07-07-2006, 10:29 AM
Parental advocates fighting to prove a link between mercury-containing vaccines and autism had a setback Thursday when a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against a producer of a treatment given pregnant women.
U.S. District Court Judge James Beaty determined that a mother of an autistic child "failed to present sufficient evidence" that would suggest a link between RhoGAM and autism. The anonymous mother had sued producer Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.
David Allen, an attorney representing Johnson & Johnson, said the ruling "confirms what we've been saying. It's a drug that's safe and effective."
Between 1968 and 2001, RhoGAM contained the themerisol preservative, which advocates have commonly cited as a source of mercury poisoning. Amy Carson, co-founder of Asheville-based Moms Against Mercury, said mercury-based vaccines, many of which contain thimerasol, have led to mercury poisoning, which is frequently identified as autism.
"This is absolutely devastating," said Carson, who is only an observer in the case. "These first cases are going to set a precedent for cases around the country."
RhoGAM is frequently used if a mother with Rh negative blood has a Rh positive fetus. In that situation, there could be serious complications. The mother detects the Rh positive blood cells and makes antibodies to fight them, but those antibodies can do serious damage or even kill a child.
Mother and child differ on Rh blood type in about 15 percent of cases, Allen said. The RhoGAM vaccine is common practice in these instances.
From Associated Press.
U.S. District Court Judge James Beaty determined that a mother of an autistic child "failed to present sufficient evidence" that would suggest a link between RhoGAM and autism. The anonymous mother had sued producer Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.
David Allen, an attorney representing Johnson & Johnson, said the ruling "confirms what we've been saying. It's a drug that's safe and effective."
Between 1968 and 2001, RhoGAM contained the themerisol preservative, which advocates have commonly cited as a source of mercury poisoning. Amy Carson, co-founder of Asheville-based Moms Against Mercury, said mercury-based vaccines, many of which contain thimerasol, have led to mercury poisoning, which is frequently identified as autism.
"This is absolutely devastating," said Carson, who is only an observer in the case. "These first cases are going to set a precedent for cases around the country."
RhoGAM is frequently used if a mother with Rh negative blood has a Rh positive fetus. In that situation, there could be serious complications. The mother detects the Rh positive blood cells and makes antibodies to fight them, but those antibodies can do serious damage or even kill a child.
Mother and child differ on Rh blood type in about 15 percent of cases, Allen said. The RhoGAM vaccine is common practice in these instances.
From Associated Press.