Defeating Autism: A Damaging Delusion
'Medicine has limits. Despite tremendous technological advances several diseases remain without a clear cause or cure, autism among them. Unfortunately, where medicine fails, charlatanism and quackery abounds, often with damaging results. In his book,Defeating Autism, Michael Fitzpatrick, a physician and himself the father of an autistic son, explores the therapies that have been proffered for autistic children with clarity and compassion. This is a must read for any parent trying to wade through the Arabian bazaar of autism therapies.'- Paul A. Offit, M.D.,Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA'With eloquent and persuasive writing, Fitzpatrick uncovers the political agendas that lie behind current fears of an autism crisis, and challenges the epidemic of unproven and expensive treatments. He shows us that our children are indeed being helped tremendously, not by unscientific autism treatments that falsely promise cure or recovery, but by educators, scientists, evidence-based therapies, and new understandings of what it means to be human, and different, in the twenty first century. If my child were diagnosed with autism today, I would turn to Dr Michael Fitzpatrick for guidance.'- Roy Richard Grinker,Professor of Anthropology at George Washington University, USA and author ofUnstrange Minds‘Fitzpatrick has begun a much-needed conversation… A disembodied attitude of incredulity toward what is known and true can lead parents and scientists to dark places. Fitzpatrick’s book is a superb effort to reverse these negative trends.’ –Contemporary Psychology