David Kirby to Dr. David Tayloe, President American Academy of Pediatrics

1:00PM EST - UPDATE: Dr. Tayloe, who is visiting the Middle East on AAP business, has written to David to thank him for the note and to let him know that the Academy will issue a formal reply soon. Stay tuned here for further developments.

Managing Editor's Note: David Kirby sent this letter to Dr. David Tayloe, new president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

November 22, 2008

David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP
President, American Academy of Pediatrics

Dear Dr Tayloe,

It has been seven months since I had the pleasure of meeting you in Los Angeles at the “Larry King Live" studio. Allow me to congratulate you on your inauguration as President of the Academy.

I am writing because I have just received a copy of a letter from Elie Ward (HERE) Co-Chair of the NYS Immunization Coalition, a project of the AAP. The letter was sent to Rep. Carolyn Maloney in regards to the Congressional briefing on vaccines and autism that she sponsored on Capitol Hill in September.

In the letter, Ms. Ward accuses me of presenting “misinformation” as well as “unscientific, irrational proposals” to staff members of more than 90 House and Senate offices, as well as two US Representatives who were in the room.

The letter also accuses “a few people, some of whom are making a great deal of money from the suffering and false hope of frightened parents,” of continuing to “beat the drum for this discredited position.”

I take these remarks by a representative of the American Academy of Pediatrics very seriously. I also wonder why the Academy would not direct these allegations to me personally, but instead chose to send them to a member of Congress, who does not, and can not answer for me. 

As for the allegations made by this AAP-affiliated individual, I respectfully ask the Academy to provide specific instances of “misinformation” attributed to me during the Capitol Hill briefing of September 23, 2008.

If, by her remark, Ms. Ward was referring to my discussion of a National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences’ panel report on the VSD database, then I would refer her, and you, to the following letter that I sent to Dr. Stephen Cha, a health advisor to Rep. Henry Waxman, on the subject (HERE).

I also respectfully ask that the AAP please provide me with specific instances of “nonscientific” or “irrational proposals” that I put forth at the briefing, so that I may respond accordingly. Specifically, which slides among those that I presented would meet these criteria? (The slides are available at Evidence of Harm.)

If you cannot do so, I will take this to mean that you concur with me, and that I did not in fact present any “nonscientific” or “irrational” proposals during the Congressional briefing.
I have also asked Ms. Ward if she, and by extension the AAP, considers me to be one of those people who are “making a great deal of money” from the vaccine-autism debate.

In the interest of public disclosure, I can categorically state that I have earned approximately $140,000 from my autism-related activities. This includes the advance and royalties from my book, “Evidence of Harm,” all speaking fees, a movie option and various freelance writing assignments. This income has been spread out over a six-year period (2003-2008, inclusive), for an average of about $23,300 per year. That amount covered my rent in New York City, but not much else.

I disclose this information publically as a way of encouraging Dr. Paul Offit, who is mentioned several times in Ms. Ward’s letter, of doing the same in terms of his projected income for his role in developing a U.S.-approved rotavirus vaccine.

Dr. Offit told Newsweek Magazine (HERE) that he earned a “small percentage” of the estimated $182 million in royalties expected from the product. 

In the public interest, I hope that the AAP would urge Dr. Offit to disclose this amount, as I feel it is pertinent to the discussion at hand (and it is another reason why I chose to disclose my own earnings related to autism). How much of a “small percentage” was his share? Was it 0.5% ($910,000) or was it closer to, say, 3% ($5.46 million)?

Dr. Offit said it was, "like winning the lottery."

I certainly do not begrudge Dr. Offit making a profit from his work at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and I am sure that his royalty payments represent many years of hard work on behalf of the vaccine manufacturer. But it does not appear to be an insignificant amount and, therefore, it seems to me, is as worthy of scrutiny by the American Academy of Pediatrics as is my income from autism work.

Finally, I would also like to ask if you agree that my position, (that the debate over vaccines and autism is not over) has been “discredited,” especially when so many leading authorities and organizations do seem to believe that more research in this regard is likely warranted (Please see list below).

To that end, I hope you will encourage Ms. Ward, or any member of the Immunization Coalition, or anyone else affiliated with the AAP, to agree to discuss these issues and allegations with me, in person, before a live audience, in a reasoned and controlled debate format.

I am available at any time for such a discussion, not unlike the event I will have in March in NYC, when Dr. Marc Siegel, of NYU Medical Center, and I will talk about the vaccine-autism controversy at a major educational conference sponsored by WNET-Channel 13 (PBS) in New York. (Please see HERE.)

Again, in the interest of public disclosure, this letter will be shared on the Age of Autism blog. Many thanks for your attention to this matter.

Respectfully yours,

David Kirby

During 2008, all of the following groups and individuals have advocated or considered exploring possible links between vaccines and autism:

1) Both Presidential Candidates
2) Director of the CDC
3) Former head of the NIH and American Red Cross
4) Chair of the U.S. House Science Subcommittee on Investigations
5) Dr. Jon Poling, Pediatric Neurologist
6) HHS Vaccine Safety Working Group
7) CDC Vaccine Safety Research Agenda
8) Medical personnel at HHS Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
9) Members of the Strategic Planning Workgroup of the IAC Committee
10) Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Network - CISA
11) Autism researchers at Johns Hopkins University Medical School
12) America's health insurance companies
13) Autism Speaks
14) The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation

Comments

[Amy Trail]

WOW!!! Let freedom ring! This letter may end up in the history books one day - you will be known as the man who helped save the children!

