Fourteen Studies? Only if you never read them.
By J.B. Handley
Of all the remarkable frauds that will one day surround the autism epidemic, perhaps one of the most galling is the simple statement that the “science has spoken” and “vaccines don’t cause autism.” Anytime a public health official or other talking head states this, you can be assured that one of two things is true: they have never read the studies they are talking about, or they are lying through their teeth.
For me, it all started when Amanda Peet said the following in her “apology” to calling parents parasites:
"Fourteen studies have been conducted (both here in the US and abroad), and these tests are reproducible; no matter where they are administered, or who is funding them, the conclusion is the same: there is no association between autism and vaccines."
And, don’t think Amanda Peet is alone, the mantra comes fast and furious from all sides:
Groups of experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, agree that MMR vaccine is not responsible for recent increases in the number of children with autism. In 2004, a report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that there is no association between autism and MMR vaccine, or vaccines that contain thimerosal as a preservative."
- Centers for Disease Control
- Every Child By Two, a nonprofit entity funded by Wyeth, a vaccine maker
"Five large epidemiological studies conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Sweden since 2001 consistently provided evidence that there is no association between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism."
- Institute of Medicine
"There are no valid studies that show a link between thimerosal in vaccines and autistic spectrum disorder. A 2004 report from the Institute of Medicine, Vaccines and Autism, concluded that the available evidence is against the existence of a causal relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism."
- American Academy of Pediatrics
"The implication that vaccinations cause autism is irresponsible and counter productive. Although several carefully performed scientific studies have searched for a link between autism and the use of thimerosal in vaccines, no such link has been found."
- March of Dimes
"Scientific data overwhelmingly show that there is no connection between vaccines and autism...We need more research to investigate the actual causes of autism, but it would be a disservice to the health of our children if we let vaccines take the blame for this tragic and complex disease."
- American Medical Association
"From time to time, rumors circulate that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative once used in several vaccines (and still used in some flu vaccine), could contribute to ASDs. However, valid scientific studies have shown there is no link. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association (AMA), the CDC, and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) agree that science does not support a link between thimerosal in vaccines and autism."
- American Academy of Pediatrics
* * *
These comments were driving me nuts. I’d read a majority of the studies they were referring to, I knew how bad they were, and I also knew that most journalists couldn’t even find the studies being referred to, because most weren’t even on the web!!
Several hundred hours of work later, Generation Rescue is pleased to introduce a website with a very simple purpose: to tell the truth. You will find every study in its entirety and a whole lot more right here:
Please take a spin, send to friends, and feel free to comment. Anyone who considers themselves to be an honest, objective scientist should be embarrassed for their colleagues who have manufactured this “proof” over the last 10 years.
I hope this website will be a small step in furthering our collective search for truth about what is being done to our kids.
J.B. Handley is co-founder of Generation Rescue.
