The Legislative Season is upon us and the first important Hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, January 11th, 2018 at 1pm in the Senate Chambers. It is a meeting of the Family and Children Services committee where they will hear 2 bills of importance.

One bill we would like to SUPPORT is 

This bill offers rights to foster parents who have had the chil(ren) in their care for at least a year. It disallows DCS to uproot the kids without first giving the foster parents the right to a hearing. This is in the best interest in the child. An example of when this would be important is in the case of a child removed from the parents and placed with a grandparent or aunt/uncle. We would not want for DCS to be able to move the child to a random family at their own will with no ability for the current guardian to have a say in it. If this bill passes, it would allow the family member the ability to plead their case at a hearing and the judge would not be able to remove the child unless DCS could prove that it was in the best interest of the child. Since foster parents receive payment for caring for their foster children, we definitely want to nip in the bud any further potential for DCS moving children around when it’s not necessary.

 

The other bill being heard tomorrow which we want to OPPOSE is 

This bill requires DCS to notify a child’s school if anyone in the household gets arrested for any reason. We OPPOSE this bill because we don’t understand why schools need to know about arrests in the child’s home. What is the reason for this invasion of the child’s privacy in the school setting? What can the school even do about it? Who at the school would receive this notification and what do they intend to do with that information? The bill does not expand on this in any way. Why are ALL arrests required to be reported and not just arrests related to the case? If the child’s uncle is living with the family and gets arrested for unpaid parking tickets, the school needs to be notified? All arrests includes misdemeanors as well as felonies. Even arrests where the accused is later found to be innocent. This bill is painting with too broad of a brush and granting schools access to too much personal and private information. In addition, we don’t even know what they’re going to use this information for and we don’t know why it’s needed in the first place. Are the increased costs of maintaining this information and protecting this information worth the expense of taxpayer dollars in schools that are already under-funded? Many questions need to be answered before a bill like this should be passed. We urge you to call the legislators listed below AND send them an email to let them know that this bill is not ready to be passed without more information. Feel free to use any of the reasons mentioned here and/or any of your own in your email/phone calls.

Senators on the Family and Children Services Committee:
Ron Grooms (Chair of the committee) 317-234-9425
Greg Walker AND John Crane 317-232-9984
Mike Bohacek (Author of SB 135 which we OPPOSE) 317-232-9541
John Ford 317-234-9443
Erin Houchin 317-232-9488
Dennis Kruse 317-233-0930
Timothy Lanane 317-232-9427
Jean Breaux 317-232-9534

Email Block for the committee (you can copy and paste these into the TO field of one single email to send it to them all at once):
s46@iga.in.gov, s41@iga.in.gov, s8@iga.in.gov, s24@iga.in.gov, s38@iga.in.gov, s47@iga.in.gov, s14@iga.in.gov, s25@iga.in.gov, s34@iga.in.gov

Please call/email today, Wednesday January 10th if at all possible. Calls and emails will still be helpful after today since the hearing is not until 1pm tomorrow. If you aren’t reading this until after Thursday January 11th you can comment below and we will let you know if the bill is still being heard or it if already went to a vote.  If you call or email, please go ahead and comment on this post with your experience so others can see how quick and easy it is! Thank you for your support and continue to stay tuned as we get deeper into this legislative session (which ends in just 2 months on March 14th).

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill recently stirred confusion and debate regarding the legality of concentrated hemp extract, commonly referred to as Cannabis Oil or CBD oil. Most forms of CBD oil do not contain any THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the chemical in marijuana responsible for psychoactive  effects. It is unclear whether our AG and our Governor support the use of non THC containing CBD oil. Recent research supports the use of CBD oil as a nutritional supplement for those who suffer with pain, anxiety, autism, cancer, and most prominently, seizure disorders like epilepsy. Local news media report conflicting opinions between Governor Eric Holcomb and Attorney General Curtis Hill, leaving both retailers and consumers unsure of whether their favorite CBD oil product will continue to be available. Technically, CBD oil is legal in all 50 states as long as it’s derived from industrialized hemp and contains less than .3 percent THC.  This will be a priority topic for the upcoming 2018 legislative session.

