Aspies For Freedom

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirb...88323.html

Government Concedes Vaccine-Autism Case in Federal Court - Now What?
By David Kirby
Posted February 25, 2008 | 12:42 PM (EST)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After years of insisting there is no evidence to link vaccines with the onset of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the US government has quietly conceded a vaccine-autism case in the Court of Federal Claims.
The unprecedented concession was filed on November 9, and sealed to protect the plaintiff's identify. It was obtained through individuals unrelated to the case.

The claim, one of 4,900 autism cases currently pending in Federal "Vaccine Court," was conceded by US Assistant Attorney General Peter Keisler and other Justice Department officials, on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services, the "defendant" in all Vaccine Court cases.

The child's claim against the government -- that mercury-containing vaccines were the cause of her autism -- was supposed to be one of three "test cases" for the thimerosal-autism theory currently under consideration by a three-member panel of Special Masters, the presiding justices in Federal Claims Court.

Keisler wrote that medical personnel at the HHS Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation (DVIC) had reviewed the case and "concluded that compensation is appropriate."

The doctors conceded that the child was healthy and developing normally until her 18-month well-baby visit, when she received vaccinations against nine different diseases all at once (two contained thimerosal).

Days later, the girl began spiraling downward into a cascade of illnesses and setbacks that, within months, presented as symptoms of autism, including: No response to verbal direction; loss of language skills; no eye contact; loss of "relatedness;" insomnia; incessant screaming; arching; and "watching the florescent lights repeatedly during examination."

Seven months after vaccination, the patient was diagnosed by Dr. Andrew Zimmerman, a leading neurologist at the Kennedy Krieger Children's Hospital Neurology Clinic, with "regressive encephalopathy (brain disease) with features consistent with autistic spectrum disorder, following normal development." The girl also met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) official criteria for autism.

In its written concession, the government said the child had a pre-existing mitochondrial disorder that was "aggravated" by her shots, and which ultimately resulted in an ASD diagnosis.

"The vaccinations received on July 19, 2000, significantly aggravated an underlying mitochondrial disorder," the concession says, "which predisposed her to deficits in cellular energy metabolism, and manifested as a regressive encephalopathy with features of ASD."

To read the rest of Mr. Kirby's piece and to post your comments, please visit
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirb....html.  

WHAT?!?!?!?

HOW?!?!?!?

Think the article explains it all. My son developed "normally" till 18 months as his doctor observed through videos of him and then at 20 months regressed as well. He lost speech/ eye contact / responding to his name. I just got the article from my other group and thought perhaps some would find it interesting as I did.

I...didn't find it interesting!

I was shocked, and I am now thinking that the Neurodiversity movement will lose face!

I agree. I dont believe it was the vaccines that "gave" him autism. I just think that the brain can handle the functions needed for a 1 year old and perhaps the complexity needed to continue his communication was too much and it was on overload. I'm not sure if I explained it right - couldnt really think of the words I wanted. My son got hives after his 18 month shots but nothing extreme. His speech is slowly coming back. He use to say a word a month which doctors said was weird. He now says yes to questions and has been saying things weekly. I hope he gets it back - that is really all that matters to me.

I definately think children with autism react differently to the shots and can't excrete the metals in them. I do vaccinate my son still. I know many parents from my other group that stopped. I do agree its dangerous.

The MMR vaccines doesnt have mercury- its a live virus which is why they think its an issue. My son had his at 12 months and was still developing "typically" at that time. However, if I think back there were a couple things I can recall that were maybe signs. He also played independently I just assumed he was different from his brother as all kids were but maybe it was the autism. I cant say for sure. There were other things.
I can see your point about this issue being "misconstrued and spun to make the statement that "if the US government concedes to us, then it must be true"  since that is why I found it so "interesting". I did get this article from my parent group were the vaccine/autism contraversy is discussed frequently.

Definately would be more beneficial to work on acceptance and understanding of autism then to try to get compensation.  If there was an understanding then maybe people wouldnt be so judgemental .

I remember when my son was first diagnosed a lot of moms were going to try to sue but like I told my husband I rather put my energies into getting him services then trying to sue. (that and I really didnt think it was the vaccines) I rather get him services then pad my bank account. By the time this is all resolved the parents waste so much time not helping their child when its the most opportune time to do so. Its really sad.

True, I know a mom who didnt vaccinate her second son and he was just diagnosed with autism as well.

I just got this update from my other group :

"ABC News is still assessing the validity of this report, but we would like to be ready to responsibly cover this issue if the report does, in fact, prove to be true.In short, the column suggests that the federal government has chosen to concede to one case in which the plaintiff claims that her child developed features consistent with an autism spectrum disorder after receiving her vaccinations.  Based on this case, the column further suggests that something about the vaccines may trigger autism-like illness in children who are susceptible to mitochondrial disorders.Depending on what we find out, various ABC News platforms may be interested in covering this development."

I'll update once I find out anything.

B"H

My personal opinion is that "autism" might be a term for a combination of influences.  I wouldn't over-simplify what it is until we know more.  Genetics and environment all key in.  I believe that mercury is not a good idea to inject in to anybody.  That does not mean I believe that it causes autism---mind you.  I am simply suggesting that it is unhealthy for anyone.  

