Vaccines Didn't Cause Autism--CNN report 2/12/09 576x324 dl

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A special court ruled Thursday that evidence presented in three cases by parents of children with autism did not prove a link between autism and certain early childhood vaccines.
A special court denied Mike and Theresa Cedillo's claim that vaccines caused autism in their daughter, Michelle.

A special court denied Mike and Theresa Cedillo's claim that vaccines caused autism in their daughter, Michelle.

The ruling came from a panel of "special masters" who began hearing three test cases in 2007 involving children with autism -- a disorder that their parents contend was triggered by the vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella combined with vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative.

Three families -- the Cedillos, the Hazlehursts and the Snyders -- sought compensation from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, but the panel ruled that they had not presented sufficient evidence to prove that the childhood vaccines caused autism in their children.

"I feel deep sympathy and admiration for the Cedillo family," Special Master George L. Hastings Jr. wrote in his ruling in the case involving 14-year-old Michelle Cedillo, who cannot speak, wears a diaper and requires round-the-clock monitoring in case she has a seizure.

"And I have no doubt that the families of countless other autistic children, families that cope every day with the tremendous challenges of caring for autistic children, are similarly deserving of sympathy and admiration. However, I must decide this case not on sentiment, but by analyzing the evidence," Hastings wrote. "In this case the evidence advanced by the petitioners has fallen far short of demonstrating such a link." Video Dr. Gupta: A look at the life of Michelle Cedillo »

In a statement shortly after the release of the decisions, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it continues to support research "to better understand the cause of autistic disorders and develop more effective methods of treatment." Paging Dr. Gupta blog: What the ruling tells us

However, "the medical and scientific communities ... have found no association between vaccines and autism."

"Hopefully, the determination by the Special Masters will help reassure parents that vaccines do not cause autism," the statement said.

Autism Speaks, a large autism advocacy organization, called for continued examination of the disorder's contributing factors.

"The causes of autism remain poorly understood. ... We will continue to support authoritative research that addresses unanswered questions about whether certain subgroups of individuals with particular underlying medical or genetic conditions may be more vulnerable to adverse effects of vaccines," the Autism Speaks statement reads, in part.

The Autism Society of America, one of the oldest and largest autism grassroots organization in the country, also called for more research into autism's causes.

"ASA believes that the science of autism causes and treatments need to be more vigorously researched. ... Individuals living with autism need help today, and this case illustrates the need for the medical community to probe further into environmental causes of autism. Like all families affected by autism, these families deserve to be heard and supported in their journey raising their children."
Health Library * MayoClinic.com: Autism * MayoClinic.com: Asperger's syndrome

Since 2001, thousands of parents of autistic children have filed petitions seeking compensation from the VICP at HHS. Visit CNNhealth.com, your connection to better living

By mid-2008, more than 5,300 cases had been filed in the program -- and 5,000 of those were still awaiting adjudication, according to the agency. Video Watch Dr. Gupta discuss how court reached its decision.

A litigation steering committee is representing thousands of families that fall into three categories: those that claim that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine can combine with thimerosal-containing vaccines to cause autism; those who claim thimerosal-containing vaccines alone can cause autism; and those who claim that MMR vaccines, without any link to thimerosal, can cause autism.

Prior to the release of Thursday's rulings, an attorney for the families, Thomas Powers, said the expected rulings would affect only the families that fall under the first category.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• gupta
• autism
• decision
• cnn
• MMR
• vaccine
• thimerosol

[morepuppies]

The autism rate was 1 in 166, but that report was from three years ago.

Now it is 1 in 110.

It is an epidemic and there is no such thing as a genetic epidemic.

ten days after these cases were announced, the Baily Banks case was also announced. The court ruled that MMR "caused in fact" his ASD. The media would not touch it. Google "Baily Banks MMR"

[jffryfnt]

No, the court did not rule that MMR caused 'ASD' at all. In fact, Bailey Banks was not diagnosed with autism at all! The case was in fact about Non-autistic developmental delay. The case attempted to draw a line between vaccines and Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified. Even though no scientific link had ever been established, the burden of disproof prevailed and Banks won the case. As any self-respecting scientist knows, it's quilt difficult to prove a negative.