For Hoosiers using CBD oil regularly to control epilepsy, the current legal ambiguity is cause for serious concern.

Parents like Jade and Lelah Jerger.

On September 20, 2017 Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) opened a file on Jade and Lelah Jerger, parents of Jaehla Jerger, 20 months, with epilepsy. Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis reported the Jergers to DCS,  accusing them of medical neglect for using Charlotte’s Web CBD oil containing 2mg of THC to assist with the toddler’s myoclonic seizures, when the prescribed pharmaceutical drug Keppra failed. Despite experiencing alarming side effects from the medication, DCS demanded weekly monitoring to prove the child was still using the prescription drug and also directed the family to specific medical centers and physicians, removing all medical decision making power from Jade and Lelah Jerger. Failure to comply would result in the toddler’s removal from her parents’ care.

On September 25, 2017 Indiana For Medical Freedom issued an official statement condemning DCS for their overreach and demanded the case be closed. Indiana For Medical Freedom provided the Keppra package insert to Indiana State legislators, by request, along with three studies showing the medication was contraindicated for Jaelah’s care.

On October 2, 2017 DCS closed the Jergers’ case due to “refuted evidence.”

The Jergers’ story made national news, sparking outrage among citizens who stand for parental rights and medical freedom. Lelah Jerger is forced to dispense her CBD oil across state lines or switch to a non THC CBD oil, taking a risk that it might not be as effective on her toddler’s seizures.

As a supporter of Indiana for Medical Freedom, we implore you to contact your legislators and refute the vilification of CBD oil. Removing it from our already limited natural medical treatments strips our ability to govern our own bodies.

We also encourage our readership to research scientific studies and critically evaluate the financial interests of those who govern us. On October 10, 2017 Indiana University and Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced that Indiana University donated $50 Million to the State of Indiana to combat Indiana’s opiate crisis. What’s IU’s motivation for the generous donation? A simple internet search reveals that IU’s Department of Biomolecular Science has conducted studies using both synthetic CBD and natural CBD on mice. This research could imply a vested interested in destroying CBD oil in favor of their own synthetic, and more profitable and patentable, product.  This places the pharmaceutical industry in the position of  both opiate addiction cause AND solution; profiting on both ends of the opioid crisis. It’s widely known that the entire IU Health network, including Riley Children’s Hospital and IU School of Medicine, opposes medical marijuana, which could be a result of placing its financial interests above patient care. Currently, CBD oil is the only non-opioid treatment available for addicts. Governor Holcomb and State Senator Jim Merritt (Narcan Proponent) aren’t interested in litigation against the manufacturers of opiates like New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas and Georgia. Drug manufacturers are not held responsible for their role in opioid addiction. The drugs were originally developed to assist in end of life, last resort pain management when addiction is not an issue. Routine surgeries, chronic pain and other common ailments aren’t reason enough to prescribe addictive pain medications, but drug companies fail to educate doctors on the appropriate distribution. The five states listed above have taken legal action against the pharmaceutical manufacturers in order to help cover the costs of dealing with the opiate crisis. The question remains why Governor Holcomb did not pursue a similar solution for Indiana and instead chose to accept the $50 million from Indiana University. An examination into his financial ties to Pharma might be needed.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (article below), states with legalized  medical marijuana are reporting a significant reduction in opiate overdoses. Unfortunately, it appears that the pharmaceutical lobby’s financial power (which doubles that of the mighty Oil Industry) easily overpowers taxpayer preferences.

A strong citizenry is an educated citizenry.  IFMF encourages you to arm yourself with information and learn to connect the dots.  With 1 in 13 children suffering from chronic health issues and 120 million Americans on prescription drugs, it’s time to demand better health care, especially the freedom to choose your preferred method of medical treatment. Parents of sick children won’t tolerate the government standing between them and healing their children.

For additional reading:

Get involved. Contact your state representatives before the next General Assembly. For inspiration, see the letter written by Lelah Jerger below.

