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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/dec/21/kent-police-receive-complaint-over-bogus-bleach-based-autism-cure
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| Kent police receive complaint over bogus bleach-based autism "cure" | Kent police receive complaint over bogus bleach-based autism "cure" |
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| Autism groups say they have no evidence of an increase in people using a dangerous bleach-based solution that falsely claims to “cure” autism in children, after a second British police force within a month received a complaint about its use. | Autism groups say they have no evidence of an increase in people using a dangerous bleach-based solution that falsely claims to “cure” autism in children, after a second British police force within a month received a complaint about its use. |
| Kent police became involved after being told that a mother planned to give her teenage son a product sold as MMS, which in different instances stands for Miracle Mineral Solution or Master Miracle Solution. | Kent police became involved after being told that a mother planned to give her teenage son a product sold as MMS, which in different instances stands for Miracle Mineral Solution or Master Miracle Solution. |
| The product is sold by a US-based church as a supposed cure for autism, as well as for cancer, HIV and other conditions. However, trading standards tests on the liquid found it was a 28% solution of sodium chlorite, equivalent to industrial-strength bleach. | The product is sold by a US-based church as a supposed cure for autism, as well as for cancer, HIV and other conditions. However, trading standards tests on the liquid found it was a 28% solution of sodium chlorite, equivalent to industrial-strength bleach. |
| Even if taken diluted, as instructed on the bottle, MMS could cause severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). If ingested neat it could cause respiratory failure. | Even if taken diluted, as instructed on the bottle, MMS could cause severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). If ingested neat it could cause respiratory failure. |
| Related: Autism: how unorthodox treatments can exploit the vulnerable | Related: Autism: how unorthodox treatments can exploit the vulnerable |
| Kent police said officers went to the parent’s address and liaised with social services, finding a bottle of MMS. While “advice” was given to the mother, the force said, no crime had been committed. | Kent police said officers went to the parent’s address and liaised with social services, finding a bottle of MMS. While “advice” was given to the mother, the force said, no crime had been committed. |
| Kent police added: “The possession of the bottle was not illegal. The item was surrendered freely. It was unopened. There is no live police investigation in relation to this.” | Kent police added: “The possession of the bottle was not illegal. The item was surrendered freely. It was unopened. There is no live police investigation in relation to this.” |
| Last month, Thames Valley police investigated a similar complaint involving the product. While the case was referred to the local children’s services department, again there was no criminal investigation. | Last month, Thames Valley police investigated a similar complaint involving the product. While the case was referred to the local children’s services department, again there was no criminal investigation. |
| MMS is not the only product offered as a supposed “cure” for autism. Earlier this year the government’s medicine and healthcare products regulatory agency issued a warning about a UK-made blood-derived product called GcMAF, which the manufacturers also claimed could treat autism, cancer and HIV. | MMS is not the only product offered as a supposed “cure” for autism. Earlier this year the government’s medicine and healthcare products regulatory agency issued a warning about a UK-made blood-derived product called GcMAF, which the manufacturers also claimed could treat autism, cancer and HIV. |
| While such products were irresponsible and spread a negative message about autism, the National Autistic Society (NAS) said it had seen no evidence of a rise in people seeking to obtain them. | While such products were irresponsible and spread a negative message about autism, the National Autistic Society (NAS) said it had seen no evidence of a rise in people seeking to obtain them. |
| The NAS said its care team had received calls from people worried about reports about MMS, but had not been contacted by anyone asking about its potential efficacy. However, it added, there was no way of knowing if this was the case more generally. | The NAS said its care team had received calls from people worried about reports about MMS, but had not been contacted by anyone asking about its potential efficacy. However, it added, there was no way of knowing if this was the case more generally. |
| The FSA said it was also difficult to pin down the prevalence of MMS, not least as it was mainly the responsibility of individual trading standards teams. It has been told of trading standards officers in Brighton and Surrey halting two meetings connected to promoting the product. | |
| The FSA’s food crime units is working with local authorities, government departments and others to take action against MMS, a spokeswoman said. She added: “Miracle Mineral Solution can cause serious damage to health and in some cases even death. Anyone who has bought these products is advised to throw them away. If they have been taken and the person feels unwell, they should consult their doctor.” | The FSA’s food crime units is working with local authorities, government departments and others to take action against MMS, a spokeswoman said. She added: “Miracle Mineral Solution can cause serious damage to health and in some cases even death. Anyone who has bought these products is advised to throw them away. If they have been taken and the person feels unwell, they should consult their doctor.” |
| Related: 'Hopeful' study of autism wins Samuel Johnson prize 2015 | Related: 'Hopeful' study of autism wins Samuel Johnson prize 2015 |
| MMS is sold by the self-styled Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, which is officially based in the Dominican Republic and claims a UK outpost in Rotherhithe, south-east London. | MMS is sold by the self-styled Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, which is officially based in the Dominican Republic and claims a UK outpost in Rotherhithe, south-east London. |
| The church’s website also lists UK stockists for MMS. While it is described on the sales page as a product for water purification, the website also has a page boasting of its healing properties, claiming that it was invented by the church’s leader, “archbishop” James Humble. | The church’s website also lists UK stockists for MMS. While it is described on the sales page as a product for water purification, the website also has a page boasting of its healing properties, claiming that it was invented by the church’s leader, “archbishop” James Humble. |
| Carol Povey, who heads NAS’s centre for autism, said it was shocking that people “try to promote potentially very harmful products like these to the most vulnerable people”. | Carol Povey, who heads NAS’s centre for autism, said it was shocking that people “try to promote potentially very harmful products like these to the most vulnerable people”. |
| She said: “Autism is a complex neurological condition without a cure but, with the right support and interventions to meet their needs, people on the autism spectrum can live fulfilling lives. | She said: “Autism is a complex neurological condition without a cure but, with the right support and interventions to meet their needs, people on the autism spectrum can live fulfilling lives. |
| “Parents of children with autism and individuals on the spectrum need access to honest and truthful advice from the time of their diagnosis onwards. This makes it less likely they will fall prey to the quacks and charlatans peddling dubious interventions like Miracle Mineral Solution.” | “Parents of children with autism and individuals on the spectrum need access to honest and truthful advice from the time of their diagnosis onwards. This makes it less likely they will fall prey to the quacks and charlatans peddling dubious interventions like Miracle Mineral Solution.” |