Tonight, ABC will air the first episode of a new legal drama called Eli Stone. And what better way to make a drama riveting than to suggest that a debunked theory about the cause of autism is actually true?
In the episode, a fictitious vaccine additive called mercuritol acts as a stand-in for the real thing — thimerosal, a preservative commonly used in childhood vaccines before 1999. In that year, the U.S. largely removed thimerosal from the market after concerns arose about the amount of mercury contained in it. High levels of mercury can lead to a wide array of health concerns, especially in infants and children.
There has been no proven scientific connection between thimerosal and autism, and since being pulled from the market in the U.S. autism rates have not significantly dropped. But that didn’t stop the writers of the Eli Stone episode from suggesting otherwise and implicating the vaccine additive connection.
The problem? Parents fearing that such a connection really does exist will decline to immunize their children from common maladies, actually increasing the risk to their children’s health.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has also weighed in against the airing of the episode:
While the show includes statements that science has refuted any link between autism and vaccines, the episode’s conclusion delivers a contrary impression; the jury awards the mother $5.2 million, leaving audiences with the destructive idea that vaccines do cause autism.
“A television show that perpetuates the myth that vaccines cause autism is the height of reckless irresponsibility on the part of ABC and its parent company, The Walt Disney Co.,” said Renee R. Jenkins, MD, FAAP, president of the AAP.
“If parents watch this program and choose to deny their children immunizations, ABC will share in the responsibility for the suffering and deaths that occur as a result.”
Perhaps that’s bit of hyperbole to make the point, but it’s a point nevertheless well taken. Parents should not forgo immunizations just because of something they see on TV (and I sincerely hope most parents wouldn’t even consider doing so!).
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Lynn » autism is NOT caused by vaccines (1/31/2008)
6 Comments to
“Is Autism Caused by a Vaccine Additive? No”
I saw a snippet of Oprah’s show where Jim Carrey’s girlfriend promoted the idea that vaccines had caused her son’s autism. I’ve read the blog of a Christian homeschooler who refuses to vaccinate her children, viewing the new cervical cancer vaccine as evil (it implies that her daughter will *need* the vaccine because she will have sex someday). I don’t have implicit faith in medication, but I like science.
Well said!!
I do not support the American Academy of Pediatrics efforts to stop a fictional TV show from airing.
I would like to see more energy and effort go towards finding the cause(s)of autism. The American Academy of Pediatrics has an opportunity to request funding for research, treatment, education. That is much more useful then attempting to get a stupid TV show cancelled. A TV show that most people probably would not have watched in the first place !
It can only be a good thing that autism is in the news – it needs to be in the news. Educational services for children on the autism spectrum are exploding across the country – school districts are unprepared for the crushing numbers of students requiring services. Families are left without access to therapys known to make a positive impact because many health plans won’t cover – if the family even has health care.
More research into what causes autism is needed. We need answers now. AAP can take a leadership role and seriously support finding a cure.
Vaccine makers were never ordered to remove thimerosal, they were encouraged to remove them.
Thimerosal is 49.6% ethyl-mercury and is the second most toxic substance known to man.
Thimerosal is still in the vaccines here in California,..despite the Governor here mandating it be removed from all vaccines admined in Calif,..
The US government recommends children receive over thirty vaccinations before they are three!
Our son quite speaking the day after a vaccination with Thimerasol in it.
WE had no informed choice, beware!
The thimerosal WASN’T REMOVED from childhood vaccines. Even though the Department of Health and Human Services and vaccine makers said, eight long years ago, that thimerosal should and would be removed, the government and vaccine makers, with the main stream media complicit, in between prescription drug ads, continue to poison Americans through flu vaccines which are now advised for pregnant women and children. I spent a few weeks trying to discern the level of thimerosal content in flu vaccines. (the vast majority of them have toxic levels). Like to read about the kind of low-life scum that’re profiting from the poisoning of American children?
http://www.wideopenwest.com/~r_nemeth/clinic_timeline.htm
I suppose there will always be plenty of ‘humans’ willing to apologize for genocide.
I don’t think this is the most repsonsible way to deal with the issue, but at the same time, I sure hope parents would do their research before making such a critical decision about their children’s health based on a fictional t.v. show. I’m still not convinced vaccines cause autism, but I do think it’s possible something in the vaccines may trigger its onset in someone genetically predisposed to it. There’s a great debate about vaccines and autism at http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/are-autism-and-vaccines-linked Several experts from both sides weigh in, and there’s a guy named Kevin Leitch who is really taking on the groups who believe autism and vaccines are linked. Excellent read on the topic!
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 29 Jan 2008