Pharma cartels are indeed powerful.  I suspect German Pharmaceutical companies of possibly being behind the German government's crackdown on Scientology.  I am not for Scientology, mind you.  I am simply stating that Bayer (an I.G. Farben spin-off) is powerful indeed, in Germany and around the world.  And, as is the case with all monopolies that do not engage in real free enterprise, there is collusion with government on all levels.  I don't want to get political here, so google "Dave Emory" and "Mae Brussel" for more information on the subject of the "Underground Reich" and its geopolitical influence.  I no longer dwell on it because the subject is very dark, and for psychological reasons I don't want to "go there," so be careful if you do.

Now for the punchline, however.  Neuro-diversity is not premised on a particular "explanation" for autism.  Left-wing critics of ND sound like shrill St*linists when they insist that the acceptance movement is simply a front for Pfizer, an insulting accusation that is beneath contempt.  They can "hate" autism all they want, but it will not go away simply by bringing certain powerful influences to account, as much as I want to do that myself.  

The Spectrum predates mercury in vaccines.  And, it will be around after mercury is long gone.  If it is true that genetics and environment both affect the Spectrum, then removing mercury is no more a "cure" than removing Challah and Knishes from my plate somehow changes my religion.  Nor would putting them in front of LC make him want to sing "Hava Negillah."  Do not fear, my friends.  The Spectrum will not disappear.  

The Spectrum will always exist because G-d made it.  It was made for a reason.  I believe that it exists for the betterment of human kind.  Now, treatments that are ethical and humane should exist for people who want to improve their skills and cope better.  Some of you may denounce these as "cures," but I don't (provided that they are not nonsense or cruelty-based, as so many are).  Chelation sounds like nonsense.  Electro-shock should result in prison for those who inflict it.  And, psychiatric drugs are from the very Pharmas that ND opponents claim they oppose.  Rather, good old fashioned psycho-therapy can help all of us, just as it helps NT's, especially talking over our problems and relating to others.  This way, the Gifts we have can be developed and the weaknesses overcome, by our own personal development and not anything forced.

All the best.

I.Face.Palm,

Thank you for that link, the writer did a wonderful job.  This settlement is nothing more than the facts of the case justifying a settlement.  The reason the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund (VICTF) exists is because vaccines occasionally cause real injuries, and the US federal government decided to protect the vaccine makers from liability from these occasional events by assuming the liability, and providing a statutory framework to rule on claims.  Any arguements, for or against, this policy, are best reserved for another discussion.

Children start getting vaccinated before they are even released from the hospital. Hep B is given at a day old. Also, the people doing the 14 studies is none other then the CDC (center for disease control). Obviously they are not going to take blame in something they did or find fault with it.
The amount of vaccines I had as a child (I"m 29) is a lot less then my children have had. I think that should be taken into account although I agree with you that autism is  just more recognized now.

I"m not against vaccines nor am I sure they had any effect on my son which is why I do still vaccinate them. I will say that I didnt do flu shots this year due to the mercury. If I ever had another child I would make sure I had a mercury free Rhogam shot. The Rhogam shot makes me think a lot since its give at 28 weeks gestation. I looked up the organs developing then , and its the brain. Doesnt make sense to me to inject mom with a shot (half mercury) when the fetus' brain is developing. I'm not sure on the whole vaccine/autism issue. The thing that makes me comletely unsure is I had the Rhogam with my older son and he had the same shots as his brother and he is typical. ?? I just dont know.
My son does have regressive autism - he was talking , responding to his name , eye contact all at 18months  -- two months later it was all GONE. He had a few shots at 18 months.

ATM: That is an interesting point, aside from the question of vaccines and Autism.  If vaccines were eliminated, the world's population would be reduced to drastically lower levels.  We would be in a new Dark Age.  Freedom and democracy would cease under those conditions.

This is a side point, one that does not address the vaccine-Autism issue one way or the other.  Personally, I believe that Autism will exist for as long as it is meant to, although the form it takes may be malleable.

All the best.

Thanks for the article Breeze.  Hrick's autism showed symptoms since birth so it wouldn't apply to us even where considered a viable cause. Seems to have both a myriad of both factors and genre attached to it.

Vaccines, I support the theory. But the business side of it is apalling. The science used to test them, severely flawed. Long-term studies on the effects of vaccines on people? Never performed. They're not even tested against placebos, but other vaccines, tested against yet other vaccines. Thimerosal is just one of several additives which are fairly doubtful.

I still make sure I'm up to date on injections, but every time I feel like I'm choosing the lesser of two evils, when it shouldn't even be an issue. We've phased out Thimerosal in Canada years ago, I believe, but the vaccine industry needs a closer eye paid to it. This is our health we're talking about, it should have the utmost attention paid to it.

I am the father of at least two aspies. My father was an aspie, and two of my brothers. Another brother was institutionalized when I was young.

I’m going to go with the whole genetic thing.

Besides, with all the money Autism Speaks takes from the frightened public, it seems significant that they put so much of it into genetic research. Strange for a group that believes autism can be cured.

I don’t know a lot of ways you can cure a genetic feature, but one way would be by preventing the birth. Autism Speaks (actually Cure Autism Now before they became Autism Speaks) already found a genetic marker for one type of autism: Retts Syndrome. Now, you can screen for Retts and choose abortion if you prefer. I don’t know how they test to see how difficult Retts would be for that particular child, but I guess Autism Speaks finds the loss of a few high-functioning girls with the Retts marker to be OK.

Somehow, I feel that even Autism Speaks really believes autism is genetic and not curable.