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Chelation Therapy Kills Autist Boy

Highly Controversial Treatment Received By 5-Year-Old In Portersville

Chelation is an unproven treatment that some believe may cure the neurological and developmental disorder

Abubakar Tariq Nadama, 5, at his third treatment of chelation therapy on Tuesday went into cardiac arrest.

Some believe autism is linked to a mercury-containing preservative commonly used in childhood vaccines some time ago, which is why they advocate chelation therapy, causing heavy metals to leave the body through urine.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved chelation only for acute heavy-metal poisoning that is confirmed by blood tests.

Marwa Nadama, The boy's mother, said she didn't blame the therapy, but was waiting for test results.

Howard Carpenter, the executive director of the Advisory Board on Autism-Related Disorders:

"Parents of children with autism are desperate. Some are willing to try anything."