SO THERE ARE MORE HANNAH POLINGS WE JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT? GOTCHA, JUDGE.
(Managing Editor's Note: Schafer Autism Report has just run this letter they received:)
We Were Compensated, too
We were also compensated by the Federal Government in 2002. Our child suffered the same diagnosis after her routine immunizations. Encephalopathy with autistic like symptoms. I am not sure why people think this is the first case? Maybe they are just the first to go so public. I wonder how many other families have been compensated for the exact same symptoms? When we settled with the government I did not get the impression that we were that unique; quite the opposite as I spoke to the Special Master (the judge for the compensation program). - Misty Hiatt Read their story here.
By Dan Olmsted
Thanks to Michael Belkin for passing on this quite remarkable passage from an AP story (HERE) on the Poling settlement: "The case may not be a first," said Gary Golkiewicz, chief special master for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
He oversees the special 'vaccine court' which rules on requests for payments from the vaccine injury fund. 'Years ago, actually, I had a case, before we understood or knew the implications of autism, that the vaccine injured the child's brain caused an encephalopathy,' he said. And the symptoms that come with that 'all [fall?] within the broad rubric of autism.'
And there are other somewhat similar cases, Golkiewicz says, that were decided before autism and its symptoms were more clearly defined."
Two thoughts on that: We've known the symptoms of autism since exactly 1943. And since the vaccine court is known to be gruesomely stingy, it's quite some admission to say there were other, earlier cases. Maybe some of our befuddled colleagues in the mainstream media ought to find out more about those cases that, according to the top judge, resulted in brain injury and fall "within the broad rubric of autism."
It's also worth pointing out that the AP writers spin this comment into the following pay-no-attention lead: "ATLANTA - For those convinced that vaccines can cause autism, the sad case of a Georgia girl, daughter of a doctor and lawyer, seems like clear-cut evidence. The government has agreed to pay the girl's family for injury caused by vaccines. But it turns out it's not that simple — and maybe not even a first."
Meanwhile, my head is spinning from the illogic of the whole thing.
Dan Olmsted is Editor of Age of Autism.
What the heck good is the VAERS program if no neurologist admits that vaccines caused an "injury". Injury as we found out, means
that a rat bastard neurologist will claim that your child who was healthy at his well child appointment and then became deathly ill after vaccines is ruled as a coincidence. Yeah, those seizures, sleep movement disorders, encephalitis, bowel problems, sleep apnea,
trouble swallowing must have just been a strange coincidence. WTH??? Our son was not retarded and did not die, therefore no injury
was done to him, according to the neurologist. Our son is eight and still suffers from seizures. We have no epilepsy or autism in any of our families' histories--so the genetic link bullsh*t doesn't fly!
Has our son ever been looked at for mitochrondrial disorder that was worsened by vaccinations? Do we parents have to be doctors ourselves in order to prove that our kids were indeed damaged? The Polings' case surely had to have been pending more than three
years--the statute of limitations to file for injury is three years. We have suffered as a family and our son endured great pain that
I don't wish upon anyone. We are supposed to just forget what caused it and never be represented because of the time limit.
Posted by: Laura | April 15, 2008 at 07:28 PM
As a parent who chose NOT to vaccinate my children based on just the ingredients alone (in an insert label provided by a nurse friend), I am
appalled that parents I talk w/never ask to see what's in a shot, but instead transfer all responsibility to their doctors. As a young child in 1st grade, I had absolutely no allergies or asthma until I had a set of shots. Within months, I was allergic to most foods, animals, grass, dust, pollen, etc. I also had chronic asthma to go along w/food/pet reactions. As a teen, I had a reaction to the polio vaccine and almost died. You would have thought my parents could see the connection, but they were dissuaded by our family doctor that there was no relation.
I have and will always do whatever possible to safeguard my children's health and have become a self-educated advocate for the rights of parents NOT to vaccinate. The propaganda machine is alive and well, and too many people are like sheep and go along to get along. It's unfortunate, but true that many people realize, too late, that they should have done their homework and stood their ground re: the dangers of vaccines and choosing not to vaccinate their
children as a result. I come from a background of doctors and nurses, so you
can imagine the pressure to vaccinate my children. I stood fast to the knowledge I had, at the time, and chose to buck the system and safeguard my children's health against these vaccine zealots. I am glad I did as my children are now teens and are among the healthiest of children.
