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A London researcher was the first to assert that the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine known as MMR caused autism in children. Following this "discovery," a handful of parents declared that a mercury-containing preservative in several vaccines was responsible for the disease. If mercury caused autism, they reasoned, eliminating it from a child's system should treat the disorder. Consequently, a number of untested alternative therapies arose, and, most tragically, in one such treatment, a doctor injected a five-year-old autistic boy with a chemical in an effort to cleanse him of mercury, which stopped his heart instead.
Children with autism have been placed on stringent diets, subjected to high-temperature saunas, bathed in magnetic clay, asked to swallow digestive enzymes and activated charcoal, and injected with various combinations of vitamins, minerals, and acids. Instead of helping, these therapies can hurt those who are most vulnerable, and particularly in the case of autism, they undermine childhood vaccination programs that have saved millions of lives. An overwhelming body of scientific evidence clearly shows that childhood vaccines are safe and does not cause autism. Yet widespread fear of vaccines on the part of parents persists.
In this book, Paul A. Offit, a national expert on vaccines, challenges the modern-day false prophets who have so egregiously misled the public and exposes the opportunism of the lawyers, journalists, celebrities, and politicians who support them. Offit recounts the history of autism research and the exploitation of this tragic condition by advocates and zealots. He considers the manipulation of science in the popular media and the courtroom, and he explores why society is susceptible to the bad science and risky therapies put forward by many antivaccination activists.
Autistic children, their desperate parents, unscrupulous doctors, and opportunistic lawyers call forth the "false prophets" whom physician Offit resolutely confronts here. Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he is well placed to marshal extensive evidence to discount theories that either mercury preservatives in vaccines or the NMR inoculations in particular (the most commonly cited culprits) are linked to increasing autism rates. He challenges other "false prophets" who attempt to market expensive, unproven, and even life-threatening treatments to frantic, vulnerable parents. While tempers flare over the merits of suspect cures and vaccine-liability claims, funds are diverted from badly needed social services for autistic children, and far more productive paths of autism research remain unexplored. Kathleen Seidel, a Columbia University-trained librarian, is one of the stars of the text. Her web site,
—Kathy Arsenault
A good read and an important piece of work.
— Lisa Jo Rudy
The book is a fantastic read. I recommend it to all physicians and their patients and families.
— Brian Alverson, MD
Paul A. Offit is one of the most respected scientists and clinicians in a field of vital importance to public health.
— Patricia M. Rodier
[Offit] provides important insight into the fatal flaws of the key arguments of vaccine alarmists.
Highly recommended.
Detailed but easily readable... should be required reading for any parents who are considering denying vaccination to their children.
A fascinating read... Eloquently and clearly written.
— Stan L. Block, MD
Arguably the most detailed and thorough history available of the current anti-vaccine movement.
— Roy Richard Grinker
[A] must-read... it will keep pediatricians and pediatric neurologists awake over the nightmarish possibilities of pseudoscience in the 21st century.
— Roger A. Brumback, M.D.
The vast range of professionals who may be enriched, professionally, by the book's contents extends to: psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, neuroscientists, speech pathologists, pediatricians, primary care physicians, geneticists, virologists, immunologists, vaccine experts, nurses, infectious disease experts, internists, gastroenterologists, epidemiologists, public health professionals, special education teachers, bioethicists, biochemists, biologists, biostatisticians, endocrinologists, pharmacists, pharmacologists, pharmaceutical industry professionals, health policy makers, journalists, politicians, and trial lawyers.
— Leo Uzych
Seeking to help readers realize the truth about Autism, Autism's False Prophets is a much need read, not to be missed.
A sobering indictment.
— Isabelle Rapin, M.D.
Arguably the most courageous and most knowledgeable scientist about vaccines in the United States.
— Robert Goldberg
[Dr. Offit] has done a huge public service by exposing the tragic and dangerous place the anti-vaccine hysteria has taken us.
— Huntly Collins
[This] book doesn't just show that the anti-vaccine activists are wrong; it attempts to explain why, in our culture, they tend to win.
— Jason Fagone
Enlightening, highly readable and... timely.
— Rahul K. Parikh, M.D.
More than a book about a disease, it is an ode to uncorrupted science and a cautionary tale that data alone is never enough.
This is a powerful book which should be read by all professionals working in the area ofmedicine.
— Michael Fitzgerald
A very good read.
— Dom Giordano
A very helpful book for both medical personnel and parents.
An invaluable chronicle that relates some of the many ways in which the vulnerabilities of anxious parents have been exploited.