In defense of your position against big pharma....The Infectious Disease Society of America recently came under the guns of the Conn. Attorney General for "conflict of interest" and other unsavory acts for failing to treat Lymes patients appropriately. For decades the IDSA has refused to admit that there is such a thing as "chronic Lymes", recommending short courses of antibiotics which often give short term relief then the patient relapses. The IDSA board of directors has been intimately involved with big pharma....huge confict of interest because LD (Lymes Disease) can be easily confused with Parkinsons, Lupus, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, arthritis, autism, Alzheimers, many mental conditions such as depression, etc. Big pharma wants the world to treat these conditions as seperate diseases which need medicating for LIFE, when in fact they are most certainly SYMPTOMS of Lymes Disease and its cruel co-infections. The International Lymes and Associated Diseases Society knows what the IDSA has been up to and has organized the worlds best Lymes researchers and provides free treatment protocols. Yes Mr. Handly, the cemetaries are filled with big pharmas lies, perpetuated by the IDSA. Children all over the world have lost their childhoods due to big pharmas lies. People crippled with "Parkinsons" and arthritis, etc. never get better and have resigned themselves to a diminished and painful life when proper threatment for the correct disease (Lymes) could end their suffering as well as big pharmas profit...The Conn. Attorney has demanded the IDSA review their treatment protocol in the interest of humanity, and he has demanded a new board, vetted to prove no conflicts of interest. I believe if you investigate this matter you will find even more unbelievable facts regarding big pharmas complete disregard for life as it persues corporate profits. Also please keep in mind the IDSA sets the standards for the Department of Health, vaccination standards for American children, medication standards, whats taught in medical schools, and much more. They are one of the most powerful organizations in the world, most of us do not realize that. No wonder their board of directors got such massive payoffs from big pharma, medical device companies, and more....and has been doing so for many decades. Thanks again for taking the time to read my words, we just must help the sick children and people who need us. Denise
Posted by: Denise Mathews | April 18, 2009 at 01:38 PM
Dear Mr. Handley,
Thank you for helping to imrprove our kids lives. I have a 14 year old autistic grandson whom I now believe is a congenital Lymes child. My dughter and the rest of her family have all tested positive for Lymes and many co-infections. As you know, there is growing evidence that Lymes is the causitive agent in autism, and that the bio-toxins and mercury load from vaccines breaks the bodies defenses down, allowing the spirochetes and other co-infections to multiply quickly in the human body. Within 12 hours of a tick bite the spirochetes migrate to the brain causing behavior changes, rage, brain fog, seizures, etc. Please consider looking into the L.I.A. Foundation website for more information. So far approx 99% of autistic kids test positive for Lymes disease, if tested properly. The only reliable lab for tick-borne infections is Igenex Lab in Palo Alto Ca. Unfortunately Lymes Disease is the most complicated disease in the world with almost no Lymes Literate Medical Doctors (LLMD's) to care for the massive numbers of infected individuals. My grandson is getting better now due to the Lymes Rx....tricky and sometimes without the benefit of medical doctors. Please check this out sir....its a big piece of the Lymes puzzel, it honestly is. Sincerely, Denie
Posted by: Denise Mathews | April 18, 2009 at 01:08 PM
For those of you who like to debate with the pro-vaccine bloggers (Orac, as a horrendous example), please be sure and post the link to the fourteen studies site everywhere you go and ask this question: "Why are the vaccine critics the one who are providing the actual links to the relevant science and the not the vaccine pushers?"
The fact that those lovely people are always talking about the "science" but rarely, if ever, provide any actual "science" is the strongest argument in our favor. Rub it in!
Posted by: MinorityView | April 12, 2009 at 09:41 AM
Thanks so much to EVERYONE who contributed to this compilation. The time and care you all took in its production is obvious, and it will serve as the most effective single tool ever in the effort toward accurate "science." Parents, healthcare providers, bloggers, honest researchers everywhere applaud your effort. Again, thanks for proving where the real 'spin' lies.
Posted by: Zed | April 10, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Good stuff on this blog, and thread. Thanks esp. to Kathy Blanco for your contribution. Important information. As we each bring the fruits of our research to these 'seminars', we strengthen each other's take on the matter, and parents can go away with more ammunition for their children's sakes. May this cross-fertilizing continue well.
Posted by: Stan | April 10, 2009 at 11:28 AM
This is absolutely AWESOME! Great job... I'm sending this link to all my skeptic friends today.
Posted by: ObjectiveAutismDad | April 10, 2009 at 09:28 AM
This is such a tragic issue. When medical doctors have to resort to intimidation to ‘prove’ their point you know something is wrong. Such is the evidence used to support vaccine safety.
Keep in mind those of you trying to inform your physicians; science is controlled by those with an agenda. To be so deliberately and vehemently ignorant of real science strongly suggests there is another higher level agenda for vaxing children at birth and with such excessive schedules; it is not only for big profits. That is the obvious conclusion they want vaccine opponents to believe. But, tragically, it goes far beyond that.
