A New Inquisition?

By Louis Conte

In June of 2005, I was stuck in traffic on I-287 in Westchester, New York. I put on the radio and heard Don Imus interviewing David Kirby about his book – Evidence of Harm. Mr. Kirby was explaining the possible connection between vaccines, mercury and autism. As the father of two boys with autism, I listened. I was impressed with Mr. Kirby’s logical, journalistic presentation.  He presented the vaccine-autism question as a question that needed further serious study. What I learned that day started a process that changed my life and my world view. More importantly, it put my family on a course that changed the way we approached treating our son’s autism. Three years later, my sons are improving.  There is a long way to go, but both boys are living better, healthier lives.

David Kirby triggered this by getting me to think about autism as an environmentally induced disorder.  None of the pediatricians, neurologists or autism service professionals provided my family with this perspective.

Where am I going with this? Everyone who reads Age of Autism knows that a week doesn’t go by where Dr. Paul Offit isn’t a hot topic.  He is not a popular guy around these parts.  In fact, Dr. Offit regularly garners a sort of literary piñata treatment.  This is understandable because Dr. Offit has become the champion of the view that vaccines have nothing to do with autism.  Further, Dr. Offit has described people in our community as “desperate,” “angry” and, allegedly, “threatening.” 

From our perspective, Dr. Offit has minimized the suffering of people and families with autism and has even denied that there is an epidemic.  Take a look at his statements to John Stossel on 20/20 a few years ago:

"People that we once called quirky or geeky or nerdy are now called autistic," said Offit. "Because when you give that label of say, autistic spectrum disorder, you allow that child then to qualify for services which otherwise they wouldn't be qualified to get."

How many times have we seen the gist of these comments repeated over and over again by public officials, un-funny comedians and ranting radio talk show hosts. Dr. Offit is the champion of the medical establishment’s culture of denial about the realities of autism.  If there were a theoretical crime for enabling the continuation of an epidemic, Dr. Offit would be guilty of it.

Paul Offit has done a lot of damage.  His new book is an attempt to amplify that damage. In it, he attacked several active voices and journalists who write about what is happening in our community. Even worse, some of his statements are apparently designed to damage their credibility in such a way that their future ability to work as journalists could be compromised.  One such person is David Kirby. Dr. Offit attacked Mr. Kirby for being a conspiracy theorist – something he has never been. Dr. Offit makes other statements that are designed to damage Mr. Kirby and to paint him – along with many others - as fringe, radicals. The Age of Autism post of the letter from the American Academy of Pediatrics is just one such example. The letter invites US Representative Carolyn Maloney to get the “real story” in Dr. Offit’s book (He needed the sale I guess) and advises her not to listen to what was presented by David Kirby and Mark Blaxill in a briefing she sponsored!

Not being listened to – and being told that you are not going to be listened to - is perhaps one of the quintessential aspects of what I call “the autism experience.” Mr. Kirby detailed yet another example of the universality of the “autism experience” is his recent piece about the meeting held between Minnesota health officials and members of that state’s Somali community. How many of you non-Somalis can relate to what happened there; you are told that no one has a clue about what causes autism but somehow it is your child’s destiny. Autism has always existed but we were all too stupid to notice it before so we are not sure if there is an actual increase today.  Despite what you have experienced, vaccines have nothing to do with causing autism.

If David Kirby and other writers with our perspective hadn’t been there to document the events at this meeting, would we have had any idea what was happening there? Would the Somalis have had anyone who heard what they said and reflected it back to them and the world beyond their community? Would anyone even listen to what is happening to these people?

Dr. Offit and his ilk do not want to deal with this entire conversation. They clearly do not care about what we – or the Minnesota Somalis - have experienced. If the Offit clan was really comfortable that vaccines had nothing to do with autism, they would be backing US Representative Carolyn Maloney’s bill to study the health differences between vaccinated and un-vaccinated people – a study that would answer a lot of questions.  But then Dr. Offit doesn’t want questions.  He and the AAP are treating David Kirby and others no differently than the way the Church treated Galileo durring the Roman Inquisition. Like the Church in Galileo’s time, Dr. Offit and his crew would put him, Dan Olmsted and anyone else who questioned their world view on house arrest.

But this isn’t the 1600’s. We don’t have to accept the edicts of the AAP and Dr. Offit. We should support Mr. Kirby and others who are writing about this issue.  We should not do so just because we agree with them. We should do so because no one should be attacked for seeking the truth and saying the truth – no matter what how uncomfortable that truth makes those in power feel.

Louis Conte

Louis Conte is the father of triplet boys, two of whom are children with autism.
He is the president of the Westchester County Chapter of Autism United.

Comments

[Thomas]

Persecution of those with unpopular beliefs is not unusual, but it is still sad.

Albert Einstein said: "Great Spirits Have Always Encountered Violent Opposition from Mediocre Minds". Still true 75 years later.

If the Amish of Pennsylvania--who never vaccinate have NO autism in their (non-adopted) children (of about 35,000), isn't this something that should be looked into? Or are the "authorities" afraid of what they'll see? The truth is sometimes hard to swallow, but eventually it must be. For more on this topic, go to: http://tompetrie.net/id14.html.