$91 million was paid out in compensation in 2007 to families of vaccine-injured children, many among them who died as a result. Close to $2 billion
since Congress enacted the Vaccine Injury Compensation Act in 1986, which
is just the tip of the iceberg in that the majority of vaccine injuries are
never documented w/only 1% finding relief through the courts.
And by the way, vaccines are NOT mandatory for school admittance, as the
school nurses and 'health' depts. would have you believe. Every state has
philosophical, medical and religious exemptions available, and you need to
know which of them, (or all), are allowed in your state. Know your rights,
or you don't have any. Stand for something, or fall for anything. Just say
'no' to vaccines.
Posted by: Mary H. | March 28, 2008 at 12:06 AM
The government should compensate EVERY family with a child that presents with any type of vaccine damage. EVERY FAMILY OF EVERY CHILD.
Posted by: sophya_lauren | March 10, 2008 at 09:15 PM
My son is 17, became very obviously Autistic within DAYS of his 18 month vaccinations, diagnosed at age 22 months. Paul also lost ALL speech at the age of 3 within days of a tetanus shot.He still has no speech or academic skills, although a digital EEG revealed that at age 11 he had the brainwaves of a college educated adult.
The connection of vaccinations/autism was not made until 1998-99? My son was past the "statute of limitations". After speaking with Dr. Bradstreet during one of my son's appointments back then, I went home and dug out all of his baby pictures and realized that there INDEED was a definite difference within days of his 18 months vaccinations. I took alot of pictures when my kids were young,and always dated them. I made collages of "before and after" vaccinations, which as they say...photos tell it ALL. They are very compelling. I would like to send them to anyone interested to view. Please email me [email protected] Lindy
Posted by: Lindy | March 10, 2008 at 06:20 PM
At one time, prior to 1999, these people may have been "guilty" of nothing worse than having "good intentions" go awfully awry. However,in the moments DURING that Simpsonwood meeting, those attending crossed the line between "correcting an honest mistake" and "conspiring to commit a crime" against humanity.
In other words, true justice will not prevail until the guilty stand before a federal judge, in federal criminal courts, prosecuted for violating the same RICCO laws that put organized crime families behind bars for decades.
Posted by: Bob Moffitt | March 10, 2008 at 07:42 AM
Oh look, there is a leak in the dam... someone quick... go get some bubble gum!!
Posted by: Jenny Webster | March 10, 2008 at 01:06 AM
What about MY son?
Fifteen years ago, he was diagnosed with "static encephaelopathy" and "PDD" and we found out way, way too late about VAERS to file a claim (god knows our ped nor our neuro would ever share this with us). I suppose without pro-bono assistance (and a big bucket of money) to challenge the statute of limitations we're out of luck.
Posted by: Rob | March 10, 2008 at 12:49 AM
I get the feeling that when the 5000 cases are resolved there will be some triumphs and others tragically lost.
Even with any kind of sweep, this only covers the few that knew to apply during the short window provided by VICP.
We filed knowing we have a snowball's chance in hell but applied on principle that we had to contest this awful damage to our son.
No one wins here really, until the CDC has a reformed "childcentric" vaccine policy. Driven by safety standards and precaution.
Posted by: timezup | March 09, 2008 at 11:15 PM
"Comments made on Tele conference for media March 6th 2008 by CDC...Media availablility on Vaccine Safety
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/transcripts/2008/t080307.htm"
Tim, thanks for this link above. I read it quickly and found that a Dr. Ed Trevathan has made a bunch of circuitous statements regarding the connection between mitochondrial disorders and autism. My son was given a diagnosis of PDD-NOS by this medical team of 8 or 9 people at Kaiser Permanente. We were subsequently treated to a limited number of sensory integration and speech sessions and my son was definitely echolalic, which we know is a hallmark of autism. After his 2003 regression accompanied by horrific seizure episodes, he continued to worsen and 2 years later, in 2005, was moved from an OHI (Other Health Impairment) status to an Autism (perceived mild by us and moderate by the school) categorization by the school's special education team. One thing definitely overlaps with and led to another, they are NOT separate entities.
