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U.S.
Senator Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs
Committees |
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For Immediate
Release October 18, 2005 |
CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Press Secretary 202-228-3630 Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary 303-455-7600 |
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| Sen. Salazar Urges States to Outlaw Dangerous Rebirthing Procedure WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate today moved in bipartisan fashion to urge states to outlaw the dangerous and scientifically unsupported procedure known as “rebirthing.” By unanimous consent, the Senate approved S. Res. 276 sponsored by United States Senators Ken Salazar and Richard Burr (R-NC) urging states to ban the practice. “This dangerous procedure is supported by no scientific evidence and is in fact condemned by the American Psychiatric Association,” said Senator Salazar. The Salazar-Burr resolution specifically notes that over the last decade, at least five children have been killed during rebirthing. The S. Res. 276 also draws special attention to the case of Candace Newmaker, a ten-year-old North Carolina native who was suffocated during an April, 2001 rebirthing session with her adoptive mother in Colorado. Then-Attorney General Salazar’s office successfully defended the psychotherapist’s conviction on appeal. Candace Newmaker’s grandparents, David and Mary Davis of North Carolina, were present in the Senate gallery today during Senator Salazar’s remarks and the Senate’s unanimous approval of the Salazar-Burr resolution. “As I stated then, and still believe today, adults are responsible for their criminal recklessness when caring for a child, regardless of whether it is called ‘therapy’ or some other form of unusual care or treatment,” said Senator Salazar. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has found no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of rebirthing techniques. In 2002, Dr. Paul S. Applebaum, President of the APA called rebirthing techniques “extreme methods [that] pose serious risk and should not be used under any circumstances.” Currently, only two states (Colorado and North Carolina) have laws on the books outlawing rebirthing and similar techniques. The resolution sponsored
by Senators Salazar and Burr can
be read by clicking here. # # # |
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