“Governor Eric Holcomb,

Something has to be done on an emergency session. Our current CBD law is a direct violation of our rights. We had to fight to keep our daughter in our home after being reported for using Charlotte’s Web hemp extract to treat our daughters epilepsy. You say that CPS acted appropriately but you have no idea the threats that were used if we did not comply with them. Would you want your child’s blood drawn WEEKLY to prove a drug was in her system? Would you want someone to force you to send your child to a doctor of THEIR choice? Would you want to keep your child on a medication that caused horrible side effects if a safer alternative that WORKS is available?

This is what YOUR agency came into our home with. The fear that we, not only my husband, Jaelah, and I had to endure, but also our three other children was uncalled for. We had to hold our 10 year old daughter while she cried because she feared they would take her and her brother and sisters. All because we decided to forego traditional medications.

It should be our right as parents to choose medical treatment and which doctors we take our children to. Not anyone else’s.

The Attorney General’s statement has made the fear real again. We are working on getting Jaelah on the registry because her doctor DOES agree with the treatment, but since we were threatened with removal of our daughter if we took her anywhere else but Norton’s in Kentucky, we do not have an Indiana-licensed physician yet. This is what YOUR agency did.

And what happens in the mean time? Do we stop treatment on Jaelah until she is officially on the registry? Do we let her continue to have seizures because legally we can’t give her her treatment? The treatment her doctor agrees with. What would you do if this was your child????

The current law has forced us to divide our family over the Thanksgiving holiday because I had to go somewhere that I could legally give Jaelah her treatment. While you were comfortable in your home surrounded by your family, mine was torn apart.

This is America, the land of the free. However, we aren’t free. We aren’t free to make any decisions on our own without fear of government involvement. This is what our state has become. It does NOT work.

What are you going to do about it?”

Indiana For Medical Freedom stands with The Jergers and ALL families negatively affected by this issue and we respectfully request that you immediately address this issue in a manner that benefits citizens; not the pharmaceutical lobby, not Indiana University, not IU School of Medicine, and not Riley Hospital.

                       

With Parental Rights Under Siege in Indiana, Hoosiers Fight Back With Facts

Huntingsburg, IN- Advised by her attorney to refer any Indiana CPS calls to him, Lelah Jerger hangs up before finding out exactly what “refuted evidence” was given to CPS that made them close the case. But that’s what they said, “Due to refuted evidence your case file is being closed”.

If this is the first you’ve heard of the recent grab for parental rights in the Hoosier state, you can catch up , , ,  We even issued a press release and respectfully demanded that CPS close this case. You can read that here. In part, it reads;

“Indiana For Medical Freedom condemns this overreach into the lives of thoughtful, loving and informed parents that are within their rights per Public Law 188, which allows the use of CBD Oil for seizures in Indiana. Indiana For Medical Freedom condemns any forced medical procedures, pharmaceuticals and biologicals in Indiana or anywhere else. Indiana For Medical freedom respectfully demands the Jergers’ CPS file be immediately closed and any and all medical decision rights be immediately returned to the parents, as we believe parental rights are fundamental and supreme.”

The Jergers and Indiana For Medical Freedom volunteer advocates were in constant communication with several Indiana State Senators. Indiana For Medical Freedom was asked for the Keppra package insert and we immediately complied. Is that the “refuted evidence”? The manufacturer’s own admission that this drug had never been tested as safe in anyone under age 6? Was it that the package insert was presented to our Governor, Eric Holcomb? Is that what assisted him in making the call for CPS to acquiesce to our demand and actually close the case? Because that’s exactly what happened.

Late Thursday night, September 28, 2017, we were updated by Lelah Jerger. Her Senator had just called to let her know that he’d just gotten off the phone with a CPS attorney and our Governor’s office and that CPS would no longer intervene. However, it took until Monday October 2, 2017 for a CPS representative to contact the family with this update. Apparently, CPS only acts quickly when there are parental rights to steal. Too harsh? Perhaps, but no less “harsh” than what the Jergers endured for a 13 day period. Read it for yourself.

