ABC Engaging in Shameful, Outright Anti-VaccinationPropoganda

Once upon a time, responsible people proposed a hypothesis that the rise in incidence of autism was somehow correlated with the rise in the number  and kind of vaccinations infants and young children received.

That's how science works, after all: noticing changes in the environment and wondering why the changes are occurring.  Then there's the next step: conducting rigorous experiments to determine the relationships, if any, between the two observed phenomena.  Then,  if the predictions the hypothesis made are borne out by the experiment(s), then the hypothesis can be  kept (and/or expanded).  Otherwise, a responsible person must reject -- throw out, give up -- the hypothesis.

One hypothesis, proposed by Andrew Wakefield in 1998,  was that the measles - mumps - rubella vaccine (MMR)  was implicated in a form of autism.  That hypothesis was been thoroughly discredited by 2001. Wakefield's scientific duplicity has also been thoroughly covered.

A second hypothesis was that a mercury-derivative vaccine preservative, thimerasol,  somehow contributed to, or caused, autism.  Arthur Allen's 2002 article, The Not-So-Crackpot Autism Theory, explains some of the factors and the timeline.  By March, 2003, researchers concluded:

On the basis of current evidence, we consider it improbable that thimerosal and autism are linked.

The research continued, however, investigating possible links between autism and exposure to  mercury via vaccination.  No correlation has ever been found.  As David Gorski wrote in  Mercury in vaccines as a cause of autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs): A failed hypothesis

The scientific data, taken in totality, do not support a link between mercury in vaccines and autism.

In other words, there's no "controversy" any more -- there is no link between vaccination and autism.  There's no valid "debate" about the role of vaccination in autism. 

Denialism (n):  the practice of creating the illusion of debate when there is none.

Anyone who continues to claim that there is a link can rightfully be labeled a denialist, a propagator of pseudoscience,  and may be engaging in the arrogance of ignorance.

But the beat goes on--in other words, anti-vaccination "activists" still push the two theories.  And now ABC, in the guise of a TV show, is beating the big drum.  They will be airing a drama, 'Eli Stone' on January 31, in which the title character, an attorney, sues his former client, a pharmaceutical company, "on behalf of the mother of an autistic child who believes a mercury-based preservative in a vaccine caused her son’s autism."

When it is revealed in a dramatic courtroom revelation that the chief executive of the vaccine maker did not allow his daughter’s pediatrician to give her the company’s vaccine, the jury in “Eli Stone” awards the mother $5.2 million.

Remember, there is no more "debate" or "sides" -- autism and vaccines/mercury have no connection.  The show's co-creator, Greg Berlanti, said that:

he believed that the script showed both sides of the argument. “I think they wanted us to do our homework about all of it, which we did,” he said.

Must be the University of Google homework used by Jenny McCarthy.

Why is this such a big deal? It's just a TV show pilot, after all. 

It matters in the big picture -- the defense of truth and reality over fantasy and wishful thinking. 

As Donald Kennedy wrote in  Twilight of the Enlightenment

Twilight for the Enlightenment? Not yet. But as its beneficiaries, we should also be its stewards.

It matters in the small picture --  quack treatments for autism kill,  failure to vaccinate injures and even kills.

Over the next two to six years, outbreaks of measles soared in Britain and Ireland, causing at least three deaths and hundreds of children to be hospitalized.

More: To communicate with ABC about this episode of 'Eli Stone'

ABC Media Relations for “Eli Stone”:
Aime Wolfe
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 818.460.7421

ABC Studios Relations for “Eli Stone”:
Nicole Marostica
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 818.460.6783
Fax: 818.460.5636

Bloggers Ridiculing the Eli Stone pilot

Autism Vox: Mercurisol Doesn't Cause Autism

Orac: Irresponsible Antivaccination Idiocy to Air on ABC's 'Eli Stone'

Overlawyered: Eli Stone

Arthur Allen: Conspiracy Theory Candy and Update

Richard's Asperger's Blog: ABC and Thimerasol Myth

Dr. Thompson's Blog: Autism and ABC's New Program

Mike the Mad Biologist: Anti-Vax Idiocy Gets Mainstreamed by ABC TV

Bark Bark Woof Woof: Mercurial Lawyers

Embracing the Chaos: Damn, This Is Just What We Need

Class Blogroll: Let's Give Them Something to Talk About

Other blog links on anti-vaccination hysteria

Arthur Allen on vaccine issues at Huffington Post
Mercury, Vaccines, And Autism: One Controversy, Three Histories
Skeptico: Anti-vaccination Hysteria

A Photon in the Darkness: Arrogance of Ignorance

As a matter of principle, I won't link to  denialists, but as a public service, here are a few of the  mercury-militia, anti-vaxxers publishing  posts lauding the pilot.

Age of  Autism:  http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/01/abc-drama-takes.html

 

Comments

[jennyalice]

ARghhhhhhhhhhh.. I was sort of looking forward to the pilot of Eli Stone. I am so sick of McAutism. Thanks for the quick links to ABC.

[justice for auties]

It's McMercuryism that I am sick of; not auties.

[Liz Ditz]

Thanks for the comment, JfA!

My pal JennyAlice, who commented just previous to you, uses "McAutism" to refer to curebies and the mercury militia. She's devoted to her non-verbal boy.

Just thought you'd want to know.

[Liz Ditz]

Kristina has a post on this issue:

But should the show run? The American Academy of Pediatrics, in understandable concern about the misinformation that Eli Stone might spread about a link between autism and vaccines, has sent a letter to ABC executives and requested that the show be cancelled. If the show still runs as scheduled, the AAP has requested that a disclaimer be run that there is no scientific link between vaccines and autism.

