Poul Thorsen is Still In Charge of Public Danish Autism Registers
By Ulla Danielsen
The scandalised danish autism researcher, Dr. Poul Thorsen, who once was chief of the now defunct research unit Nanea at Aarhus University is still in a powerful position as an autism researcher.
Seemingly unaffected by the suspicions of financial fraud surrounding him and by the charges raised by danish police for coarse tax evasion, Poul Thorsen is still in charge as “data responsible” for three danish public registers.
One of these registers is the “National Register for Autism Spectrum Disturbances”. Another is “Biomarkers Associated with the Development of Autism.” The third register concerns “Identification of biologic/biochemical markers for preterm birth.” The research is classified as “Private research.”
This can be checked by anybody who wish to do so, at the homepage of the danish authority, Datatilsynet.
A scandal at Aarhus University was a public fact, when the university in 2010 on January 22 issued a statement to its collaborating partners in which the university distanced itself from it’s former high profile, CDC sponsored, autism researcher Poul Thorsen.
Aarhus University decided to issue the statement in response to a number of requests on the part of CDC Denmark project partners.
The problem was, that a considerable shortfall in funding at Aarhus University associated with the CDC grant was discovered.
However strangely it may seem, when Aarhus University issued it’s statement about Poul Thorsen, the danish authority Datatilsynet, which is responsible for the proper use of data and registers in Denmark, was not a recipient.
This is confirmed by head clerk, Lena Andersen, Datatilsynet, in response to a phonecall by the reporter of this story.
According to head clerk Lena Andersen, nobody in the house of Datatilsynet have had any knowledge of the existence of the “press release” from Aarhus University.
However Datatilsynet has been in contact with Poul Thorsen on several occasions and the danish authority has given Dr. Poul Thorsen standard permissions to continue his work with the danish registers. – He has briefed us, when he went to the USA and he has received standard answers allowing him to continue his work with the registers for which he is the data-responsible person, says head clerk Lena Andersen, Datatilsynet by phone in December 2010.
The first time Poul Thorsen called Datatilsynet on his own initiative was in 2008 before he left Denmark for USA.
From the beginning the scandal about the former high profile scientist Poul Thorsen, who together with his research team has published world-famed epidemiological science allegedly proving “no link” between mercury in vaccines and autism, and “no link” between MMR-vaccines and autism has been weird.
For instance it is strange, that the danish police after one and a half year still has not interrogated the man about the suspected financial fraud, which left the university of Aarhus with a financial deficit of around 10 million danish crowns. Not only has the danish police not yet spoken to the man. They have not even been looking for him.
Secondly it is also very strange, that danish police shortly before Christmas still hadn’t declared the completed charge with coarce tax evasion for Poul Thorsen at his address in Odense in Denmark.
When a charge has been declared, the press can get access to the indictment. But not as long as it hasn’t been declared.
Furthermore - if the police does not succeed in declaring the charge, for instance because the charged person has vanished, danish law require, that the person be searched.
The ten-million-danish-crowns-question this January 2011 is, why the danish authorities and the danish police are so hesitant to take the necessary steps in the case of the formerly high profile danish autism researcher?
US Senator Robert Kennedy Jr. on march 11 2010 wrote in The Huffington Post, that if Thorsen is found guilty of fraud then it would cast serious doubt on the validity of both danish studies.
Numerous internet-based autism groups have also indicated that Thorsen’s research should be considered compromised if he is convicted.
A reader of AoA previously has put spotlight on an email from danish Marlene Lauritsen, one of the authors of the danish autism studies, to her fellow authors of the danish studies.
The transcript of an e-mail recovered through the FOIA is heavily redacted but gives the following information:
From Marlene Lauritsen dated November 13, 2002, to Poul Thorsen, Kreesten Meldgaard Madsen, and Diane Schendel (CDC).
Re: Manuscript about Thimerosal and autism
"Dear Poul, Kreesten and Diane Schendel,
Attached I send you the short and long manuscript about Thimerosal and autism in Denmark. ...(long redacted sentence(s?)...
I need to tell you that the figures in the manuscripts do not include the latest data from 2001. I only have these figures as a paper version and they are at work......(redaction).... But the INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE ARE STILL DECREASING (emphasis added) IN 2001. ....(redacted sentence)....
From Kreesten Meldgaard Madsen, dated November 13, 2002, to Marlene Lauritsen, Poul Thorsen, and Diane Schendel.
Re: Manuscript about Thimerosal and autism
Hi Marlene,
(Redacted Sentences...) I am not currently at the univeristy but I will contact you and Poul tomorrow TO MAKE UP OUR MINDS. (emphasis added).
Best regards, Kreesten"
Less than 30 days later the study was submitted for publication in Pediatrics
All involved apparently had "Made up their minds" the study would conclude the very opposite of what this e-mail seems to conclude, writes the reader of AoA, who concludes with the following remark:
I personally think that this e-mail shows that every study that includes ANY of these as authors should carefully reconsidered or even "retracted".
They absolutely knew, months ahead of time, that they were going to have to fudge (read fake) the data to make it conclude thimerosal was not contributing the the rise in autism.
Denmark is the place to go for 'no-link' results and 'no-comment' and absolutely 'no-mainstream-press coverage' all pioneered by Dr No (Poul Thorsen). Of course you will have to pay lots of dollars preferably and ask no questions. He fully deserves the title Dr. NO.
Tony Bateson, Oxford, UK.
