5 Year-old on 5 Psychiatric Drugs Dies
This psychiatrist said he was treating symptoms of a
five-year-old. But he was unable to attribute these to an illness with
a pathology. Mental illnesses can only be seen by psychiatrists. Why
should we trust their visions? Journalists regularly criticize and
question the President, governors and mayors. But they never question
psychiatrists. Are psychiatrists better deceivers than politicians?
Journalists hold the President accountable for the deaths of
soldiers in Iraq. Why aren't psychiatrists held accountable for the
deaths caused by their patients and their drugs?
Roy Bercaw - Editor ENOUGH ROOM
You may recall the extremely high profile case of Rebecca Riley, a 4
year old in Massachusetts, who died while on various psychiatric drugs
including the antipsychotic drug Seroquel. The Boston Globe, NY
Times, CNN and USA Today reported that story widely.
Now , a responsible psychologist from Tennessee contacted us this
morning to report the below tragedy. The mother of a 6 year old
girl named Cheyenne is on trial in Tennessee for her daughter's
murder.
Psychiatrist Saran Mudumbi should also be on trial. He prescribed a
combination of drugs for this little girl that included the
antipsychotics Risperdal and Seroquel. (More on antipsychotic drugs
here: http://tmap.wordpress.com/
You can write a letter to the editor here: editor@southernstandard.com
If you have any connectons to major national media, please forward
this to them.
http://www.southernstandard.net/news.php?viewStory=46251
Cheyenne was heavily medicated-Psychiatrist testifies he prescribed
three drugs at first session
Psychiatrist Dr. Saran Mudumbi testified that he put Cheyenne Delp,
then 5, on three
different types of medication to fight depression, anxiety and
paranoia after one office
visit with the child. That initial visit took place April 3, 2003
Southern Standard
Cheyenne was heavily medicated - Psychiatrist testifies he
prescribed three drugs at first session
By James Clark
Feb 27, 2008
[From article]
Prescriptions drugs Cheyenne was taking
Here's a list of the prescription medication Cheyenne Delp was taking
at the time of her death, according to her psychiatrist Dr. Saran
Mudumbi:
Imipramine
Risperdal
Guanfacine
Benadryl
Seroquel
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7 comments:
In the present era, it is not uncommon for a child with behavioral issues to be on multidrug regimens, especially those that are predisposed to very severe psychiatric illness (that do not respond to medications). The doctor makes sure to titrate the dosage to the child's age and size. Remember that any doctor, not just a psychiatrist, believes that medication is the last resort. The point that the parents or the caretaker decides the child needs medication is usually when a child's behavior is disrupting others (at school or at home and it is the parents that bring the child to the doctor. Often, parents are desperate at this point and want to do anything that can help. What they really want is a "quick-fix", of which there are none when it comes to the mind or body (without its complications). We are limited to verbal communication with a child in any situation. When there is a long standing problem that goes unrecognized by parents or schoolteachers, it worsens in severity as time goes on. When a parent has a hard time with a child, their immediate answer is to go to the doctor (the pediatrician) who then refers the child to a psychiatrist. This can happen through school also. Not all parents have the patience to discipline their children. This is a sensitive situation in which no single person is wholly responsible. And we cannot exclude the blame to those involved alone. Human tendency has always been "think of a problem and find the solution". When behavioral issues starting become more generalized, our psychologists responded with behavior-modifying drugs and now, prescription drugs are widely used for these problems. When a patient comes to the doctor, doctor does what he has been trained by society to do -- provide immediate relief. (not say "be patient, your child will come around") I'm just making an attempt to project the idea that this sorta thing is unavoidable and is contemporary parenting.
What are the side effects of these "multidrug regimens?" Are they studied for their effects? If parents cannot control their children why is it acceptable to administer drugs? What is the connection between unacceptable behavior and mental illness? Psychiatrists and psychologists treat symptoms of imaginary diseases. Bad parents are bad parents. But the answer is not empowering government psychologists to rear children. Government makes a mess of everything it does.
Why is the police power of the state used to enforce psychiatric diagnoses?
You need to get your facts straight before you crucify Dr. Mudumbi. First of all, you state "the mother of a 6 year old girl named Cheyenne is on trial in Tennessee for her daughter's murder." Incorrect. Her parents, both drug addicts, were in jail on drug-related charges. In all their wisdom, they appointed a very seriously distrubed woman as their child's "guardian," Sherri Mathis, who killed Cheyenne. She was a drug addict, a liar, and extremely manipulative. She was the only person Dr. Mudumbi dealt with in trying to treat Cheyenne, although he tried to involve other people, but to no avail. He had absolutely no control over these facts and had to rely on what a crazy woman told him -- and I'm sure she was very emphatic and convincing when relaying the behavior of Cheyenne, whether true or not. I think one could safely assume here that Cheyenne's murderer may have ingested her with all manner of drugs which actually contributed to the symptoms that she reported to Dr. Mudumbi, although, as a child of two drug addicts, I'm sure some of her problems stemmed from that. Once again, he had to rely on what she told him and had no way of knowing any other facts upon which to rely. I am a patient of Dr. Mudumbi and he is an extremely competent psychiatrist. More importantly, he is kind, gentle and compassionate. You have really erred in your facts and in your judgment of him and unjustly slandered his reputation. You owe him an apology.
