My letter to Sen Charles
Grassley:
I am writing as a
constituent to ask you to NEVER support S.1375, the
MOTHERS Act, when it is considered by the Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
This legislation is
named for a young mother who, after suffering postpartum
depression, tragically took her own life. She was given
four combinations of anti-psychotic, anti-anxiety, and
anti-depressant medications. She also underwent
electroconvulsive therapy. Her family rallied around her
with all their strength, but in the end, Melanie jumped
to her death from the twelfth floor of a Chicago hotel.
This is sheer torture and it is no wonder that this poor
young mother was pushed over he edge by it all rather
than being allowed to recover from her pregnancy and
delivery.
Post partum psychosis
happens in one out of 1000 new moms, but on
antidepressant medications alone - without all the rest
of the drugs she was given - that percentage of
psychosis jumps by 10 times to one in 100 according to
most package inserts for these drugs. This is akin to
murder!
This legislation will
ensure that new mothers and their families are also
subjected to such treatment as they are screened for
symptoms and provided so called "help" that pushes these
new mothers over the edge.
Far too many Americans
know little about mental illness in general, let alone
about this tragic illness affecting young mothers and
their families. Mental illness affects millions of
Americans, but just how much of it is
medication-induced? Bipolar Disorder has increased by
4000% in a recent 10 year period since the introduction
of the newer antidepressans that are notorious for
causing this disorder. The cost is beyond description!
To get an idea in real life costs go to the database at
www.ssristories. com posted by an Iowa native. You
can also read last weeks paper on the mother in Ankeny
who attempted to kill her son and then killed herself in
withdrawal from her antidepressant - a very dangerous
period as the FDA warned in 2005.
The MOTHERS Act is not
needed and will only add to the nation’s most serious
medical and social problems.
I look forward to your
firm stand against this legislation when the Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee votes on it.
Thank you for your
consideration.
======
Here is the letter sent
by Amy Philo (if you also saved a copy of your letter,
feel free to send it to us and we will post it here).
I am writing as a constituent to ask you to vote AGAINST
S.1375, the MOTHERS Act, when it is considered by the
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
When I was a first time new mother, the interference of
doctors and nurses led to my being prescribed Zoloft. I
had a severe adverse reaction and became homicidal and
suicidal. You can see my story at
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa060802_kd_chaada.2698424.html
It is also completely written out in full detail at:
http://chaada.org/smf/index.php?topic=15.0
Also see the recent news about the fact that
antidepressants do not work but drug companies have been
suppressing the negative trial data:
http://www.uniteforlife.org/suppresseddata.htm
In my opinion this bill is being promoted solely for the
profit of pharmaceutical companies. There is nothing
more threatening to the fabric of our society and to the
future well being of our children and their parents than
the invasion of privacy on new moms, especially in a way
that threatens the safety of babies and their mothers.
If you really want to help moms, we can support them
with requirements for longer maternity leave and support
for postpartum networks that enable her to find help
with household duties and meals, breastfeeding and
parenting.
I had a second baby 16 months ago at home with a
midwife's support. I had time to bond with him without
interference. I had NO drugs in my body and I had NO
postpartum depression. The rise in senseless violence is
due to the rise in interference with drugs and the lack
of social support.
If women can be given social support they will not be
subject to confusing advice that causes them to doubt
themselves and wind up on mind-altering drugs that cause
them to murder and commit suicide.
If this bill is passed, any money spent on screening
will be a complete waste of tax dollars. The results
will be an INCREASE in the severity and frequency of
postpartum depression and an increase in violence and
suicide.
Mass mental health screening programs already in place
like Teen Screen have shown to be ineffective and
dangerous with an 84% plus misdiagnosis rate and the
majority of students referred have been put on damaging
and dangerous mind-altering drugs. See
www.ssristories.com as well, for details on the
recent school shootings which have involved psyciatric
drugs.
I would like to see a full federal investigation of the
FDA and the pharmaceutical industry with an emphasis on
examining the effects of antidepressants. These drugs
should be banned, and anyone who attempts to push them
on a mom should be penalized.
Thank you for your consideration.
