Carmichael, who’s not pursuing civil action against Paxil’s maker, says politics is the best avenue to get his point across about what he feels is the over-diagnosis of mental illness and the over-prescribing of prescription drugs.
“You cannot lobby against multinational companies. Their tentacles are too deep. They have too much money,” said Carmichael.
http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/news/article/978022--independent-candidate-enters-federal-race
Independent candidate enters federal race
Independent candidate David Carmichael is running on a platform centred on health care and big pharma. MUSKOKA - “Health care may be a provincial jurisdiction, but protecting the health of Canadians and promoting health is a federal responsibility,” says David Carmichael.
The Huntsville resident said this is the driving force behind his decision to run in the federal election as an independent candidate.
Carmichael lists his occupation as a sport consultant and former director of national projects at ParticipAction when it closed its doors in 2001.
He has a tragic past that has motivated him to become involved in politics.
In July, 2004, Carmichael drugged his son with sleep medication and suffocated the then 11-year-old boy in what he describes as an antidepressant-induced psychosis.
He was later found to be not-criminally-responsible because of a mental disorder and received an absolute discharge, which means he has no criminal record.
Carmichael believes he killed his son Ian because of side effects he wasn’t aware of as a result of an antidepressant.
He had altered his prescribed doses of Paxil, which he had been prescribed for depression, without consulting his doctor. That, he believes, sent him into psychosis.
At the trial, psychiatrists testified Carmichael had severe depression and instances of psychosis.
He said his depression — which was diagnosed in 2003 at age 45 — first surfaced when he wasn’t exercising regularly.
The psychosis came later. After forgetting to take his antidepressant for a few days, feeling better, he weaned himself off the drugs in early 2004.
When his symptoms returned, he restarted his medication, upping the dose.
Playing with the dosage, he says, triggered the psychotic episode when he killed Ian, believing his son was in living hell, permanently brain-damaged and going to hurt other children.
And now he’s running for federal office as an independent candidate. His agenda includes increased funding for disease, disorder and illness prevention. He hopes to prevent other similar tragedies from happening.
“I feel I have a responsibility both to my son and daughter … to try and make sure that you break the silence and stigma associated with mental illness and even health care and start to ask more questions of our doctors,” said Carmichael, who has a master’s degree in physical and health education from York University.
Before his depression, he had a long-running career in high profile, healthy living centred jobs such as director of ParticipAction.
“If I had asked more questions, this whole tragedy may have been prevented,” he said.
Carmichael, who’s not pursuing civil action against Paxil’s maker, says politics is the best avenue to get his point across about what he feels is the over-diagnosis of mental illness and the over-prescribing of prescription drugs.
“You cannot lobby against multinational companies. Their tentacles are too deep. They have too much money,” said Carmichael.
“I never aspired to be a politician, but I do aspire for public education.”
Preventing disease, whether physical or mental, says Carmichael, needs to start at the federal level.
“I know I can’t compete with the big blue machine. It’s David versus Goliath,” said Carmichael. “However, it doesn’t mean the issues can’t be raised.”
He admits he is a one-issue candidate.
“Health Canada has not done enough to protect the health of Canadians against the adverse and potentially lethal side effects of prescription drugs while the cost of prescription and over-the-counter drugs have increased from $4 billion in 1989 to $31 billion in 2010.
“In fact, the pharmaceutical industry seems to be self-regulated by Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D), the national association that represents big pharmaceutical companies,” he wrote in a press release.
“You cannot lobby against multinational companies. Their tentacles are too deep. They have too much money,” said Carmichael.
http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/news/article/978022--independent-candidate-enters-federal-race
Independent candidate enters federal race
Independent candidate enters federal race. ONE ISSUE:
Independent candidate David Carmichael is running on a platform centred on health care and big pharma. MUSKOKA - “Health care may be a provincial jurisdiction, but protecting the health of Canadians and promoting health is a federal responsibility,” says David Carmichael.
The Huntsville resident said this is the driving force behind his decision to run in the federal election as an independent candidate.
Carmichael lists his occupation as a sport consultant and former director of national projects at ParticipAction when it closed its doors in 2001.
He has a tragic past that has motivated him to become involved in politics.
In July, 2004, Carmichael drugged his son with sleep medication and suffocated the then 11-year-old boy in what he describes as an antidepressant-induced psychosis.
He was later found to be not-criminally-responsible because of a mental disorder and received an absolute discharge, which means he has no criminal record.
Carmichael believes he killed his son Ian because of side effects he wasn’t aware of as a result of an antidepressant.
He had altered his prescribed doses of Paxil, which he had been prescribed for depression, without consulting his doctor. That, he believes, sent him into psychosis.
At the trial, psychiatrists testified Carmichael had severe depression and instances of psychosis.
He said his depression — which was diagnosed in 2003 at age 45 — first surfaced when he wasn’t exercising regularly.
The psychosis came later. After forgetting to take his antidepressant for a few days, feeling better, he weaned himself off the drugs in early 2004.
When his symptoms returned, he restarted his medication, upping the dose.
Playing with the dosage, he says, triggered the psychotic episode when he killed Ian, believing his son was in living hell, permanently brain-damaged and going to hurt other children.
And now he’s running for federal office as an independent candidate. His agenda includes increased funding for disease, disorder and illness prevention. He hopes to prevent other similar tragedies from happening.
“I feel I have a responsibility both to my son and daughter … to try and make sure that you break the silence and stigma associated with mental illness and even health care and start to ask more questions of our doctors,” said Carmichael, who has a master’s degree in physical and health education from York University.
Before his depression, he had a long-running career in high profile, healthy living centred jobs such as director of ParticipAction.
“If I had asked more questions, this whole tragedy may have been prevented,” he said.
Carmichael, who’s not pursuing civil action against Paxil’s maker, says politics is the best avenue to get his point across about what he feels is the over-diagnosis of mental illness and the over-prescribing of prescription drugs.
“You cannot lobby against multinational companies. Their tentacles are too deep. They have too much money,” said Carmichael.
“I never aspired to be a politician, but I do aspire for public education.”
Preventing disease, whether physical or mental, says Carmichael, needs to start at the federal level.
“I know I can’t compete with the big blue machine. It’s David versus Goliath,” said Carmichael. “However, it doesn’t mean the issues can’t be raised.”
He admits he is a one-issue candidate.
“Health Canada has not done enough to protect the health of Canadians against the adverse and potentially lethal side effects of prescription drugs while the cost of prescription and over-the-counter drugs have increased from $4 billion in 1989 to $31 billion in 2010.
“In fact, the pharmaceutical industry seems to be self-regulated by Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D), the national association that represents big pharmaceutical companies,” he wrote in a press release.
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