GAO investigating drugging of children
At the request of Congress, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) is seeking information regarding cases in which state foster children have been prescribed psychotropic medication outside of federal regulations or accepted medical standards of practice.
Scott Clayton, Analyst of the Forensic Audits and Special Investigations of the GAO stated Sunday:
"These cases may include very young foster children prescribed certain kinds of psychotropic drugs, children prescribed psychotropic drugs in dosages that exceed accepted standards, children prescribed psychotropic drugs for purposes other than a medically accepted indication, or children taking numerous psychotropic drugs concurrently."
If you have information about state foster children being prescribed psychotropic medication outside of regulatory and/or medical guidance and are willing to provide details, please e-mail GAO at FosterKids@gao.gov.
Comments
What is particularly alarming, to me, is the fact that psychotrophic drugs are administered to youth in the absence of exclusion for cardiac defect or arrythmeia. All children - particularly foster children whose history may be unknown - are at increased risk of sudden death due to unidentified pre-existing conditions when prescribed these type of medications. Complete evaluation of the heart must occur PRIOR to provision of drugs.
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