MERCER, Mercer County — The parents of a 5-year-old autistic boy who died after receiving chemical treatments at a Portersville clinic are suing the boy's doctor.

Mawra and Rufai Nadama of Great Britain are accusing Dr. Roy E. Kerry of giving their son, Tariq, the wrong chemicals at the wrong speed — ultimately causing a fatal heart attack.

The wrongful death lawsuit was filed Monday in Mercer County Court.

"This is a real human tragedy that never should have happened,"said the Nadama's attorney John Gismondi. "The doctor had no business administering this drug to a child, and he only made matters worse by giving it much too quickly."

Tariq reportedly went into cardiac arrest at Kerry's Advanced Integrated Medicine Center office in Portersville Aug. 23, 2005, after receiving his third treatment of chelation therapy.

Chelation removes heavy metals from the body and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration only for acute heavy-metal poisoning that has been confirmed by blood tests.

However, some people who believe autism is caused by a mercury-containing preservative once used in vaccines say chelation also may help autistic children.

Autism is a developmental disability that affects a child's social interaction and communication. There is no cure.

Marwa Nadama brought her son to the Pittsburgh area in 2005, specifically to seek the controversial treatment.

The Nadama's lawsuit alleges Kerry ordered the wrong type of chelation solution, and administered the solution during a matter of minutes instead of hours, as recommended.

Marwa Nadama and her minor daughter, Hauwau Nadama, witnessed Tariq's death, according to the lawsuit.

Kerry, 68, of Greenville, could not be reached for comment Monday.

The Nadamas also are suing ApotheCure of Dallas, which they contend supplied the chelation solution but allegedly did not provide appropriate warnings and instructions about its use.

The company did not return a call for comment.

Also named in the lawsuit are Mark Lewis, another doctor at the medical center; the center itself and various companies associated with ApotheCure.

No criminal charges have been filed against Kerry or any of the named litigants.

However, state police in Butler have been investigating Tariq's death as a possible involuntary manslaughter, according to a warrant filed in April.

The warrant allowed police to search Kerry's offices in Portersville and Greenville.

Butler County District Attorney Randa Clark did not return a telephone message Monday.

Gismondi said the timing of the lawsuit had nothing to do with the status of the criminal investigation. Rather, he said the two-year statute of limitations to file such a suit is nearing.