Go read.

[Liz Ditz]

More from Kristina

[Liz Ditz]

And more from NeuroLogica (via Orac)

I am all for freedom of speech and artistic expression. However, the AAP letter, and criticism of the ABC show in general, do not amount to censorship, and certainly have no bearing on the first amendment. They are a call for responsibility in the media. Shouting the equivalent of “vaccines are dangerous poison” to millions of viewers is definitely the same as shouting “fire” in a crowded movie house. It is the very definition of how freedom of speech is limited by responsibility to avoid causing harm to others.

Good work.

[Tiffany]

Eli Stone was wonderful. I am so happy that this is getting mainstream attention. Regardles sof any autism connection vaccines are dangerous! Parenss need to be aware.

[Liz Ditz]

"Vaccines are dangerous!"

Now if that isn't an ignorant, dangerous opinion, I don't know what is.

Vaccines are more dangerous than polio?

Vaccines are more dangerous than tetanus?

Vaccines are more dangerous than pertussis (whooping cough)?

I could go on, but Tiffany's unsubstantiated comment is just downright silly.

[Liz Ditz]

Here's Tiffany's end to her blog post on the Eli Stone show:

Edit to add: BTW it seems many people are searching this topic so they can leave nasty comments about stupid people who don’t vaccinate. If you get the inclination to post something like that…it will be deleted!

Let me translate:

DON'T bother my little mind with FACTS! My mind is made up.

[Alexandra]

I came to this site through a comment left at Nature Moms blog and I have to say this post was hard to read. It frustrates me that you say that people who believe there is a connection between vaccines and autism (or other harmful conditions) are ignorant. Before my son was born I had done no research on vaccinations and thought that all kids should be vaccinated no matter what or else there parents are stupid. Talk about ignorant! That was ignorant. When I got pregnant I decided that I should probably read a little more about what was going to be put in my son's little body and why. I also did a lot of research on brain development and how a baby's body works. After reading reasons for and against vaccinations I made the educated decision to not vaccinate my child. That is NOT ignorant. Getting your child vaccinated because someone tells you to or only researching one side of the issue is ignorant. If you do ALL of the research and decide to go ahead and vaccinate your child then I respect that. But I do not respect people who take a side without looking into all sides and all cases.

As for the autism/vaccine issue, despite the research denying the connection I am still not sure what I believe. This is because a close friend of mine had a normal thriving child until he received the MMR vaccine and then everything changing. He started slipping backwards in development instead of forward. Despite research unexplainable things happen. Maybe it is the shot maybe it is something else. I think that more studies need to be done to really conclude anything.

I applaud ABC putting such a topic on the air. Maybe now more parents will actually do the research instead of taking other people's word.

[Officer Thomas A. Porter D.P.O. National Op/Ed Columnist]

February 7th, 2008 - Thursday

I find the 'Fear Factor' applied on children having to have vacccinations from everything from A to Z is a bit off the charts. Surely there are some vaccinations needed but to think every vaccination is safe to have, goes beyond reality.

To realize the causes for Autism being a real factor in our society today is no joking matter nor is it cause to call for a TV Program Eli Stone on ABC Network to be cancelled only because it has brought public attention to the 1 in 166 children coming down with Autism is no joking matter.

The sad joking matter is when a group of 'Pharmacy Companies' back a bunch of propaganda and ignore Autism v. Vaccine to possibly be the cause for many issues facing Autism today. We are living in a society today that has no clue to the results of every vaccination nor to ever question what our children face from every vaccination.

Surely there are vaccinations that have been proven to be safe. Flu Shots and Penumonia Vaccinations have been proven safe for everyone unless you are alergic to eggs. No one gets the 'Flu' from the 'Flu Vaccination'. One can be exposed to the 'Flu' which takes 2 weeks to appear and in the time they get the shot and were already exposed to someone with the 'Flu' then think they got the Flu from the shot.

We can surely not live in a society that lives under a rock and accepts every vaccination to be true and tested and causes no harm. We have had many medications and vaccinations put on the market that after thousands have suffered grave illnesses and even death to then realize it was not safe. If we do not question and be educated as a society, then we are not only putting our children at risk, we are putting the future of our country at risk. If one can not do the research how can you ever understand the results after the fact? Don Imus and his wife have been a major public relations firm in spreading the word of the dangers of having children receiving every type of vaccination. They have brought public awareness to the dangers of vaccinations and the concerns of what autism is occuring in our society at an alarming rate.

When you buy a car or house you surely research the safety factors. Would you buy a car that has a high rate of death in accidents? When buying a house you surely have it inspected by an expert to find out there are no code violations and it has a solid foundation. The question then appears, why would you automatically accept any vaccination to be safe on blind faith or acceptance without first counsulting several doctors? There will always be those who allow to have their childs sleeve rolled up and allow them to have any vaccination. Then for some there will always be parents who realize we only get this one body in this life time. Food for thought? Just because it looks like a balanced meal on a plate does not mean the food is not loaded with every chemical to have produced such a well balanced looking plate of food. Enjoy your dinner?

Note on Author: Officer Thomas A. Porter D.P.O. has been a well known National Op/Ed Columnist for serveral years. He has been published in national and state newspapers and many national magazines and web sites on health and medical issues facing permanently paralyzed and disabled law enforcement officers and agents.

[Arne P. Ryason]

Who are the "panel of experts" and where can I find the data they reviewed? http://www.immunizationinfo.org/pressroom/newsbriefs_detail.cfv?id=12964
Oh, but the cute picture of the little girl .... Why do I need evidence when my emotions are enough?