Autism Didn’t Kill Jett Travolta
Posted by Amber Robinson at 4:41 PM on January 8, 2009
There has been much speculation on Babble and in the wider media as to whether it was “untreated autism” that killed Jett Travolta. After speaking to autism experts, there is one thing that needs to be made clear: autism is not a fatal condition. It is a brain development disorder, not a sickness. Some medications can be used to treat the associated symptoms so that, for example, a child may be able to integrate more easily into the school environment.
If Jett’s seizures were associated with autism (which at this stage the Travolta family are still denying), the seizures would have to be treated as a separate condition. TMZ reports that Jett was taking a drug called Depakote, a strong anti-seizure medication. There have been reports Travolta refused to give his son anti-seizure meds because of Scientology but it apapears that those stories are not true.
From TMZ:
“Jett had been having seizures on an average of every four days, until he started taking Depakote. Ossi and McDermott say the drug initially worked, reducing the frequency to approximately once every three weeks.
Jett took Depakote for “several years,” but it eventually lost its effectiveness, according to Ossi and McDermott. They say the Travoltas were concerned about possible physical damage. And, Jett went back to having around one seizure a week. So Travolta and Preston, after consulting neurosurgeons, stopped administering the drug. No one is suggesting withdrawal of the medicine in any way caused the fatal episode.”
In addition, a Scientology spokesperson, Tommy Davis has said that the church has no policy on whether autism is real or fabricated. It is not addressed in church practice. He claims that the church would never interfere with a doctor’s prescription for a medical condition such as seizures.
The church would have told the Travoltas to do whatever their doctors prescribed, Davis said. He has known John for 30 years and Kelly for 18, and was present for Jett’s birth. The boy, he said, has always received the best medical care.
We appreciate the autism advocates who have contacted us to correct false reports, and our hearts continue to go out to the Travolta family who are still mourning the tragic loss of their young son.
Thanks so much for clearing this up! Whilst Autism is treatable with medication, its not the only form of treatment available, and not the first step in treatment regardless. I accept that associated conditions might be treatable with medication, but so often in those circumstances I think you have to wonder what came first- the chicken or the egg? Regardless of the treatment they did or did not use – my heart goes out to the Travoltas.