Bless you!!! Bless you!!!

How can these people continue to hide behind their "titles" and profit from our children's pain?

As I walked past the CDC building in Washington during the Green the Vaccine Rally - Everyone was chanting "Too Many Too Soon" - I had to speak the truth as well to them - "You broke him - Now come fix him!"

Keep up the great work and you are a rock for all of us parents who know that our children were injuried!

[Jeff R.]

I sent a e-mail to my US Representatives stating.

"It has come to my attention that some members that attended the CONGRESSIONAL AUTISM-VACCINE BRIEFING have received letters or perhaps received a visit from a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics saying In the letter, accuses of presenting “misinformation” as well as “unscientific, irrational proposals” to staff members of more than 90 House and Senate offices, as well as two US Representatives who were in the room.

If this has happen or if it does happen I/we would like the opportunity to respond. Below is a letter from David Kirby (one of the presenters) asking the President, American Academy of Pediatrics, David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP of the Academy to provide specific instances of “misinformation” attributed to him during the Capitol Hill briefing of September 23, 2008."

I put a copy of the letter here.

[karenatlanta]

Actually Anne the kids in the Gulf Region are *not* doing better. Some countries send health workers door to door to vaccinate.
Dubai is a Pharma mecca - no pun intended.
The Middle East were at 1:150 before we were.

When I was fortunate enough to meet a Saudi princess whose son was battling ASD, the first thing I gave her was a copy of Evidence of Harm with some DAN DVDs tucked inside.
All politics aside Autism knows no boundaries.
Arab parents are going through the same struggle we are here, with only 2 practicing DAN doctors in that whole region.

[Stagmom]

The AAP and Autism Speaks are partnering for money. AAP creates the autism and AS creates "awareness." God help America when the Middle East realizes what we've sent them.

[Jan]

I am standing here applauding your letter. Wonderful and Awesome doesn't cut it. I can't wait to hear the response. Let us all hope it is what we want to hear and not more gobbledygook from those who cannot cover their behinds fast enough.

[K Fuller Yuba City]

I am sure the AAP are just buying time. Why can't he just sit down and respond?

[Anne Dachel]

"Dr. Tayloe, who is visiting the Middle East on AAP business, has written to David to thank him for the note and to let him know that the Academy will issue a formal reply soon."
Tayloe is in the Middle East on AAP business? Has the AAP has done so well with America's children that Tayloe is now spreading AAP monitored health care abroad?
I can't image what aspect our health care anyone in the Middle East would want to duplicate in their country. Not only does
autism rage at an epidemic rate in the U.S., but lots of other things are wrong too.
http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/11/the-aap-and-dr.html
"America's tweens and teens more than doubled their use of type 2 diabetes medications between 2002 and 2005, with girls between 10 and 14 years of age showing a 166 percent increase."
"The number of children with food allergies has jumped by 18% in the last ten years."
"About 17 percent are obese and the future does not look promising."
"Prescriptions for asthma increased 46.5 percent, while those for attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity leapt 40 percent and were three times more prevalent among boys than girls. Cholesterol treatments rose 15 percent."

The health of U.S. children is on a par with a third world country. Maybe Tayloe could ask around for some ideas because I'm sure kids in the Middle East are doing a lot better than our kids are.
Anne Dachel
Media editor

[Sue M.]

"1:00PM EST - UPDATE: Dr. Tayloe, who is visiting the Middle East on AAP business, has written to David to thank him for the note and to let him know that the Academy will issue a formal reply soon".

Yeah... because he has nothing pressing to take care of here at home... I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he is over there helping sick/injured children or some other good cause. I will pray that he isn't over there trying to export our life-saving vaccination policies :(

Great letter, David. I love the fact that we are now the more rational ones and they are the crazies.

[Angela Warner]

David the letter you wrote is excellent. I will be very interested to hear the response the AAP comes up with. More garbage I'm sure with a few mentions of Pauly's book.

If they are going to make accusations such as they did, then they better be willing to do as you did... disclosure. The only people getting rich off this are the vaccine patent holders and makers. How dumb do they think we are?

You are a man of great integrity fighting for our kids and for the truth! I think it's safe to say that you will never have any idea how appreciative and grateful our community is for all you've done and continue to do. Thank you.

Oh yeh... you damn well deserve a raise :) !!

[Kelli Ann Davis]

Speaking of the vaccination schedule -- notice the new "spin" as evidenced in the current issue of Time:

“Poling's case is unique in that she received five injections in one day in order to catch up after falling behind the recommended vaccination schedule.”

Did you catch the subtle implications?

1.) Puts blame on the parents (for not *sticking* to the recommended vaccine schedule)
2.) Gives the impression that if you stick to the recommended schedule then you won't get *five injections* in one day (which, as we know it totally false) and
3.) Undercuts the message of an alternate vaccine schedule (much like the one GR has been promoting).