Posted by: tony bateson | January 21, 2011 at 03:58 PM
http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php
The media need to be blasted for peddling BMJ
propaganda and Deer's patently false allegations as "facts"... Please urge 60 Minutes to do some REAL investigative work
including investigating Poul Thorsen.
Also, the BMJ (British Manipulated Journal) needs to be blasted. Go their website at www.bmj.com and click on "about"
and then click on "editorial staff"and other
catagories to access many individual emails.
There are plenty of staff etc. emails to
copy and paste and fire away. They need to
have their feet held to the fire. Please
do your bit and pass this on.
Posted by: Christine | January 14, 2011 at 07:34 PM
Re: "According to head clerk Lena Andersen, nobody in the house of Datatilsynet have had any knowledge of the existence of the “press release” from Aarhus University."
Oh yeah, they were not notified??!!! Well, if we give them the benefit of the doubt and believe their claim that they did NOT receive the press release, what are the chances that in all this time no one involved there heard anything about this scandal?
All of this is just more conspiracy and corruption.
Posted by: AutismGrandma | January 14, 2011 at 05:37 PM
Ulla,
I absolutely love your article, but RFK Jr. is not nor has he ever been a US Senator - I certainly wish he was though. I think you have him confused with Ted Kennedy who died in 2009.
Posted by: Jake Crosby | January 14, 2011 at 04:03 PM
Good idea Treegirl,
Here's the contact info for Anderson Cooper
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?10
Confused,
I think Thorsen is hiding in plain sight. Thorsen is like the cat that just swallowed a canary. The other birds know he's there, they just don't want to mess with him.
Posted by: Sarah | January 14, 2011 at 03:31 PM
So, has someone put this in Anderson Cooper's face? Why isn't he reporting on this. Someone please put this in Anderson Cooper's face. Give him a chance to be a real journalist and see if he's lost all credibility
Posted by: treegirl | January 14, 2011 at 02:56 PM
Thank you Ulla.
Can you even believe he still keeps his job?
We need to find out what the CDC are doing to get this money back. And who is accountible for that grant.
Posted by: Katie Wright | January 14, 2011 at 01:55 PM
Can someone help me - I am a little confused. I thought he had gone missing. Is he back or did I have it wrong?
Posted by: confused | January 14, 2011 at 12:38 PM
Wow, they must be walking on eggshells with him! Isn't there some jurisdiction or body that could press this issue?
Posted by: Jen | January 14, 2011 at 11:10 AM
A comment attached to an article about Elizabeth Edwards stated that drugs used during IVF caused breast cancer. I googled that and of course a study claiming IVF drugs are safe came from DENMARK. Is Denmark the go to place for bogus research? Other than the USA of course.
Posted by: Mary | January 14, 2011 at 10:09 AM
I hope "data-responsible" doesn't mean he has write permission.
Posted by: Carol | January 14, 2011 at 10:04 AM
Yep Kevin that is all that runs through my head when I think of Thorsen, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."
Having lived in Scandinavia for a few years, (in an academic setting at the University of Lund) I always thought they (Scandinavian academics) prided themselves on honest, transparent, incorruptible work. In fact, they teased American academics for "following the money". My attorney Swedish husband is repulsed, but again, part of why we moved back to the US was the hypocrisy and denial in Scandinavia is unbelievable. Just look at immigration policy in Denmark. Look at how Swedes treat UN refugees. A bit off topic, but I think it applies. My family would personally love to see the continued hounding and ultimate takedown of Thorsen. Ga til helvede Thorsen!!!
Posted by: Casey | January 14, 2011 at 09:30 AM
A tale of two doctors both accused of fraud...one they crucify the other they protect..why?
Is Thorsen blackmailing the gov't? Does he have information they do not want made public?
I suppose arresting him would raise public suspicions and put into question the validity of his Thimerosal research.
There must be a good reason they are laying off this man that are more important than the fact that he allegedly stole $2 million.
Posted by: Sarah | January 14, 2011 at 09:29 AM
The Jan 7 issue of Nature, online, has a story about fraud in Denmark. At The University of Copenhagen. A researcher named Milena Penkowa.
The Jan 12 issue has a story about Anil Potti of Duke University. ACademic fraud again.
Isn't Poul Thorsen connected to both of those institutions?
Posted by: Nonnymouse | January 14, 2011 at 09:10 AM
Ok, something needs to be explained to me here. They slam Wakefield 24/7 for supposed fraud. Fraud has been prooven here with this guy beyond a shadow of a doubt, yet his studies are trustworthy?
Am I missing something here? I knew the world was full of hyprocrites, but stuff like this really makes me dispare for the human race!
Posted by: Theodora Trudorn | January 14, 2011 at 08:39 AM
By the way, any chance you could post the entire 'redacted' transcript?
Posted by: Kevin | January 14, 2011 at 07:46 AM
No need to defend thyself if no charges have been brought upon me.
Something's a bit off in Denmark (pardon the pun)...
Posted by: Kevin | January 14, 2011 at 07:45 AM
I like to think if I were being falsely accused of defrauding my employers .. that I would immediately make myself available to everyone .. justice officials, media and the public itself .. to defend myself against those false accusations.
Have I missed something here?
Has Dr. Thorson taken any measures to defend himself against allegations of fraud?
Posted by: Bob Moffitt | January 14, 2011 at 07:08 AM
his last EU sponsored project (which he lead up until june 2009) was to calculate prevalence of autism in Europe.
this project seems to have just stopped without reaching an final report. Thoreson was tasked with many of the actions when he disappeared off the radar.
http://www.ensacp.eu/london_minutes.pdf
Posted by: Mark | January 14, 2011 at 06:23 AM