The Jerger’s attorney is waiting for an answer on exactly what the “refuted evidence” was, and we’ll update when we know more. We cannot say for sure what prompted our Governor to move swiftly in defense of the Jergers. This is rare; practically unheard of. Specific to Mrs. Jerger’s final paragraph about Jaelah coming from a long line of American Veterans, I’d like to acknowledge the “liberty warrior” that never enlisted; Lelah Jerger. Let her bravery, courage and strength in the face of fear encourage you all. It encourages all 2000 families that support Indiana For Medical Freedom. We stand in support of the Jergers and all families against a tyrannical government that seeks to usurp our fundamental right to govern our own children.

We thank the handful of Indiana Senators that stepped in at Jaelah’s defense, Governor Holcomb, all of the concerned citizens that contacted us to offer help, the media outlets that covered the story, and above all else, we thank God that custody and liberty was restored. We wish a lifetime of happiness to Jaelah Jerger and her family, and we hope this case sets a precedence in Indiana that parents are entitled to make medical decisions for their own children.

Indiana CPS Seizes Control Of Toddler’s Medical Care

 

44 News, Evansville journalist, Jeff Goldberg broke the story .  One of our over 2000 informed and thoughtful parents brought this to our attention yesterday, Sunday September 24, 2017.

Since that time, our organization has researched the forced pharmaceutical, Keppra and found several concerning issues. You can read the package insert yourself . We found the following information:

• Not approved for kids under age 6 (this “toddler” doesn’t even look 2 years old)
• Only studied in 24 kids and they were all older than age 6
• No one even knows how this drug works
• All the double blind studies were done on adults
• Contraindications include: “If you are worse on this drug, stop taking it”
• Meant to be used in adjunct therapy (not primary)
• Side Effects include: Renal Failure, suicidal thought and infertility (as the informed and concerned father mentions in the news article)

The parents will be setting up a crowd funding account that allows for donations for attorney fees. The goal is $5000. We will update this story with that link as soon as it is made available to us.

There is a t-shirt drive to help with costs as well. You can order your t-shirt .

 

Our official statement and press release is as follows:

“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Indiana For Medical Freedom
Contact: Melissa Sfura, President and Co-Founder
317-417-3011
melissa@indianaformedicalfreedom.org

 

EVANSVILLE FAMILY FIGHTS FOR MEDICAL RIGHTS TO EPILEPTIC DAUGHTER

Evansville, Indiana, September 25, 2017- An epileptic Evansville toddler’s medical care was taken over by Indiana CPS last week over a dispute in medical treatment.  The Jerger family seeks public support in reestablishing parental rights for their sick toddler, Jaelah despite cooperating with their physician.

Jade and Lehla Jerger, parents of Jaelah Jerger, say their daughter suffers from epilepsy and can have up to 100 seizures a day. KEPPRA, a common seizure medication was prescribed by a physician affiliated with Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, but according to Jaelah’s family, the medication did not reduce the number of daily seizures and, in fact, came with serious side effects that included trouble eating and sleeping and increased irritability. The family maintains they were cooperative with doctors and gave her the medication as prescribed.

According to the manufacturer package insert page for KEPPRA, this medication is not FDA approved for children under the age of 6 and is primarily used as an adjunctive therapy. Side effects can include: renal failure, infertility, suicidal thoughts and warns that those who worsen on this drug should cease taking it and talk to their physician.

Desperate to give their daughter some relief, Jaelah’s parents decided to try CBD oil, a somewhat new alternative treatment for epilepsy, in addition to the medication prescribed by her physician. CBD oil is  derived from the cannabis plant but is legal in the state of Indiana and does not require a prescription. Jaelah’s parents say her seizures decreased from 100 per day, down to around 2. Jaelah’s physician did not agree with this experimental treatment and called CPS, who removed Jergers’ rights to oversee their daughter’s medical care, citing medical neglect. Jaelah must submit to weekly tests to prove she is taking the prescribed medication. Noncompliance could result in Jaelah being removed from her home.

Now the Jergers are fighting the state to resume medical decisions on Jaelah’s behalf. Now under state care, Jaelah is being forced to take a medication that may not be best for her condition.

