for use by children. The FDA questioned the relevance of data from nonclinical Lunesta studies, Sepracor said.

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And if Lunesta doesn't knock 'em out, COMBO 'em!

"Psychiatrist will not be prosecuted in girl’s death" by Patricia Wen, Globe Staff | July 2, 2009

The child psychiatrist of Rebecca Riley, a 4-year-old girl who died of an overdose of psychiatric drugs, will not be criminally prosecuted in her death, clearing one of several legal hurdles that the doctor faces in connection with the child’s death.

Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz announced yesterday that a grand jury has declined to indict Dr. Kayoko Kifuji of Tufts Medical Center. Kifuji had treated the Hull girl for bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder since she was 2. When the girl died on Dec. 13, 2006, she was taking three psychotropic medications.

WTF? Yeah, I'm in a real hurry to run to the doctor.

While Rebecca’s death cast a harsh spotlight on Kifuji and renewed calls for tighter restrictions on psychiatric drugs for children, Kifuji’s lawyers have asserted that she was a compassionate clinician who ordered safe dosages of all medications.

Michael and Carolyn Riley face murder charges in what prosecutors say was a pattern of over-medicating their daughter in an effort to sedate her.

And HOW did they get those damn drugs?

Soon after Rebecca died, the Board of Registration in Medicine began an investigation, and Kifuji voluntarily suspended her practice. “The next step for her will be the reinstatement of her license to practice medicine,’’ her lawyer, Bruce Singal of Boston, said yesterday....

I'm sorry, I'd like to cancel my appointment....

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Also see: Prescribing Our Kids to Death