[Cherry Sperlin Misra]

Anne- The geeky nerdy adults who have ASD kids? Isnt that just one more proof that autism is caused by vaccines? Remember- those fathers would have received three mercury laden DPT vaccines by about age 9 months- That too in a time when childrens wounds were often treated with merchurochrome and children sometimes played with mercury (I recall doing that on several occasions) Those fathers were affected by mercury but not to the extent that they became autistic. Autism isnt just something that you have or you dont. The spectrum is very broad.

[Ben's Dad]

During 10 hours of driving on Thanksgiving I heard at least two public service announcements(?) on NYC CBS880 radio pushing vaccinations, the punch line being how there have been 131 US cases of measles through July 08 (no fatalities), half of which were caused by people refusing vaccinations. The report went on to blame unsupported autism fears for this rise in measles cases, but a look at a CDC report on a breakdown of the 131 measles cases reveals no indication that fear of autism was given as a reason for religious or philosophical exemption in any of the 61 exemption related cases . The CDC report does not even mention the word autism in its analysis, yet those who show concern are being vilified in the name of public safety while helping to help sell an approximate $600 million/yr MMR/wellness visit industry. In fact the CDC updated report attributes ALL 115 of the cases that can be explained to importations, zero to the vilified autism wackos.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5733a1.htm

[Judy]

This autism cluster in Minnesota reminded me of another cluster illness in Washington State in the mid-1990's:

In Onalaska WA, a small town south of the capital of Olympia, there was a cluster of 3 brain cancer cases of the same cell type among girls in the same elementary class.

An epidemiologist from Seattle came to investigate, according to the newspaper article. He looked at their schools, their homes and their drinking water and what else they all had in common.

I talked to him on the phone and asked,
"By chance had these 3 girls a few years earlier all had head lice in school together and were they all treated with Lindane shampoo?" He went completely silent on the phone and would not answer me.

My question came after the 12-year old daughter of friends died of brain cancer 3-4 years after her head lice treatment.
I believe the danger persists beyond the obvious noticeable symptoms of seizures and neurological effects. Lindane is now banned in 50 others countries. http://www.panna.org/lindane
http://www.headlice.org/news/classics/lhjarticle.htm

[Michael B Schachter MD, CNS, FACAM]

Great article and great perspective. The other night I saw the new movie Changeling with Angelina Jolie based on a true story in the 1920's and 30's. It never ceases to amaze me how people in power use their power to deny and distort the truth for their own ends. Offit, the AAP, the CDC and others are excellent examples of this when it comes to autism. Persecution of physicians by state medical boards for practicing unpopular (but good medicine) is rampant. I believe if they could have it their way, the Offits, AAPs and CDCs of the world would incarcerate Kirby, Olmstead, you and anyone associated with an honest and truthful approach to studying and learning the truth about autism.
Michael B Schachter MD

[Lisa Sigismondi]

Thanks Louis. I've not read Offit's book and have better things to spend my money on (no offense, I'm grateful for those in our camp with the stomach to do so and fight about it). But Facebook is a crazy thing. Recently met up with an old grade school friend - we both have ASD sons. I'm biomed, she isn't yet but we'll see

She mentioned one boy in our school (an 8 year parochial elementary - 1000 kids total is my estimate) that was a bit out there and the fact that she and I were a little socially inept and geeky. She's right, but that is ALL there was. One truly challenged kid and a few geeky ones. In an 8 year tight-knit school. I can walk into my son's 3rd grade class of 24 kids and pick out more than I knew in my 8 years of lower education. Its such a sad devolution. This isn't a question of geekdom, its a question of health and ability to function which we are rapidly losing in our kids.

[nhokkanen]

It's so gratifying to read about yet another family now able to begin biomedical treatments for a child. Best wishes, Louis.

I hope that Minnesota's Somali families can establish strong ties with the media. They saw how their children were injured by vaccines; they reached that conclusion without any outside "coaching."

Unfortunately the Minnesota Department of Health has established itself as an obstacle, rather than an aid. All those smiling women with their good intentions and twisted untruths. The new Crusaders don't wear armor and boots; they wear Ann Klein blazers and sensible pumps.

[Gatogorra]

Here's to night vision.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fumufLnoiEs

[Anne Dachel]

Great points! My continuing response to Offit: Show us the "quirky, geeky, or nerdy" adults with autism who were mislabeled in the past at a rate we see on our kids. Show us the adults in diapers, not talking, rocking, pounding holes in walls and needing supervision 24/7.
Such us more than one person like this.
Either prove your claim or stop lying to us.

I'm going to keep on saying it till someone in the media gets him to respond.
Anne Dachel
Media editor

[John Gilmore]

Mr. Conte,

Very well said.

Not being listened to – and being told that you are not going to be listened to - is perhaps one of the quintessential aspects of what I call “the autism experience.”

This information should be included in every pamphlet, book or website intended for familes of the newly diagnosed.

Please keep writing.

John Gilmore