[jffryfnt]

OBVIOUSLY, you are scientifically ignorant because if you weren't then you would have known that Dr. Wakefield's Lancet paper was defunct, lacked merit, can't be repeated, and was found ultimately to be fraudulent. Hence, why he was cited for scientific misconduct which will most certainly end one's scientific career due to disregard for scientific integrity.

If you weren't intellectually lazy, then you should know this rather than rely on some outdated paper, let alone one that was RETRACTED.

[TheSoaringEmerald]

What if the autism ratio was always 1 in 38 (South Korean Statistic) since the dark ages, but we're only discovering autism fully now? In the nineties the autism diagnosis was more officially recognized and broadened near the same time the vaccines were used. What if this is all just coincidence and there is no epidemic? There may be other explanations, but I cannot be convinced that vaccines are wholeheartedly responsible. However,I do give honest respect to your judgements.

[markscott7777777]

sanjay sucks on big pharmas cock, for plenty of kickbacks, on CNN and loves it

[markscott7777777]

@419Films

well spotted grammar error, i hope you forgive me.

but if they introduce mandatory MMR vaccination, as it looks like they are going to do in the UK, it may not end up being incorrect as i know some people who will personally emasculate all those involved in this evolving scandal.

Prof David C. Elliman of the Royal College is the GMC's go to guy hit man, for doctors who speak out.

Have you ever met him or his pals on the JCVI like blinky donaldson. " it govt policy "

[419Films]

@cldstrcrft The transcript mentioned is there, although he is (probably not surprisingly) twisting the wording slightly. "I am sure you will understand that it is difficult for me to say no study at all, but I cannot think of any of the current vaccines that we have where there is a recent (by which I mean within the last 20 - 30 years) randomised control trial comparing comparing someone who has the vaccine with someone who does not have any vaccines at all." I can PM you the URL, if you like.

[419Films]

@markscott7777777 "They dont exist, dr elliman said so, in evidence, she is an expert, and sits on the JCVI, SAGE, DoH and committees, although it was a squeeze, for Ian Stern to get it out of her."

Just to confirm, you're talking about Dr. D. Elliman who gave evidence on days 2-5 at the Fitness to Practice hearing for Dr. J. Donegan back in 2007, correct? If so, I'm sure DAVID Elliman would be very surprised to hear about his sex change operation. :-)

[ArcanaKnight]

@briankofke No, that was just an effort to try to imply that legal decisions imply there is a scientific case to be made (there're multiple examples of findings of law having nothing to do with scientific fact). Here's a more thorough review of that report:

h t t p : / / ww w. sciencebasedmedicine. org/?p=12610

[briankofke]

@ArcanaKnight You suffer from cognitive dissonance. Numerous doctors and nurses now believe there is a link between autism and vaccines and have gone public, yet fools like you ignore what they say. Families that were paid hush money by the Gov. because their children developed autism spoke out last week, which proves once and for all that there is a link with vaccines and autism, yet you still ignore this. You are a complete moron and are not worth my time; go fuck yourself and get vaccinated.

[ArcanaKnight]

@briankofke As I said, what would be the point in running this study of yours since its evident you would just ignore or discount the results when they don't turn out like you want (which is very likely given the current evidence)? Its clear that nothing could ever convince you that vaccines are safe or even just that they don't cause autism.

[briankofke]

@ArcanaKnight Yes, it has been "studied" by people that stand to gain huge sums of money; that is a conflict of interest concerning the health of our children. I have been in the medical field for over a decade now and there is something called anectdotal evidence which until recently has been the key stone of the medical community, and the anecdotal evidence is overwhelming. People like you ignore the fact that this argument is now over! The Gov. admits to paying millions in compensations!

[ArcanaKnight]

CONT If you want to disagree with the conclusions of the medical community, then you're more than welcome to run your own study which looks at the issue however you want, but your inability to accept the evidence is not reason enough to waste any more research dollars looking at something that has been repeatedly shown not to be a cause, especially when it is evident you probably wouldn't accept the results anyway, especially if it didn't pan out how you wanted.