In fact, if parents of kids with autism compare their lab test results with the characeristics of mitochondrial dysfunction, they will find that they all do indeed have the markers as per this Rossignol-Bradstreet paper here:
http://www.scipub.org/fulltext/ajbb/ajbb42208-217.pdf
As per Dr. Amy Yasko, methylation is impaired in autism and impacts the Krebs cycle through fumarate and the urea cycle through aspartate. Ammonia can impact fumarate levels negatively as well. Finally, you can have difficulty getting around the Krebs cycle because of a lack of ATP, NADH, or riboflavin. In fact if you take a look at this website below, all the supplements listed for mitochondrial disorder are the ones that the ASD population uses. The way I see it, every kid on the autism spectrum would be a candidate for mitochondrial dysfunction just by virtue of having the ASD diagnosis.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2003_Feb-March/ai_97994370/pg_4
Posted by: Gayatri | March 09, 2008 at 10:41 PM
You can't give life to Frankenstein's monster and expect it to stay downstairs.
Posted by: anon. | March 09, 2008 at 10:34 PM
Whenever the CDC people get cornered they say we cannot discuss this or that but if we could you would totally agree with us.
These people are experts at falsehood and deception but russian roulette is a game for fools and parents will fight to the death for their children.
OPERATOR: Thank you. Our next question comes from Mike Stobbe, you may ask your question, and please state your affiliation.
MIKE STOBBE: Thanks. Mike Stobbe again from the AP. I don′t know if you can all make this clear, but we′re getting like two messages from the government. The information that you′re providing in this call is very helpful. But we also have information that the compensation program conceded a payment to this girl apparently acknowledging that her symptoms were worse – her situation was worse after the vaccine was given. And you can see it′s almost like two different messages, anything you can say to help clarify this, as we the media try to sort this out.
DR. JULIE GERBERDING: At this moment, Mike, as we said, we are not able to discuss what we know about this case. But let me just reassure you that there is no inconsistency. There′s nothing here that would suggest that the government is making any statements about the relationship between vaccination and autism. This is a really very special situation in a child who was genetically predisposed. The child had many other circumstances and stressors in this period of time. And I think we just need to have a chance to get the full facts of the information out and I believe you would conclude as we have that this does not represent anything other than a very special situation and a very sad situation for the family of the effected child.
Posted by: Richard | March 09, 2008 at 09:18 PM
Can you say double speak...
Comments made on Tele conference for media March 6th 2008 by CDC...Media availablility on Vaccine Safety
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/transcripts/2008/t080307.htm
DR. JULIE GERBERDING: Let me be very clear that government has made absolutely no statement about indicating that vaccines are a cause of autism. And that is a complete mischaracterization of the findings of the case and a complete mischaracterization of any of the science that we have at our disposal today. So, I think, we need to set the record straight on that.
PETE WILLIAMS: Sure. And if I could just clarify the other point that Dr. Gerberding was just making. I take your point that the government has never said there was any connection here, but has the vaccine court ever awarded compensation in the past for parents of a children that got – that claimed autism resulted from a vaccine?
GLEN NOWAK: This is one, I think, probably that question is best directed to HRSA since they handle the vaccine compensation program. Next question.
NANCY SHUTE: Yes, Nancy Shute, U.S. News and World Report. Do you have information – you said earlier that HRSA was the place to go for information on compensation for vaccine related autism like symptoms. Do you have any other comment on that?
GLEN NOWAK: No. I mean I believe – I don′t believe there is a – I don′t believe there ever has been but HRSA would be the place to go to ask that question.
Posted by: Tim Welsh | March 09, 2008 at 08:51 PM
"I wonder if there are some cases, where the statute of limitations has expired, but the date of the poisening came after the court was routinely compenstating families, if the families would have some standing to sue in that no warning was given to the public."
I think you make a very good point here. My son was diagnosed with mitochondrial dysfunction in 2002 except that nobody in the medical team (8 or 9 individuals) was capable of reading the test results as mitochondrial dysfunction. I have lab tests to prove panic levels of alanine, elevated ammonia, lactate was in range but possibly towards the upper end (do not have the results in front of me), and after this, nobody saw the necessity to test my son for carnitine. Surely in the summer of 2002 someone in the medical team responsible for diagnosing developmental illnesses should have been alerted to my son's condition HAD an adequate hue and cry over mitochondrial dysfunction leading to auitsm been raised in public.
Exactly 11 months from this diagnosis my son developed seizures lasting half an hour (when the seizure meds administered by paramedics kicked in), developed asthma, multiple seasonal allergies (for all of which there are medical records to substantiate). There will be a record of four 911 calls made between September and December of the year 2003 when my son was having multiple life threatening seizures, and there are hospital records to prove hospitalization and tests that were run on all of these visits. All for some carnitine, coQ10, ATP, riboflavin, fatty acids and so on, the administration of which could have substantially averted my son's decline into autism marked by prolonged periods of stupor, intermittent periods of blindness before a seizure, and many more horrors that one can only experience and is not really able to write about.