As most of you know, all ‘scientifically acceptable’ studies are performed by those who control the data. The data used in these studies is a HUGE problem. You won’t see anyone from Generation Rescue, etc., involved.
This garbage with testing mercury (Hg) levels of the blood is credible evidence of thimerosal safety only to those who don’t understand chemistry, which is probably most of these physicians, as well (certainly not by those who oversee these studies). Methyl and ethyl mercury are not detected in the blood because their added methyl and ethyl groups make them more lipid soluble. For those of you who may not understand the relevancy, it means it passes more easily into the nervous system, which is largely composed of lipids; the cerebrum is approx. 80% lipids. Therefore, mercury levels are not detected in the blood because it has already been absorbed into the nervous system and other lipid membranes of other organs. Imagine; the very mechanisms used to insulate the central nervous system are infiltrated with Hg.
If you want to keep the public and its future generation unable to think, physically burdened, and predisposed to future degenerative disease (not too far in the future these days), this is one of the best ways to accomplish this goal. This intended long-term purpose has some consequences as many parents are finding, but easily overlooked for achieving the directive. Hard to comprehend? Yes, I know.
What amazes me is research should be based on the very basic sciences these researchers were required to take to enter into medical school. I guess today’s science has evolved to such a high degree that the basic sciences are no longer necessary. Apparently, it has become like the bible; it’s old, outdated, and irrelevant for today, especially when you have an agenda to accomplish.
Posted by: Dr. Stephen L'Hommedieu | April 10, 2009 at 07:47 AM
This is a fantastic resource. I have forwarded it on to friends and family. It's good to get the word out.
I was thinking of JB yesterday when I read about about the Roche subsidiary Genentech voluntarily withdrawing Raptiva from the market. Raptiva is a psoriasis drug that has (apparently) caused a rare brain infection, which leads to death, in some of its patients. Here's the kicker: three Raptiva patients died of the brain infection PML, and one more died of a related brain infection. Genentech estimates that there are 2000 people currently taking Raptiva. That means that the death rate from brain infections associated with taking Raptiva is 1 in 500!
Remember on Larry King Live, when Dr. Fisher kept insisting to JB that Varivax and the other rubber-stamped vaccines are actually tested over and over to prove they are safe? Yeah. I guess it's the same kind of testing they did on Raptiva.
(Link to Raptiva article here: http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/08/news/companies/genentech_raptiva.reut/index.htm?section=money_latest)
Posted by: Theresa | April 10, 2009 at 07:22 AM
Speaking of study.
Here's a link to the department of justice defense team's expert testimony exhibits in the Cedillo case. They differ somewhat from the court transcripts.
I don't recall a lot of dicussion concerning them inside the community.
http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/autism/master%20autism..pdf
I right clicked this master pdf and the document properties states it was created 2/26/09, but the docket indicates it was posted on the date of 2/2/09.
The exhibits in the listing are hot links. Click each one to view the actual testimony.
Posted by: kerbob | April 10, 2009 at 01:04 AM
I don't support the March of Dimes as it stands because they will not list having had an abortion as a risk factor for giving birth to a premature baby on their prematurity risk factor sheets. I'm sure their reasons for not giving out that information are also political, you know, because stating risks of an abortion makes you one of those Bible-thumping pro-life groups and we wouldn't want to be "politically incorrect" (rolls eyes). Same way their statements about vaccines are for political correctness.
Posted by: Chris | April 10, 2009 at 01:00 AM
Read and Weep...the ugly scientific truth...
Laboratory studies have shown that within 24 hours of injecting a minute dose of mercury into a muscle anywhere in the body (monkeys were used in the study), it would be present in the spinal cord and brain. The mercury was also present in the kidneys, lungs, bloodstream, connective tissue, and adrenal and other endocrine glands. In the brain, it tended to congregate in the hypothalamus, which regulates the sympathetic nervous system (associated with the brainstem), believed to be the organic seat of emotions.
