Guest guest Posted June 12, 2007 Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 June 12, 2007 Opening Statements in Case on Autism and Vaccinations By GARDINER HARRIS [it does not matter who wins and who looses. But this trial will expose the evil intention of doctors who will go to any length to protect their incomes, whether it be from administering vaccines or from lobbying for them. As I have suggested to the Hon'ble President of India in an earlier mail, let us make vaccines a charitable task sans any profits. Better still let the doctors who push for them pay for them. Then we will see whether the enthusiasm lasts. When there is no money to be made, the vaccine lobby, the professed "child lovers", will simply vanish from the scene. History will judge these child lovers very severely I am afraid. Providence will be even sterner. I would not like to be in the shoes of these "professionals", not for all the wealth of the world.- Jagannath] WASHINGTON, June 11 — Lawyers began arguments on Monday in the first of several test cases that may help decide whether the government should pay millions of dollars to parents of autistic children. Nearly 5,000 parents claim that vaccinations caused their children to become autistic, and many of their claims have been pending for five years. The hearing was held at the “federal vaccine court,” set up by Congress 20 years ago when a series of vaccine scares nearly crippled the industry. Every major study and scientific organization examining this issue has found no link between vaccination and autism, but the parents and their advocates have persisted. Their frustration was evident in the opening statement of the parents’ lawyer, Thomas Powers of Portland, Ore. “Numerous obstacles have been placed in the path of the petitioners seeking that fair and generous compensation that they are entitled to,” Mr. Powers said. Mr. Powers gave his statement with his back to the three judges who will decide the case, addressing instead a few dozen audience members, many of them lawyers. “I felt it was important to address the families and the public,” he said during a break in the hearing. The vaccine court has gone to unusual lengths to convince parents that it will fairly adjudicate their claims, even setting up a conference call where parents can listen in to the hearings, which are expected to run for three weeks. At the opening of the hearing, Special Master George Hastings took pains to express his sympathy to the parents of autistic children. He pointed to Michelle Cedillo and her parents, Theresa and Michael Cedillo, whose claim for compensation is serving as the first test case. Special Master Hastings said the Cedillos were “the most important people in the courtroom.” “To all such family members, as to the Cedillo family, we special masters pledge to you that we will listen very carefully to the evidence presented at this hearing,” Special Master Hastings said. “We realize what an important task that has been assigned to us in this hearing.” Michelle Cedillo, 12, was rolled into the courtroom in a wheelchair at the start of the hearing. She wore hearing protection similar to that worn by heavy-machinery operators. She hit herself repeatedly and made loud grunting noises. Her parents soon rolled her out. Many parents who claim that vaccines gave their children autism are deeply suspicious of what they see as the government’s role in their children’s illness. Most have dismissed the many government-sponsored studies and panels that found no link between vaccination and autism. A few have even physically threatened some government scientists. Parents’ lawyers said this case would probably affect only a handful of the other claims. A test hearing for the other claims will be heard next year, said Mike Williams, chairman of a committee of parents’ lawyers. In Monday’s hearing, lawyers argued that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine gave Michelle a chronic measles infection that damaged her central nervous system. The lawyers also said that a once-common additive to pediatric vaccines, thimerosal, damaged her immune system, making it impossible for her to fight the infection. “She had been interacting with her parents, with her cousins,” said Sylvia Chin-Caplan, who represents the Cedillos. “She was babbling. She suddenly became silent.” The argument represents a patchwork of theories advanced for years, but the more common argument is that thimerosal directly damaged children’s brains. In hopes of finding more evidence to support their claims, parents’ lawyers have for years delayed the cases based on that argument. “I think we can win with what we’ve got,” Mr. Williams said. “But I think we’ll get better evidence” by waiting. Vincent J. Matanoski, an assistant director in the civil division of the Department of Justice, opened with a brief statement in which he dismissed the parents’ cases as “junk science.” “Unfortunately, after five years, you’ll find a signal lack of support for their contentions,” Mr. Matanoski said. Thimerosal was almost entirely removed from pediatric vaccines in 2001 after some government scientists expressed concern about the amount of mercury that children who got routine vaccinations would be exposed to. Since then, autism rates in the United States have shown no signs of dropping. Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company US: 1 in 150 children has AutismUS: 1 in 6 children suffers a developmental disorderNew Jersey: 1 in 94 has Autism UK: 1 in 86 has Autism China : Over 20 lakh autistic children, India : No authentic figures, expected one crore+ (1 in 250) AUTISM IS NOTHING BUT MERCURY POISONING. THERE IS MERCURY IN VACCINES!! Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on TV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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