Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida (CCHR Florida)

As most of you are already aware, 7-year old foster child, Gabriel Myers, hung himself last year while being on multiple psychotropic drugs.  Shortly thereafter, the FDA sent a warning to the psychiatrist who prescribed the drugs to Gabriel.  The warning had to do with children and clinical trials.  Recommendations  have been made by the Department of Children and Families to prevent tragedies, like Gabriel’s death, from happening again. Let’s pay attention to what actually gets done on this issue.  Actions speak louder than words and in the case of young children, it could end up saving lives.

Government is daring to keep kids on drugs

Herald Tribune

By Tom Lyons

July 25, 2010

Apparently the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had at least heard about the suicide of Gabriel Myers.

Myers’ death by hanging happened in a Florida foster home last year, but that wasn’t the main reason it triggered a major reaction at Florida’s Department of Children and Families.

The real reason: He was 7 years old.

Whatever else might have helped lead such a young child toward ending his life, one detail was impossible to ignore: The boy was being treated with three different psychotropic medications.

Medications of that sort make some people more depressed or even suicidal, and their effects when combined are harder to predict, especially in children. (more…)

PART 2 OF 4

(more…)

The Senators in the below two videos pushed to move the Gabriel Myers bill – now it’s your turn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17iqUsACRZM  and  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSav5qxXPkY

The Gabriel Myers bill passed the Senate Judiciary committee yesterday! .

Now – please e-mail and phone the below 3 House Representatives and urge them to schedule the Gabriel Myers bill, House Bill 1567 for a hearing.

Representative Larry Cretul – Speaker of the House 

Larry.Cretul@myfloridahouse.gov

Phone: (850) 488-1450

Phone: (352) 873-6564

  (more…)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17iqUsACRZM  Florida Senators criticize child drugging

http://cbs4.com/local/florida.legislators.legislation.2.1629212.html 

Bill Looks to Curb Medicating State Foster Kids

Bill Is Named For 7-Year-Old Gabriel Myers

By Lisa Cilli

Apr 13, 2010

Florida lawmakers are scheduled to discuss a measure Tuesday designed to curb the prescription of mental-health drugs to children in state care. Senate Bill 2718, also known as the Gabriel Myers Bill, would allow officials to more closely monitor the powerful psychiatric drugs dispensed to Florida foster care children. (more…)

Please e-mail the below Senators on the Judiciary Committee and urge them to  vote YES on the Gabriel Myers Bill – Senate Bill 2718.  It will be heard on Tuesday, April 13.  

The bill is designed to curb the prescription of mental-health drugs to children in state care.

Gabriel Myers

Below are 2 video  excerpts of what Florida Senators are saying about child drugging: (more…)

Please urge the below House Representatives to schedule and vote YES on the Gabriel Myers Bill – House Bill 1567

(Senator Storms lets you know what you can say to the legislators, to get this bill moving, in bold, below)

Senator Ronda Storms was interviewed on radio, Sunday night,regarding this bill and the subject of psychotropic drugs.  Below, is some of what she has to say to you, the public.  Please read and call the 3 legislators whose names and phone numbers are at the bottom of this email. Do not hesitate to stand up and be the champions for Florida’s children.  It is a beginning for human rights advocates all over the country.

Regarding psychotropic drugs and Florida’s children:

“…You have to do honor to these children and to these babies who have had terrible lives and who had terrible things happen to them. But the way that I honor their little lives is by making sure that I do all that I can that no other child has to endure that…and that we improve the system for their sake.”  (more…)

Congratulations!  Today, the Florida Senate’s Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee voted unanimously to approve the Gabriel Myers Bill, Senate Bill 2718. It still needs to go through 2 other Senate Committees.   

Gabriel Myers

On the Florida House side, the first committee needs to schedule it for a vote.

Please urge the House Representatives on the Health Care Services Policy Committee to schedule and vote YES on the Gabriel Myers Bill – House Bill 1567.

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Lots of comments are being made here: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20000546-504083.html (more…)

Two important messages, below

Miami Herald
MENTAL HEALTH
Psychiatrist gets warning from FDA
The psychiatrist who treated the Broward foster child who killed himself last year is now in hot water with the FDA.
 

(full article below)

Gabriel Myers

Please urge your senators to vote yes on the Gabriel Myers Bill – Senate Bill 2718. 

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Comments on the below article can be made here:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/16/1531156/psychiatrist-gets-warning-from.html

Miami Herald

MENTAL HEALTH

Psychiatrist gets warning from FDA

The psychiatrist who treated the Broward foster child who killed himself last year is now in hot water with the FDA. (more…)

Be A Champion for Florida’s Children

  Candlelight Vigil

 April 16th, 7pm-8:30pm

 At the bridge from Clearwater to Clearwater Beach

 (city parking near the courthouse) 

In Memory of Gabriel Myers and the Right to Informed Consent

Gabriel Myers

Hosted by Dr. Elizabeth Young and the Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida.

We need 200 champions, minimally.

 Call to confirm-727-442-8820 or email laurie@cchrflorida.org

 Go to www.cchrflorida.org/vigil to get more information.

On May 28, 2009, Department of Children and Families Secretary, George Sheldon held a press conference in Tallahassee regarding psych drugs prescribed to children in foster care.

30 Second Video Here “A lot of attention on the psychiatric community”

Complete video of the news conference here, with questions from reporters

The press conference was held following the suicide of 7-year-old Gabriel Myers.

Gabriel

In a review of Gabriel’s case files, it was determined that he had been prescribed several psych drugs that had not been accurately entered  into the DCF database and there was no indication of a signed parental consent form or a court order authorizing the administration of the drugs, which is required by Florida law.  (more…)