While mercury levels slowly dissipate in a predictable amount of time from other body tissues and even from the teeth (in six weeks, its levels might be halved), mercury does not have a "half-life" in the nervous system or brain. Instead, it binds firmly to a specific chemical compound which happens to exist there in the body’s highest concentrations.
"The main devastating effect of mercury in the nervous system is that it interferes with the energy production inside each cell," says Dr. Klinghardt. "The nerve cell is impaired in its ability to detoxify itself [and excrete the mercury] and in its ability to nurture itself. The cell becomes toxic and dies, or lives in a state of chronic malnutrition. A multitude of illnesses, usually associated with neurological symptoms, result." Among these are chronic viral and fungal illnesses, recurrent episodes of bacterial infections, and chronic fatigue.
By a curious self-preservation reflex of the body, the emergence of these conditions can be viewed as a way of accommodating the heavy metal presence, speculates Dr. Klinghardt. "Most, if not all, chronic infectious diseases are not caused by a failure of the immune system, but are a conscious adaptation of the immune system to an otherwise lethal heavy metal environment."
Mercury suffocates the cells and they die, so the immune system cultivates fungi and bacteria which are able to bind large amounts of the toxic metal in their respective cell walls, thereby enabling the patient’s cells to breathe again. The downside, of course, is that the body must now feed these otherwise undesirable microbes and deal with their toxic waste. In addition, a person with mercury contamination often becomes zinc deficient and the functioning of copper and other minerals in the body will be compromised as well.
This perspective leads Dr. Klinghardt to the following strong statement: "As soon as anybody has any type of medical illness or symptom, whether medical or emotional, the amalgam fillings should be removed and the mercury residues should be eliminated from the body, especially the brain."
Ok, he is talking amalgams...but what if it's injected into your bloodstream, even worse....
Posted by: Kathy Blanco | April 10, 2009 at 12:36 AM
I ranted and raved at some blogger in Hollywood today who suggested it was about time a Paul Offit came along and quieted Jenny McCarthy. To JB, Stan, Jenny, Candace, Jim, Rescue Angels, the parents who share their stories, and the entire crew at Generation Rescue --- Keep doing what you are doing -- fighting the right and good fight. Thank God you are here! Your new site is exactly what I need for the skeptics I am surrounded by!
Posted by: Jeannine Olson | April 10, 2009 at 12:27 AM
That is a very comprehensive, informative website- thank you. You are saving lives, I know it.
Posted by: Kristen | April 09, 2009 at 10:20 PM
J.B.,
Thanks also for the comparative study on vaccines, autism and childhood mortality rates. That addition is tremendously helpful and persuasive.
Do you have a footnoted version that explains the diagnostic codes for prevalance rates? That would be helpful, if available.
Thanks for all your work,
Mary
Posted by: Mary | April 09, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Thanks. This is an amazing resource to have at our fingertips.
The second most galling statement for me is:
" Thimerosal was removed from all vaccines in 1999(or 2000 or 2001) and autism numbers are still going up so it cannot be thimerosal and vaccines."
Maurine
Posted by: Maurine Meleck | April 09, 2009 at 09:38 PM
The many criticisms of the technical, basic and applied aspects of the fourteen studies- and others- have been presented and recopilated by D, Thrower since 2004-2006
http://www.jabs.org.uk/pages/Autism_Review.pdf
besides many other organizations-SafeMind included /researchers that have criticised them.
I do think that it is very informative the recopilation-thank you Mr J.B. Handley-, especially considering the interest conflics, an aspect that only this way may be known for foreign parents to USA like me.
Posted by: María Luján | April 09, 2009 at 06:04 PM
JB: Awesome Site!!!! I can use this in a big way. Makes life much easier.