— Linda Seebach
1 The Tinderbox 1
2 Lighting the Fuse 18
3 The Implosion 37
4 A Precautionary Tale 60
5 Mercury Rising 81
6 Mercury Falling 106
7 Behind the Mercury Curtain 130
8 Science in Court 156
9 Science and the Media 176
10 Science and Society 196
11 A Place for Autism 218
Epilogue: "Next, on Oprah" 235
Notes 249
Selected Bibliography 283
Acknowledgments 285
Index 287
Anonymous
Posted September 6, 2008
This book takes the autism world's dirty laundry out of the shadows and hangs it out in the open. Sunlight, they say, is the best disinfectant. I hope every family with an autistic child reads this book. It will save them a lot of frustration, and maybe protect their child from harm. P.S. To Matt the librarian: You complained - inaccurately - about people rating the book without having read it, and admitted you had not read it yourself, but went ahead and rated it 'poor' anyway? Way to keep an open mind.
15 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 24, 2008
As a mom, I am so happy that Dr. Offit has written a clinical and scientific book to dispel this awful notion that vaccines cause autism. The American people will benefit from his knowledge and his stellar career at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Keep it up!!! The 30 second sound bites from the news room should pick up a copy and give this the same time they give the 'sensational' but untrue notion that celebrities have 'cured autisim.' The American people deserve better.
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I am a senior therapist who works with children with autism. I picked up this book because I wanted to learn about vaccines and autism. I am both amazed and appalled by the negative reviews given to Dr. Offit, especially by those who haven't read the book. People cannot deny scientific fact yet many parents utilized anecdotes to justify why vaccines cause autism. Andrew Wakefield is being investigated, he fraudently published data and gave false hope to many parents. As a social worker who has to abide by a strong code of ethics I am deeply disturbed that a Dr. such as Wakefield would falsify data for his own financial gain and misinform his other more upstanding colleagues. Also, how can parents and DAN professional deny the sixteen epidemiological studies? One reviewer wrote that more studies needed to be done to determine if there is a link, is sixteen not enough because in my profession that is plenty. We have wasted enough time on this debate and children are suffering, as a community and population we should focus our resources on finding out the cause and working on creating more best practice methods to helping those with autism. Dr. Offit's book was very well presented and should be read by parents, siblings, students, teachers, anyone that wants to know truthful information about autism and vaccines. To respond to the reviewer who claims that Offit is biased in his opinion and he stands to make money off the patent of his vaccination and the sales of this book, you are grossly incorrect. Offit states in the prologue and author information section that he is the developer of the Rota Virus vaccine and has donated all roylaties from the book to fund autism research; if only Andrew Wakefield could say as much.
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 29, 2008
This book is amazing for it's clarity and readability and for the courage that is exemplifies. Dr. Offit is constantly vilified by people who think they know what they are talking about but who have their heads filled with utter nonsense that they've picked up on Internet bulletin boards and groups. The level of rank ignorance about the immune system of babies, about the immune system of autistic children in general, about all aspects of child development and autism in particular is stunning, but people don't let their mind-numbing ignorance stop them from spouting 'facts' about Dr. Offit and facts about autism and vaccines. Read this book. It exposes the insane, inane and lame history that is at the root of the belief that vaccines, vaccine ingredients and un-named 'toxins' can cause autism. This country has been totally taken for a ride by people like David Kirby, Dan Olmsted, Mark Blaxill, Lyn Redwood, Sallie Bernard and Lenny Schafer. What they along with greedy, lying, toxic tort law firms done to autistic children is monstrous and what they've done to confidence in vaccines is totally unforgivable.
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 8, 2008
Fastastic book, well written, loaded with good info
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 7, 2009
I wish more parents would just put down their "Dr. Sears books" for a minute and read this book. It is intellingently written and very helpful in this whole autism, vaccines, merucry etc. debate
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.mama-to-be
Posted January 16, 2009
I am not a doctor, but I've read all the research and am staunchly pro-vaccine. It is impossible for me to imagine why doctors like Dr. Offit, a tireless researcher and bonafide expert in this field, would receive DEATH THREATS from parents! And it's ridiculous to think that the medical community is trying to hide the truth to make money off of vaccines... What about the hippocratic oath?
Why on earth would you choose to put your child's health in the hands of sanctimonious, sensationalist blowhard celebrities, when real doctors publish study after study debunking the pie-in-the-sky claims that vaccines cause autism?
VACCINATE YOUR CHILDREN, PEOPLE! I am scared to death that my unborn child will one day contract measles, mumps or rubella from the blameless child of parents who believe this claptrap.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 2, 2008
It's about time a book like this has come out. There is a lot of really questionable science/medicine in the alternative-medical side of autism. Some is downright dangerous. Kudo's to Dr. Offit for stepping forward to tell these sad stories. P.s. Matt the librarian should be aware that some people get advanced copies of books.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.book-lovingPharmacist
Posted April 24, 2010
There is so much garbage out there, written and talked about by people with their own agendas, on autism and vaccines. This is a balanced, well written book that debunks these "theories" and exposes the perpetrators for what they are- money and glory seeking false scientists who put their personal objectives before the health of children.
