This happened back in 2005 (in the news again due to a verdict in the case) and yes the mainstream medical community did jump all over it to attack doctors and parents using biomedical treatments for their autistic children. As far as I know, EDTA is not used in the DAN! protocol. And I believe the boy did not test high for mercury, but aluminum. This was obviously overly agressive therapy which is sad.

I had a DMPS (oral) challenge test and am currently taking oral DMPS and not following the Cutler protocol (not because I don't agree with it, but because I was already taking once daily evening with replacement minerals morning with great success, before I had heard of the Cutler protocol.) I read each story on DMPS backfire. Nearly every case involved IV DMPS or fast push. It also appeared that there was very little preparation (candida diet, etc.) before starting agressive chelation. A lot of these cases appear to have had severe gastrointestinal side effects. I agree with you Sosick. I believe I have done well on it in part because I had already been on the candida diet for a few years before beginning and I do a coffee enema everyday to clear toxins - and use plenty of probiotics. The DAN! protocol does not go straight into chelation - they try first to get gastrointestinal imbalances under control through diet and supplementation. Apparently they are having good success with transdermal DMPS and DMPS suppositories. I think the most important thing with any of these chelation therapies is to start low and slow (probably why the Cutler protocol seems to have less side effects.)