Lately I have found it quite disheartening that some of my own friends and family that are newer members of the medical mainstream(doctors and nurses) are very uniformed and hostile about this issue. These are people that are supposedly close to us and used to be quite open minded. I can really tell that Pharma has a big influence on the education of medical professionals. I am quite sure that when I approach these individuals they will put on their white coats and pull their "I am an MD and you are an irrational parent" card. JB's new site will help me to combat this bs and show just who really is irrational. To be honest, 99% of the MD's wont be familiar with any of these studies and they are just trying to parrot what they were taught by AAP/Pharma in med school.
Posted by: David A | April 09, 2009 at 05:36 PM
@ carykoh
"critic" for "critique"--three times!
"Do people still think mercury is the cause of autism...?"
Pardon me, dear, but your troll is showing.
Posted by: David Taylor | April 09, 2009 at 02:49 PM
Thanks, JB... I'll be linking to this site from AutismMedia.org
Posted by: Erik Nanstiel | April 09, 2009 at 01:26 PM
From carykoh -
"The blogger even admits he's only read 'most' of them, and offers no critic. The site he links to lists the articles, but again offers no critic of why they are bad/wrong. I'd like to at least see why people don't agree with these studies. The mercury study listed in the commments section is totally useless...."
Are you a journalist?????
Did you even read the entire website where it says how the studies are ranked?
Posted by: How annoying can you get? | April 09, 2009 at 12:54 PM
For CaryKoh; I agree the site can be a little difficult to navigate.Click on the studies ranking, and then you will get a
page identifying the study and the rank it has been given. At the bottom of the page is a link saying "MORE INFO" if you click on that you will get a detailed break down of the problems with each individual study. Interesting reading.
Posted by: hera | April 09, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Carykoh:
Not only are the studies ranked, but each study also has a far more detailed analysis which includes many guest critiques and explains how it was scored. Here's just one example:
http://www.fourteenstudies.org/HG_3_details.html
Perhaps you are one of Paul Offit's researchers?
JB
Posted by: JB Handley | April 09, 2009 at 12:43 PM
My dearest carykoh
Here:
http://www.fourteenstudies.org/ranked.html
That is the link you're looking for, ranking the reports, what's wrong with them, etc.
Perhaps, like others who nay say, you should RESEARCH before you comment.
Posted by: CooperHawkes | April 09, 2009 at 12:23 PM
With these "Fourteen Studies"
Matt L. could take on Dr. Nancy with
one arm tied in front of his back...
Posted by: Curtis J | April 09, 2009 at 12:11 PM
To carykoh -
What are "nontoxic levels" for mercury?
A mythological figure, like the hippogryph. They don't exist.
Ask a chemist whether mercury is considered safe when it damages cells at nanomolar levels. What brain cells would you be willing to live without?
Posted by: nhokkanen | April 09, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Thank you so much for putting all this information together.
Now it will be a lot easier to respond to the oft repeated "Studies have proven (or disproven)..."
Posted by: Twyla | April 09, 2009 at 11:51 AM
I'd like to see an actual critic of the articles. The blogger even admits he's only read 'most' of them, and offers no critic. The site he links to lists the articles, but again offers no critic of why they are bad/wrong. I'd like to at least see why people don't agree with these studies. The mercury study listed in the commments section is totally useless. It measures mercury levels, shows them to all be nontoxic levels, which would seem good to my way of thinking. Do people still think mercury is the cause of autism, I thought the thinking was it's too many too soon now?
Posted by: carykoh | April 09, 2009 at 11:48 AM
JB,
Thank you for your efforts to put all this information in one location.
Your son and our son are the same age. We feel it was a two-stage, 2003 flu shot at 18 months of age that took him in.
Be sure this information is sent to NBC/ Matt and Dr. Nancy.
Posted by: Curtis J | April 09, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Thank you for putting this site together. The vaccine program has shown me what an embarrassing failure our medical system and our government really is. Unfortunately, my son and many others are paying the price.
Posted by: Maggie | April 09, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Thank you for putting these studies in one convenient location. The website is a great resource as well as a wonderful place to send parents who want to look into the vaccine question themselves.