The book is written as a time-line, so the reader must read the entire book to be informed on this issue, but anyone who puts in the time, will be amply rewarded.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 27, 2008
1. I am well aware that people do get advance review copies of certain books. As a librarian, I am frequently asked to preview books. These people, however, usually announce that fact in their reviews in order to let people know that things are kosher, rather than posting anonymously. This practice, sadly, is all the more common on hot-button issues, such as politics and medical issues and has been particularly prevelant regarding books on autism. 2. Were it possible to merely leave a comment reminding people of such vote rigging before books are widely released instead of having to rate precisely rate a book, I would do so. Denied that option, I chose to rate the book so as to create as neutral and balanced a rating as possible. 3. I have read the book since my first review and it is not something I feel comfortable having in my library as a factual guide. Sadly, bn.com does not allow direct links to other websites in reviews - but anyone with a modicum of research ability should be able to find reviews showing Offit's dishonesty. One of the more glaring examples is his contention that thimerosal (a mercury compound) is no longer used as an anti-contaminant. Actually, it IS still used - just not in the larger doses that were standard before parents began to question the wisdom of injecting mercury into a still-developing body. I urge you all to do your own research and draw your own conclusions.
2 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 16, 2008
In reading this book I have come across so many incorrect statements and downright lies that it was painful to read. I knew I disagreed with the main message initially, having a child that regressed into autism immediately following routine vaccinations at 15 months but I believe it is my duty to read all sides of the issue to educate myself. Anyhow, one glaring error Offit presents is about Vitamin B6 injections, routinely rxed by DAN Doctors. There is no such thing - DAN docs prescribe B12 injections. It may seem slight but it just lends to the credibility to this book - this is one example - small errors abound which add up to the big picture and any great debater knows that fallacy after fallacy lend to doubt and loss of the debate. This man clearly thinks he knows everything and clearly does not. Just because a correlation between autism and vaccines has not been proven does not mean it is not plausible, possible and even likely.
2 out of 18 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 13, 2008
I am the brother of an autistic man and I haven't read this book yet. But neither has the person who wrote the five star review, despite the book not having come out yet. To be honestly, I just recently got back into the autism activism after having spent most of my teen years working with autistic children. While I'm skeptical of their being a link between autism and vaccination, I do believe that more studies should be performed in order to confirm things once and for all, one way or the other. And the skeptic in me wonders why the companies making the vaccines seem to be reluctant to do this research since it would save them more money in the long run and confirm their good intent for public health. As such, I am somwhat skpetical of this book given Dr. Offit's reputation and financial connections to those who stand to lose millions if not billions should a link between autism and vaccination be proven. John Dobbs has reported upon Offit's questionable dealings (a Google search for 'John Dobbs' + 'autism' will bring it up) and as I said before, I can't help but wonder why so much effort is being put into denouncing the Green Vaccine movement instead of verifying their own claims. Nevertheless, I intend to read the book first and check the facts as I do so. I urge you all to do the same and not give into the cult of celebrity, one way or the other. I question Jenny McCarthy's wisdom on medical matters as much as I question Amanda Peet's wisdom in calling parents who don't choose to vaccinate 'parasites' in an attempt to win them over to the Every Child By Two program.
2 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 24, 2009
Dr. Offit is the patent holder for the new rotavirus vaccine, recently added to the Immunization Schedule. I hope he has this disclamier in his book.
I have not read his book, but do have concerns on the topic of autism. At the alarming rate of 1 in 150, it is a major health issue.
So much good cop / bad cop talk going on, we are forgetting the children and adults who are truly suffering.
We need to focus our energy on a solution to the problem.
I also think a lot of respect needs to go to the the families suffering with autism, and not disregard their stories.
I have a hope that soon the world will really know the truth soon.
0 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 23, 2009
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Posted February 23, 2009
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Posted January 5, 2010
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Posted August 6, 2009
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Posted March 9, 2010
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Overview
A London researcher was the first to assert that the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine known as MMR caused autism in children. Following this "discovery," a handful of parents declared that a mercury-containing preservative in several vaccines was responsible for the disease. If mercury caused autism, they reasoned, eliminating it from a child's system should treat the disorder. Consequently, a number of untested alternative therapies arose, and, most tragically, in one such treatment, a doctor injected a five-year-old autistic boy with a chemical in an effort to cleanse him of mercury, which stopped his heart instead.
Children with autism have ...