Leigh, Legal Assistant
Nashville, Tennessee
My comments end above my signature in this entry. The comment you object to was sent by tmap.wordpress.com, or someone who read and commented on that post on that blog. I checked with the original post on wordpress and the comment I included is not there. Maybe it was deleted after an objection. I cannot be certain where it came from. If the "facts" were reported to Dr. Mudumbi by (as you say) "a liar and a drug addict" why did he listen? Why didn't he ignore the "drug addict" and see for himself? All too often psychiatrists, journalists, police and the general public take allegations about a person (in this case a child) accused of mental illness as truth. The accused is never listened to due to irrational discrimination. You ignore that element in this tragedy. It is easy to prescribe drugs with no concern or knowledge of the effects on the person who takes them. The kind Dr. Mudumbi is licensed to prescribe drugs, not the drug addict liar. What illness was he treating anyway? Can anyone besides a psychiatrist see these illnesses?
I am a patient of Dr. Mudumbi. I was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder in 2001 but didn't find him until around 2003. I was an absolute mess! I also found out i had adhd and 7 yrs later....5 meds a day...im probably more " normal" so to speak thab you think you are. He is a great doctor. You cant blame him for some actual...headcase.....who didnt get help. He did what he thought was best for that little girl, im sure. I would hope he would do the same for me. The writer has no idea what writing to inform means, thats for sure....you were sure to come up with a headline to catch the eye.....even if it is a completly ABSURD!!!!!!
Gertie says, "im (sic) probably more ' normal' so to speak thab (sic) you think you are." How does she know what I think? She adds "You cant (sic) blame him for some actual...headcase.....who didnt get help." Correct. But you can blame him for what he did. Then, "He did what he thought was best for that little girl, im sure." Ok. But she died. Gertie says, "The writer has no idea what writing to inform means, thats for sure....you were sure to come up with a headline to catch the eye.....even if it is a completly ABSURD!!!!!!" How is the headline absurd? It states facts. Instead of drugs isn't human love what a 5-year-old needs most? Regarding writing to inform. Have you read the PR propaganda from the drug industry and the psychiatric industry? Is that to inform or to persuade?
I do get that you are trying to get readers to see things from your point of view. It's just the fact that Dr. Mudumbi was singled out that bothers me. There are no physical tests at this point, to my knowledge, that can be performed to diagnose mental illness. In children especially, you pretty much would have to rely on what information you are provided with by a guardian. Most parents today do want children to have an easy "off button" so to speak and run out to the doctor and that is just sad. It's called a child being a child, unless abuse is involved, in which if I do understand correctly, Cheyennes' was. When I do refer to myself as "normal" I mean that prior to Dr.Mudumbi, I myself, was shuffled around at a place called the Guidance Center. Later, I found out that they let recent graduates who were just starting out, train so that they could move on to a permanent position. This went on for 2 yrs. At one point they had me on 7 meds at once. It was horrible. Finally, I met Dr.Mudumbi and after a few months of finding the right combination, I dont take anywhere near that. I have lab work often. Dr. Mudumbi always asks how things are going with my meds and even knows when my low mood seasons are, he really does care. Also, i have seen him call children to their appt. He seems to be great with the children. I hope you understand its not you personally that I am attacking, Its more the parents who want a quick fix rather than anything time consuming. Thanks so much, and please dont take things too personally, its just disturbing that parents are also this non-chalant about giving a child a medication and not researching it. Personally, the Guidance Center tried to prescribe me seroquel, and after one dose i slept 13 hrs straight, never happens, then i was slurring the rest of the day, then I read about it and they prescibed me an anti-psychotic that acted as a tranquilizer. Never needed anything of that nature and shouldnt have been given it. That was it for me. That child probably slept 3/4 if not more of the day. I dont know what was said between dr/caregiver, priveledged info of course, but i do still believe he had Cheyennes' best interest at heart according to the info he was given by Sherri Mathis. Alot of Dr's are probably being taken advantage of this as well as the children they specialize in this field to help...by parents or others who are too busy for counseling or a little family time. Medicine for a child should always be a last last resort.
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