Source: Jeff Goldberg, 44 News, Evansville

Indiana For Medical Freedom condemns this overreach into the lives of thoughtful, loving and informed parents that are within their rights per Public Law 188, which allows the use of CBD Oil for seizures in Indiana. Indiana For Medical Freedom condemns any forced medical procedures, pharmaceuticals and biologicals in Indiana or anywhere else. Indiana For Medical freedom respectfully demands the Jergers’ CPS file be immediately closed and any and all medical decision rights be immediately returned to the parents, as we believe parental rights are fundamental and supreme.”

Additionally, we have been on the phone with the legislative assistant to an Indiana State Senator that is working on this important matter with many other State Senators.

The Jergers aren’t backing down. They’re within their legal rights. The use of CBD oil for seizures is legal, disagreeing with your doctor is legal, seeking a second opinion is legal. Forcing parents to give their children medication, treatments or procedures is something that Indiana For Medical Freedom opposes. Our support goes to the parents and we will rally behind them for whatever they need at this time. According to the “Justice for Jaelah” Facebook Page  and current GoFundMe (which we’ve advised will probably be taken down, because you can’t ask for donations for attorney fees), this all started when parents went against the recommendations of Riley Hospital in Indianapolis and severed the relationship. The hospital then reported the parents to CPS for “medical neglect”. CPS intervened on September 20, 2017. Parents are now supposed to submit to weekly blood draws at Memorial Hospital in Evansville, Indiana to prove they’re drugging their baby with medication never approved for her age. They’ve been advised by their attorney and State Senator to “proactively fight” CPS and Riley Hospital.

Press Conference Announces Federal Effort to Challenge ESSA

Indiana Statehouse, Indianapolis, September 20, 2017

Update 9/21/17 3:58pm

There was confusion about the Executive Order number.

“EO 12866 was issued under the Clinton administration to create a process for making regulatory changes.   This EO was amended by Obama to change the regulations under FERPA and by-pass Congress.” ~Karen Bracken

This can be found on the Federal Register, Docket ID: ED-2011-OM-0002 

End of update.

Many of our followers are already aware that vigilant citizenry requires that we become the media. Since there was no media coverage of this newsworthy event, Indiana For Medical Freedom will gladly break this story.

Dr. Duke Pesta, Ph. D was the Master of Ceremony. Dr. Duke received his doctorate from Purdue University. “What’s going on in our public schools is shocking”, Dr. Duke begins. He goes on to explain that because of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), “We’re asking teachers, who have no real training in this kind of psychology, this kind of sociology to set aside their teaching of subjects like Math and Science, History and Reading, and to focus on behavioral issues that they are not qualified to address.”  Dr. Pesta then poses the question, “Who’s assessing them? Shouldn’t you, parents, as stakeholders be allowed to assess our teachers?”

It’s unclear at this time who exactly turned off the mic in The People’s House, but it is believed that it was the Indiana Department of Education, whose office the press conference was just outside of. Perhaps they disagreed with the message, and thought they had the authority to silence concerned citizens in their own house? As medical freedom fighters, our organization and others across the country are very used to this behavior from elected officials.

What citizens need to know is that your students’ formerly protected information is being shared with state agencies, other faculty and other parents. The reason is because the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) was gutted by Executive Order 12866 by our former President.

Graphic Source:

Indiana For Medical Freedom encourages all Medical Freedom groups to look into this matter. Talk to your members. We knew something was going on with FERPA because parents have been reporting to us that other parents are demanding all students be fully vaccinated. We’ve had parents that work at schools report that school nurses are discussing that it’s suspicious that parents are not sharing medical records with them, calling parents “lazy” for using Pull-Ups training diapers. Recently an Indiana school corporation school nurse announced to faculty that ALL parents of students, regardless of a diagnosis, would be reported to the Indiana Department of Child Services if the student had toileting issues. Another one of our parents came to the press conference yesterday and told Dr. Pesta that her 15 year old had come home from school and went searching through her parents’ private documents trying to find “what they lied to her about” because her teachers are openly discussing in the classroom that they’ve all been lied to by their parents. THIS is ESSA. The socio-emotional engineering of our children.

Dr. Pesta is promoting a legal challenge to ESSA and demanding that FERPA be restored. Concerned citizens and parents can register  to be added to an email list to receive action items and updates on this federal effort. Indiana For Medical Freedom encourages everyone reading this article to do so.