Yes if there is a chance of the occurrence of a lawsuit for cases such as this, I would definitely like to be a party to it.
Posted by: Gayatri | March 09, 2008 at 08:00 PM
I don't know if we should be blaming the parents, they may have had to sign something or may have been told that their case was rather unique.
We all should be screaming about our government. When the CDC keeps repeating over and over that there "Is no evidence" and the judges of this court have been silent --there ought to be some special place in hell for them.
I wonder if there are some cases, where the statute of limitations has expired, but the date of the poisening came after the court was routinely compenstating families, if the families would have some standing to sue in that no warning was given to the public.
Posted by: Maureen Fischer | March 09, 2008 at 07:25 PM
I am an attorney, I have 2 autistic children and we are clients of the same law firm that is representing the Polings. We have not yet had our case heard. It is possible that the families in the prior settlement cases were forced to sign confidentiality agreements as part of their settlements, which would have prohibited them from speaking out to the media on the issue. I keep wondering why the Polings weren't forced to sign one, too--maybe it was another government mishap that is allowing the truth about autism to finally reach the general public? Thank God they are speaking out, though.
Posted by: julia | March 09, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Kim:
With RE to your comment:
"How can they just sit there for years watching child after child after child fall to "encephalopathy with autistic like symptoms" and just sit there with their mouths shut? Don't they go to the same doctors and therapists and support groups as the rest of us and see how widespread this is?"
-Kim
It is VERY hard to get the word out there about this. Ridicuously hard. Its complete conjecture on my part but I bet their story was purposely squelched and people are just *NOW* starting to listen. The media is VERY powerful and do whatever they want with information. I have been a victim of its misdirection. Just a guess but I know how they do things...
Posted by: julia | March 09, 2008 at 03:40 PM
The Spin control on this (pun intended for don's benefit)is ludicrous.
with unfortunate and nefarious horrific ramifications. I hope more parents will continue to speak out for the sake of our children and a vaccine safety-revamp.
Posted by: julia | March 09, 2008 at 03:34 PM
My question is, what can we as families who have not filed a claim do, especially when autism services for our son is constantly being dwindled down to nothing. The government just does not understand that autism is not curable and services will always be needed at some level. My son was born in 1996 and was given so many vaccinations at a time when thimerosal was used quite heavily as a preservative. I am getting so worn down as a parent having to fight tooth and nail for our son.
Posted by: Judi | March 09, 2008 at 03:14 PM
So just how many Polings are there?
Will we ever know?
Posted by: Lisa | March 09, 2008 at 02:17 PM
Let me see the Vaccine Injury Court is supposed to do what?
Protect Pharma at any and all cost? I thought it was supposed to be a fair,fast and speedy way for those severely injured and who are permanently disabled by vaccines to get help while agreeing to a much smaller settlement than a civil court would award?
I see the protecting Pharma part but not the fair and speedy help part.
Houston I think we have a problem!!!!
Posted by: Richard | March 09, 2008 at 10:11 AM
You know, i really have tried hard not to ever judge other autism families for their choices, because i certainly don't want to be judged for mine (and it's just not nice!)...and maybe this is misplaced anger...but I just have to ask, WHAT THE *BLEEP* is wrong with Misty Hiatt and the other parents who have gotten settlements here? How can they just sit there for years watching child after child after child fall to "encephalopathy with autistic like symptoms" and just sit there with their mouths shut? Don't they go to the same doctors and therapists and support groups as the rest of us and see how widespread this is? These people could have stopped this years ago. More reason to thank the Polings for bringing this out. My jaw is on the floor.
Posted by: kim | March 09, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Feelings... Betrayed, raped, ripped off, enraged, swept under the carpet, and left to fend for ourselves and die. How could we possibly even know about VAERS. When we did find out it was too late. Everbody said "that was for people who die from shots." Now we find out there were other Hannahs. The Polings were/are part of the medical establishment. She said in her press conference that even with her insider information it was difficult to pursue remedy. We need to fight for those without PHD's, without College dgrees, without family support, and without money and resources. In the last month I have heard terrible stories of parents deserting there Autistic child to turn them over to the Government. What exactly happens to those children? We need to fight to extend the statute now that we find out we were lied to and not informed.
Posted by: Tim Welsh | March 09, 2008 at 08:38 AM