CASE REPORTS Child Deaths

While  psychiatrists  proclaim  psychoactive drugs  safe  and  effective  for  children, many parents know from tragic personal experience that this is false.

Shaina Dunkle�1991�2001
Vicki Dunkle�s daughter  Shaina�s  life  had  been filled  with  dance  classes, Girl  Scouts,  piano  lessons and softball games. But in 1999,  when  Shaina  was in  second  grade,  teachers said  she  was  �too  active� and  �talked  out  of  turn.� Without  diagnostic  tests  or  physical  exams,  a psychiatrist concluded she suffered from ADHD and prescribed a psychiatric drug. On February 26, 2001, Shaina  suffered  a  seizure  in  the  doctor�s  office.  Her mother  rushed  to  hold  her  in  her  arms,  where, minutes later, she died. �Shaina looked into my eyes as her life ended and I could do nothing to save her. It�s  been  two  years  and  I  relive  those  last  few minutes every day. Believe me, it is a nightmare no parent  should  ever  have  to  live  with,�  Mrs.  Dunkle said. An autopsy revealed that Shaina had died from toxic levels of the prescribed amphetamine.

Matthew Smith�1986�2000
At  age  7,  Matthew Smith was diagnosed with ADHD.  His  parents  were told  he  needed  to  take  a stimulant to help him focus and  that  non-compliance could  bring  criminal charges for neglecting their son�s  educational  and emotional needs. �My wife and I were scared of the possibility of losing our children if we didn�t comply,� says Matthew�s father, Lawrence. The parents acceded to the pressure after being told that there was nothing wrong with the �medication.� But on March 21, 2000, while skateboarding, Matthew suffered a heart attack and  died.  The  coroner  determined  that  Matthew�s heart  showed  clear  signs of the small  blood  vessel damage that is caused by stimulant drugs like amphetamines and concluded that Matthew died from longterm use of the prescribed ADHD stimulant. �I cannot go  back  and  change  things  for  us  at  this  point. However, I hope to God my story and information will reach the hearts and minds of many families, so they can make an educated decision,� Mr. Smith said.

Samuel Grossman�1973�1986
In  1986,  Samuel Grossman, 13, died after being prescribed a stimulant  for  �over-activity.� The autopsy revealed an enlarged  heart  caused by the psychiatric drug. According  to  the  boy�s mother,  �Giving  this drug to a child is like playing Russian roulette. No one knows which child will get the brain damage and/or  those  who  will  die.  I  played  the  game and I lost.�

Stephanie Hall� 1984�1996
Stephanie  Hall  was a shy first grader in Ohio who  loved  books  and school. After her teacher reported  that  Stephanie had a hard time �staying on task,� a doctor diagnosed  attention  deficit disorder  and  prescribed a stimulant. Over the next five years, Stephanie complained  of  stomach aches  and  nausea  and  displayed mood  swings  and  bizarre  behavior.  On  January  5, 1996, at age 11, Stephanie died in her sleep from cardiac arrhythmia. Mrs. Hall remembers the last words exchanged with her daughter: �I said, �It�s 9 o�clock, Steph, get to bed,� and she replied, �OK Mom, I love you.��  The  next  morning  when  her  father  went  to wake  her  for  school,  she  didn�t  respond.  �We  called paramedics and the police � Stephanie was so cold. I kept saying to them, �She is supposed to bury me, not me bury her.��

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