TALKIN’ SENSE IN NEW BRUNSWICK

When I first saw that Alison Singer, Karen London and Paul Offit had joined forces to found the inaptly named Autism Science Foundation, my first thought was “birds of a feather flock together.”

The reaction of Canadian blogger, Harold Doherty, had a somewhat less juvenile take on it. He posted his thoughts on the obvious truth that there is more politics than science behind this new organization. (Read it here.)

What is most striking about ASF is that its statement that vaccines are not involved in autism takes up m ore space in its stated goals than stating just what it is they do intend to research. At a time when more and more voices in medicine and science are agreeing that the vaccine-autism issue is not dead, ASF is insisting that there is no issue. As Harold writes:

Given the existence of legitimate questions concerning possible vaccine autism questions it seems odd for an organization founded to provide quality scientific research to make such a dogmatic statement conclusively ruling out those very questions. It also seems odd that the founders of this organization believe that public confidence in the vaccine program will be maintained by shutting the door on areas of research in which substantial numbers of the population believe are legitimate areas of inquiry - including members of the public like Dr. Bernadine Healy, Dr. Julie Gerberding, Dr. Duane Alexander and Dr. Jon Poling.

If the issue were as dead as the folks at ASF want us to believe, there would be no need for them to talk about how they’re not going to study it; they’d tell us what it is they plan to delve into. Ms. Singer and Dr. Offit are telling us to pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. But if we take a peek, we’ll see what it is that makes all the smoke and noise.

Go here to read Harold’s post.