Best Of: Dr. Bernard Rimland Implicated Vaccines in Autism Over a Decade Ago
NOTE: Since it's April, and the VAXXED documentary is slowly but surely seeing the light of day, we're running this best of from Dr. Rimland, founder of the Autism Society of America and the Autism Research Institute and a pioneer in changing the paradigm of autism from blaming the mother to a medical model.
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On July 14, 2003, Dr. Bernard Rimland, the man who changed the paradigm of autism, from the archaic and psychiatric, refrigerator families to instead children, who regressed into a medically treatable neurobehavioral illness -- wrote these words:
July 14, 2003
STATEMENT BY BERNARD RIMLAND, PH.D.
Director, Autism Research Institute
Editor, Autism Research Review International
Founder, Autism Society of America
THE AUTISM EPIDEMIC IS REAL, AND EXCESSIVE VACCINATIONS ARE THE CAUSE
The vaccine manufacturers, the Center for Disease Control, the FDA, and the various medical associations have failed miserably in their duty to protect our children. Rather than acknowledge their role in creating the immense, catastrophic rise in autism, these organizations have resorted to denial and obfuscation. They stand to lose their credibility, and billions of dollars in liability suits will soon reach the courts.
As a full-time professional research scientist for 50 years, and as a researcher in the field of autism for 45 years, I have been shocked and chagrined by the medical establishment's ongoing efforts to trivialize the solid and compelling evidence that faulty vaccination policies are the root cause of the epidemic. There are many consistent lines of evidence implicating vaccines, and no even marginally plausible alternative hypotheses.
As the number of childhood vaccines has increased 700%, from 3 in the `70s to 22 in 2000, the prevalence of autism has also showed a parallel increase of 700%.
Late onset autism, (starting in the 2nd year), was almost unheard of in the `50s, `60s, and `70s; today such cases outnumber early onset cases 5 to 1, the increase paralleling the increase in required vaccines.
Thousands of parents report - and demonstrate with home videos -- that their children were normal and responsive until suffering an adverse vaccine reaction. (The Autism Research Institute has been tracking such autism-related vaccination reactions since 1967.)
Mercury, one of the most toxic substances known, is used as a preservative in many vaccines. Some infants have had 125 times the maximum allowable limit of mercury injected directly into their bloodstreams, in one day, in vaccines. (People vary enormously in their sensitivity to mercury, because certain genes predispose to mercury sensitivity. The highly-touted New
England Journal of Medicine Danish study failed to mention the very convenient fact that none of the Danish children had prior exposure to mercury, since Denmark, unlike the U.S. had, banned mercury from childhood vaccines in 1992, the year before the birth year of the children in the study.)
There are numerous scientific studies showing large differences in clinical laboratory measures of blood, urine and biopsies which compare autistic children with normal controls. Such findings, pointing directly to vaccines as the cause of the group differences, are conveniently overlooked by those attempting to conceal the strong connection between the autism epidemic and excessive use of unsafe vaccines.
The truth must - and will - emerge. It is long overdue.
Bernard Rimland, Ph.D.
Director, Autism Research Institute
Editor, Autism Research Review International
Founder, Autism Society of America
@kathy @dan burns I'm reading the "Dyslogic Syndrome" book, it is amazing. He got it and documents it. How can it be totally ignored?
Posted by: Tim Lundeen | April 17, 2016 at 09:46 AM
Bernard Rimland’s last, lost book, “Dyslogic Syndrome,” was delayed from publication until it was quietly released two years after his death. Rimland, having discovered the iatrogenic roots of the autism epidemic, primarily vaccines, turned his attention to schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders (narcissist, sociopath, psychopath). Readers of this dark yet hopeful book may well speculate why it has been "lost" for last decade. Perhaps some of the truths it contains were simply too threatening to the powers that be. With the coming of VAXXED, “Dyslogic Syndrome” is a book whose re-discovery, hopefully, is drawing closer. Available from Amazon.
