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To: SoftballMominVA
Yes, lots of stories developed over the death of Rebecca.

Here is one about the doctor who prescribed the medicine.

Kifuji began treating Riley in August 2004 and diagnosed her with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder. She prescribed the medications, including clonidine, a blood pressure drug for adults that is also sometimes given to children to reduce aggressiveness and help them sleep. Prosecutors allege that Riley's parents, Michael and Carolyn Riley, intentionally killed their daughter in December by giving her a clonidine overdose.

Psychiatrist takes paid leave after death of girl

Here is more:

The recent overdose death of 4-year-old, Rebecca Riley, in Massachusetts, demonstrates the dire need to educate the public about the practice of prescribing drugs for unapproved uses and the dangers of prescribing drugs like Zyprexa to children.

At the age of 2½, Rebecca was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and bipolar disorder and was prescribed Zyprexa’s atypical cousin, Seroquel, along with Clonidine, an adult high blood pressure drug, and Depakote, a drug approved to treat adults with epilepsy. None of these drugs were approved for children and they were prescribed in a combination that has never been tested even on adults.

Activists take on Eli Lilly over off-label sale of Zyprexa

And here is an earlier article:

Lawyers for Carolyn and Michael Riley point to prescription records supplied by prosecutors and argue that those records show the Rileys did not have substantially more medication than had been prescribed for their 4-year-old daughter, Rebecca, who was found dead in their Hull home in December.

Boston lawyer Michael Bourbeau said that assuming Rebecca was actually given the number of pills prescribed for her between Aug. 16 and her death on Dec. 13, she was not being overdosed.

Girl’s pill numbers disputed: The prescriptions Carolyn Riley gave 4-year-old were very close to allowed amount, defense says

8mm

84 posted on 03/12/2007 7:17:37 AM PDT by 8mmMauser (Jezu ufam tobie...Jesus I trust in Thee)
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To: 8mmMauser

Very sad.


85 posted on 03/12/2007 7:20:09 AM PDT by wintertime (Good ideas win! Why? Because people are not stupid!)
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To: 8mmMauser
What a heart-breaking story. That poor baby - and she was just a baby. How in the world does someone diagnose bi-polar in a 2 year old? And further, who in their right mind gives a child any medication that is not necessary to sustain life?

I have no idea whether the parents did anything illegal, but I have to question their wisdom, and I almost can't even do that. Their sorrow has to be more than I could imagine. But the saddest part is that a beautiful life was lost.

92 posted on 03/12/2007 7:44:16 AM PDT by SoftballMominVA
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To: 8mmMauser

Agreed this one is very sad, but also atypical. I don't see how anybody can diagnose ANY child with ADHD and bi-polar that young. I hesitate to blame tyhe parents because they've lost something very precious, but there's just no way a child should take these kinds of medications.


98 posted on 03/12/2007 7:55:36 AM PDT by gracesdad
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