Yes, the doctor who claimed that there was a link between the MMR vaccine and autism was a liar. I'm shocked; I'd previously just assumed he was incompetent.
I knew there was a "study" somewhere, but I guess (a) having been vaccinated umpteen-million years ago and (b) not having any children and therefore not being terribly concerned, I never took the time to look into it. And even from this layperson's point of view, I would think it was impossible to find a causal connection. (How do you account for the infinite combinations of environmental, psychological, and genetic factors?)
Anyway. So, I was figured it was bunk. Now we have hard proof it's bunk.
The sad part is watching the insane antivaxxers try to cling to their delusions in the face of this. I just read in the comments section of "USA Today" a particularly unrealistic individual claiming that all the evidence that Brian Deer and the Times accumulated and have turned over to the General Medical Council doesn't matter; all we need to know is that Deer has a vendetta against Wakefield (says our commenter) and therefore everything he says is suspect. (Amazing how the unproven existence of a "vendetta" should discredit everything Deer says, but the proven existence of a financial interest for Wakefield in discrediting the existing vaccines -- to which he intended to be a competitor -- should be ignored...)
The really amazing thing about this commenter, though, was the way in which he claimed that Wakefield had responded point-by-point to each of Deer's statements, and wondered if USA Today was going to give "equal time". The fact is, as of yesterday, the word Wakefield was giving to all news outlets was that for legal reasons he would not be giving any statement about the accusations. It seems like the antivaccine lobby is a hydra; if you manage to expose one liar, nine more spring up to take their place.
My best friend is a teacher (with 2 MA degrees) for autistic children, and I can't even bring up Jenny McCarthy's name around her. She goes into a rage about how much harm McCarthy has done.
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yendi![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-09 02:19 pm (UTC)Yoinked --
Thank you!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-09 02:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-09 02:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-09 05:37 pm (UTC)All the deaths from lack of immunizations can be blamed directly on him.
Hey doc, first DO NO HARM.
Asshole.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-09 10:51 pm (UTC)Anyway. So, I was figured it was bunk. Now we have hard proof it's bunk.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-10 01:10 am (UTC)The really amazing thing about this commenter, though, was the way in which he claimed that Wakefield had responded point-by-point to each of Deer's statements, and wondered if USA Today was going to give "equal time". The fact is, as of yesterday, the word Wakefield was giving to all news outlets was that for legal reasons he would not be giving any statement about the accusations. It seems like the antivaccine lobby is a hydra; if you manage to expose one liar, nine more spring up to take their place.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-10 01:15 am (UTC)