Posted by: Dan Burns | April 15, 2016 at 08:45 PM
I coached Special Olympics for over 20 years, and coached Bernard's son Mark in several different sports for years. He was a remarkable young man, incredibly artistic and a truly gentle soul, a real gentleman. It was clear that he got all of these qualities from his Dad, Bernard was such a devoted father. But you know what I liked most about Bernard? He was always on time picking up Mark! :)
Posted by: David Foster | April 15, 2016 at 07:14 PM
@Kathy Sincere thanks for the tip on Rimland's book, "Dyslogic Syndrome". Looking forward to it.
Posted by: Tim Lundeen | April 15, 2016 at 04:25 PM
Sorry, my last post here was intended for elsewhere.
I only became aware of Dr. Rimland in the middle of "05 but it was apparent to me he was a major force for good helping improve the lives of our children.
Posted by: Jeannette Bishop | April 15, 2016 at 02:06 PM
Aimee- I have had a similar experience with ARI.
My son, now 43, was diagnosed in 1994 when he was 21. ARI was my lifeline in trying to understand and cope with ASD. I called their office in San Diego late one afternoon, seeking some information, and expected to reach the secretary or voicemail. Instead Dr. Rimland, my personal hero also, picked up the phone and spoke with me for at least 15 minutes. His compassion, intelligence and absolute humility came through so clear in just that short conversation. I had gone to a psychiatrist when my son was 5 (1978) and was told that his problems were caused by my parenting skills!
I was a generous donor to ARI for many years but I noticed after Dr. Rimland's death the tone of the organization took a different turn. Yes, there is no mention of vaccine side-effects at all anymore. I've written to them with no response. I no longer donate; I would rather see my money go to NVIC.
It's very sad to see Dr.Rimland's work being replaced by the garbage science they print in their quarterly journal.
By the way, one of the best books I've read is Dr. Rimland's last one, "Dyslogic Syndrome". It covers many types of cognitive dysfunction and what society needs to do; an action plan for parents, the medical community, schools and the legal system. Brilliant!
Posted by: Kathy Sincere | April 15, 2016 at 01:43 PM
Bernard Rimland is one of my personal heroes, as is Andrew Wakefield.
Given this strong statement on vaccines by Bernard Rimland, I am puzzled that ARI (the organization that Rimland founded) seems to downplay the vaccine-autism connection. In fact, their website states that they are for "safe vaccination" - although it's not clear what that means. Also, although ARI also states that they are committed to ongoing research in that area, I can't find much evidence of that.
Does anyone know why ARI has taken this stance? And, is there any way that parents can convince them to pursue more research in this area? I haven't had any luck when I've called or emailed. This is disappointing, since when my son was diagnosed 20+ years ago, ARI was one of the most helpful organizations I found.
Posted by: Aimee Doyle | April 15, 2016 at 10:18 AM
God bless Dr. Rimland .. he truly was giant among his lesser professional peers .. just as was Dr. Bernadine Healy .. a former member of the IOM .. who stated:
“I love Institute of Medicine,” she said, “but a report from 2004 basically said, ‘Do not pursue susceptibility groups. Don’t look for those children who may be vulnerable.’ I really take issue with that conclusion.”
The reason why officials didn’t want to look for those groups? “Because they were afraid that, if they found them, however big or small they were, that would scare the public away,” Dr. Healy explained. “They don’t want to pursue this hypothesis because it could be damaging to the public health community at large by scaring people. I don’t believe the truth ever scares people."
You should never turn your back on any scientific hypothesis because you are afraid of what it might show.”
“I think public health officials have been too quick to dismiss the hypothesis as ‘irrational,’ without sufficient studies of causation... without studying the population that got sick .. I have not seen major studies that focus on 300 kids who got autistic symptoms within a period of a few weeks of the vaccines.”
"The problem is, prestigious groups such at the Institute of Medicine have concluded there is no link, based almost solely on large population studies, without giving enough consideration to data culled from children who actually developed the disorder."
Where have all the good men and women gone .. since Dr. Rimland and Dr. Healy have left us?
Posted by: Bob Moffit | April 15, 2016 at 08:31 AM