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Thank you. I'm only telling people what actually happened because I was shocked and suprised to hear this from medical professionals. I agree with you that family docs want the best for their patients, I'm just frustrated with the lack of good research and education that is frequently a result of economics and politics rather than good intentions. OHSU has probably made a lot of changes in the last ten years, but their policies are directly connected to the insurance and pharm industries, and we experienced that very directly. Believe me, I wish none of this had ever happened.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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Wow. I was there. When Robert Nickel and Darryn Sikora gave us the diagnosis, in person, I asked what we were to do next. The response, and I quote, was, "NOTHING. There is nothing you can do, it is untreatable and incurable. The only thing WE are interrested in is that you, as his parents, accept the diagnosis and LET GO OF HIM." I'm telling you this because I couldn't believe it either. My experience is almost identical to Mr. Hanley's. After ten years of "alternative medicine," which insurance doesn't pay for, we have made great progress with our son, with no help whatsoever from OHSU.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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My family doctor didn't recognize that my son had autism. OHSU, when they diagnosed him with autism, told us it was "incurable and untreatable" and that we should "let go of him." (this was denied by Darryn Sikora from OHSU on this very program.) Some of us have had direct experience with medical professionals who are uninformed and either intentionally or unintentionally lie about these issues. Please don't have blind faith in medical science. (see my earlier post)

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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I am the father of a 12 year old son with autism. He had a severe reaction to the MMR vaccine in 1998, and never recovered. Most parents of kids with regressive autism don't want to get rid of all vaccines, we just want more careful screening and to split the shots into smaller doses that will not cause some kids immune system to crash. Mainstream medical people will not even listen to this for economic reasons, not medical reasons. Thank you for not referrring to OHSU as you usually do for autism-related topics.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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