I am so often asked "What should I do?" by new parents who are concerned about the vaccine/autism connection. Of course, I am not a doctor so I cannot give medical advice, but I CAN send them to this website. Bravo for putting this together!
Posted by: Kelly Langston | April 09, 2009 at 10:27 AM
I took a relook at the time frame of the 2 studies. So interesting to find that Pichichero decided to report blood results only from day 3 onwards through day 28 when he was sure that the mercury would be gone from the blood (and into the brain!).
First Do No Harm? Quite the contrary. Heinous devils.
Posted by: How scary is that | April 09, 2009 at 09:40 AM
From the website -
"One preservative used in vaccines, Thimerosal (mercury), enters the bloodstream of the child and ends up in the brain after being administered."
Interesting how this study here -
http://www.generationrescue.org/pdf/stajich.pdf
conducted by an independent researcher shows a completely different result compared to the one conducted by Big Pharma here
http://www.fourteenstudies.org/pdf/HG_9.pdf
And published in the Lancet no doubt. Am surprised it only scored a "0." I am beginning to wonder how bad the -4 and the -2 studies might be. I first laughed when I saw those scores. Not laughing quite so much now.
Great work. Thank you.
Posted by: How scary is that | April 09, 2009 at 09:21 AM
To understand the process of PHS and Offit percerption management firms, I recommend reading the fictional novel, "The Whole Truth" by David Baldacci.
Why search for the truth when it's much more simple and effective to manufacture your own!
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and CIA invented these processes and concepts. Industry has adopted these practices whole-heartedly!
Definition of Perception Manangement (not to be confused with honest public relations):
Actions to convey and/or deny selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence their emotions, motives, and objective reasoning as well as to intelligence systems and leaders at all levels to influence official estimates, ultimately resulting in foreign behaviors and official actions favorable to the originator’s objectives. In various ways, perception management combines truth projection, operations security, cover and deception, and psychological operations.
A PM Firm is a firm that sells the practices of perception management and writes truth for situations and companies and then sells that truth to the public.
see this review:
http://cidanews.com/the-whole-truth-by-david-baldacci/
great job JB blowing the lid off the PM firms operations!
Posted by: AutismFather | April 09, 2009 at 09:10 AM
They also funded the research that led to the use of surfactant replacement therapy in premature infants with respiratory distress. Preemies (including my own) have a lot better shot a life due to the work of the March of Dimes.
I appreciate the effort to call out people making these kinds of throw-away statements that can't be backed up, especially when coming from a respected organization. But they do do good things.
Anyway, the fourteenstudies website is a tremendous service. Thank you thank you for that.
Posted by: Jack | April 09, 2009 at 09:01 AM
J.B. I checked out the site a couple of days ago and it's fantastic. Thanks for putting all the "scientific evidence" in one place. I will make sure to pass it along to everyone who tells me "...the science is settled".
In the future you might want to consider putting together a place to post all the real science, you know, the lab science that shows, for instance, how toxic and ineffective thimerosal actually is. Dr. Frank Engley's papers is one place to start.
Thanks again.
Posted by: Harry Hofherr | April 09, 2009 at 08:50 AM
look at the history/connection of the march of dimes and the polio vaccine . it started then -i rented the history channels "modern marvels" -polio vaccine, it was eye opening. pardin the pun, but govt.and science and or "charity" have always had an love is blind relationship with with vaccination
Posted by: john p. crouch | April 09, 2009 at 08:46 AM
March of Crimes (for autism.) Sure - funding vaccination to lower disease. Partnering with ASA now - to do what? I've no idea...
Posted by: Stagmom | April 09, 2009 at 07:38 AM
The one on the list that bugs me the most is March of Dimes. I always thought my dimes went to lower infant mortality, disease, and help children. I have always wondered where to find the "Studies" Thanks.
Posted by: Tanners Dad | April 09, 2009 at 07:32 AM