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Assignment #1

Source

UHN STAFF (2017, December 15). DMSA Chelation Therapy for Autism. Retrieved from
https://universityhealthnews.com/daily/nutrition/dmsa-chelation-therapy-for-autism/

Synopsis

On this particular website, people from all over the world can find information about alternative
treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The whole notion of this panacea
for autistic children based on the study that claims that there is growing evidence that
detoxification systems are impaired in autistic children and their ability to excrete toxins is
decreased.

So now world widely people use an oral medication to treat mild-to-moderate acute or chronic
lead toxicity in children and adults, as well as acute mercury intoxication.

Question #1

Is the claimant playing by the rules of science?

Answer & Explanation

No, considering our modern vision and understanding of autism, it is essential to mention that
now we can identify ASD only by behavioral tests, such as SRS-2, CBS, ADOS-2, etc. That is
why the medical community does not know inner, biological manifestations of autism. So people
can not treat the thing that they have not found yet, they can only help with special program and
interventions. The world does not win how to cure ASD.

Question #2

Has anyone tried to disprove the claim?

Answer & Explanation

Yes. As it was mentioned before, this product is a controversial question in the medical and
behavioral science arena. So, this is the reason why we also have some scientists who cannot
support this idea. For example, famous US National Library of Medicine and National Institute
of Health provide us with several articles and experiments in which they explain why this
particular case id pseudoscientific. Moreover, now we have heard about several deaths of this
cure. For example, the death of a five-year-old British autistic boy who went into cardiac arrest
after undergoing chelation therapy here has placed the controversial alternative treatment under
an international spotlight.
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Question #3

Have the claims been verified by somebody else?

Answer & Explanation

Yes, nowadays we can find a lot of experiments with exact numbers of 77%, 72%, etc. of
success. People all over the world, in plenty of medical schools and universities are trying to find
treatment for ASD and check previous alternative and controversial theories and products. For
example, well- known BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2009 or International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health, 2010 checked and now support this theory.