Dr. Pesta’s team will be uploading video of yesterday’s press conference and we’ll update this post with the video, once it is released.

 

 

Florida Congressman Needs Our Help

Bill Posey (R) Has Introduced H.R. 3615

Vaccinated vs Non-Vaccinated Total Health Outcome Study

Indiana For Medical Freedom hopes that Hoosiers will take a few moments to email, write or call your Federal Representatives, respectfully requesting they support Congressman Bill Posey (R) FL.

Our goals are simple:

1. Get cosponsors
2. Reach out to the Committee on Energy & Commerce to support the bill
3. Let our Reps know we want them to support HR3615 when it comes to the House floor

You can read the bill text 

Find the Energy and Commerce members 

If you’re not sure who your Representatives are you can enter your zip code to find out 

We’d like to thank everyone for their action, support and unity on this very important matter. The issue of Vaccine Safety is a non partisan issue. It affects us all. Vaccine Injury does not care what religion you are, what your education level is, how large or small your home is, what’s in your wallet, what your socio-economic status is, what gender you are, what your sexual orientation is, what ethnicity you are, what political party you associate with. Many people believe that our non-vaccinated children are healthier than their vaccinated peers. If science matters, this is a study that MUST be conducted. We encourage everyone to insist that this study be conducted. Even the smallest action matters. Write a letter or make a phone call TODAY.

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Melissa Sfura, President
Indiana for Medical Freedom

 

FEDERAL COURT RULES VACCINATIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR INFANT’S DEATH

WASHINGTON, DC, AUGUST 23, 2017- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Health Resources Services Administration, and the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, issued a ruling on July 10, 2017 in favor petitioners CHASE BOATMON & MAURINA CUPID, parents of J.B., deceased, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. The ruling states it is more likely than not that the DTaP vaccine was responsible for this infant child’s SIDS death on September 3, 2011. “J.B.”, was five months old when he received DTap*, IPV*, PCV*, HIB and Rotovirus vaccines during a well child doctor’s appointment on September 2, 2011.

“In this case, I have concluded, after review of the evidence, that it is more likely than not that the vaccines played a substantial causal role in the death of this child without the effect of which he would not have died. The role of inflammatory cytokines as neuro-modulators in the infant medulla has been well described and is likely the reason for a significant number of SIDS deaths occurring in conjunction with mild infection,” said Thomas Gowen, Special Master who issued the judgment.

Indiana For Medical Freedom urges Indiana leaders to continuously review the safety of these vaccines.  Previous cases of infant death following vaccination that have been ruled as “SIDS” should be re-examined as potential vaccine deaths. Additionally, this evidence should be reviewed prior to approving any legislation that would seek to mandate vaccines as a condition of employment or school attendance.

For more information about this case, please read:

*DTap is Diptheria, tetanus-acellular, pertussis
*IPV is inactivated polio
*PCV is pneumococcal conjugate
*HIB is haemophilus influenzae

Do Facts Matter?

 reports

“INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana health officials investigating a surge in whooping cough cases are urging Hoosiers to take precautions to avoid the highly contagious bacterial infection.

The Indiana State Department of Health said Thursday that it’s confirmed 136 cases

of whooping cough, or pertussis, during the first half of 2017. That’s more than double the 66 cases recorded during the same period last year.

State health officials are encouraging parents to look for sings and symptoms of whooping cough, as it is most prevalent in children and highly contagious if not vaccinated.”

But what Fox 59 and other media outlets aren’t reporting is the vaccination status of those affected. That’s an important piece of information to leave out in a “News” article. Which makes this blogger wonder if this “reporting” is News or a pharmaceutical advertisement.

At the time of this writing I haven’t been able to locate any data on this “outbreak”. Fox 59 reports that “officials are investigating”, but it remains to be seen exactly what is being investigated? I encourage everyone to scour the comments on  to see at least one parent reporting that her daughter had the vaccine and is currently battling the illness that took 2 months to diagnose because no one, not even Riley Hospital For Children thought to test for the illness because she’d been vaccinated.

This blog post will be updated as soon as I find the data that should be readily available for citizens.