Should a Former Playboy Model Trump an Experienced Health Care Expert? You Decide

This weekend, Chicago-area parents wondering whether or not to vaccinate their babies, toddlers, school-age kids or teenagers face a tough decision when it comes to expert advice: should they listen to Jenny McCarthy or to their pediatrician? McCarthy is slated to give the key-note speech at the Autism One conference in Rosemont on Saturday.

Now don't get me wrong. I think Jenny McCarthy looks great wearing an orange bikini on the cover of a national magazine this month. Even with air-brushing, I could never look like that. I think that her partner, Jim Carrey, has done some exceptional work in several movies, and that the "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," one of my top 10 movies, is totally underrated. But I don't think that they should be making vaccination policy. I also fervently believe that organizations like Autism One that attempt to make the utterly unscientific claim that vaccines cause autism endanger all of our children.

I don't grace magazine covers, and I have never starred in a movie, but like my daughter's pediatrician, I studied hard in college, learning a fair amount of science and decision-making skills, worked harder in medical school and harder still in residency training, and I have been taking care of patients for over a dozen years. I am an internist, and I know many important things about vaccinations, but the bottom line is they save lives. And there's no evidence that they cause autism.

It's really too bad that The Lancet, one the of top five medical journals, once published an article suggesting that the MMR vaccine could increase the risk of autism. They have since retracted the article, publicly apologized for publishing it, and explained that the authors falsified their data. But the mere publication of this wrong-headed theory has helped to fan the flames of the anti-vaccination community intensely. And now babies and kids are not getting their vaccines, and they are getting sick. Some are even dying.

I empathize with parents who are raising a child with autism, and find the skyrocketing rates of kids now diagnosed with this disease extremely worrisome, but demonizing vaccines is the wrong answer.

Before kids were routinely vaccinated against, say diphtheria or measles, hundreds of thousands of children would contract these diseases every year. Some kids would get a fever and a cough. But many would struggle to breath and some kids would get encephalitis, (which can lead to permanent brain damage or deafness). Some kids would even die.

Parents who refuse to vaccinate their kids not only put their own offspring at risk, they also put other children at risk through the well-known phenomenon of "herd immunity." This means that if almost all kids in a group have been vaccinated against a disease, an outbreak is much less likely to occur. Vaccination not only protects your own child, it also protects the other children in day care or third grade or on the soccer team.

My friend K.S., a local pediatrician and the mother of three boys, said that a few years ago, a baby cared for by her practice died of pertussis. The baby had been receiving the appropriate vaccinations, but had not yet reached the age of full immunity, and contracted pertussis from her un-vaccinated teenage uncle. Pertussis had hit local high schools hard, and in this example of a failure of herd immunity, outbreaks that make teenagers miserable with months of coughing but don't actually kill them put babies at mortal risk. As a result, K.S. and her partners no longer allow children of parents who refuse to allow routine vaccinations into their pediatric practice.

So as the recent H1N1 flu outbreak brought infectious disease and the role of vaccines once again to the forefront of parents' minds, I have some advice for parents who chose to listen to Jenny McCarthy and opt to forego vaccinations: pray, wash your hands a lot and find new playmates, because I will not let your child endanger mine.

Comments

[mofmars333]

This is really important & worth repeating.

It ties right in with the vaccination connection to autism & that fact we have every reason to be suspicious of past studies & reports by those we believe have vested intersts;

"Medical Journal studies are being written by Eli Lilly & Co. and then asked doctors to put their names on the articles.

What other studies are ghostwritten by Eli Lilly?"

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aVvfe.v1k_VY

See this link also;

"Doctors signed Merck's Vioxx studies"

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25311725-5013871,00.html

"SCIENTISTS were allegedly recruited by a pharmaceutical giant to put their names on research done by the drug company to promote the safety of its anti-arthritis drug Vioxx"

Now that we have evidence on this matter, it very much exposes & connects to the fact that we can't trust past studies & reports pertainig to the link between vaccinations & autism.

[Principaldad]

What does any of that have to do with vaccines? Eli Lilly doesn't even make vaccines. Actually, very few pharmas make vaccines because it is not very profitable.

The Vioxx scandal at Merck is proof that the system works. A few influential people at Merck conspired to place Vioxx on the market when there was evidence of its problems. Merck's internal studies indicated the possibility of a problem, but they were dismissed and explained away. When the drug hit the market, problems began to show up and outside research was conducted that the direction of the government. Problems were found and the drug was eventually pulled.

Certainly Merck acted stupidly and, at times, dishonestly (sometimes even criminally). However, the system found and corrected the problem. Now we are supposed to believe that the government and all outside researchers are ALL in on some vast conspiracy to injure the public even though the product being "protected" is not nearly as profitable as a normal prescription drug.

Even as a conspiracy theory it doesn't make sense.

[mofmars333]

Here's good news concerning Oprah helping Jenny McCarthy get her own talk show. The discussion took a turn for the worse as you can see & is closed for comments but there's still good information there.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/04/jenny-mccarthy-signs-deal_n_195529.html?show_comment_id=24366925#comment_24366925

[mofmars333]

These ongoing discussions & debates can always use more voices of reason. No matter what side you stand on, your input matters.

Here's 2 more to weigh in at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/mainstream-medicine-and-t_b_213132.html?show_comment_id=25430494#comment_25430494

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harvey-karp/cracking-the-autism-riddl_b_213730.html

[MNmommy]

"your input matters"

Unless of course, it disagrees with your opinion.

[sdtech]

It is a no-brainer to stop injecting children and pregnant women with a one half milliliter of multidose flu vaccine containing 50 parts per million mercury. This shot has 25 micrograms of mercury which is the same amount in one and a quarter teaspoons of a hazardous waste liquid with 4 parts per million mercury.

Note:
Each fluid in this comparison has 25 micrograms of mercury. Under Title 40 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations Part 261 the vaccine, while in use, is not a hazardous waste. However, any unused liquids, or waste fluids, with mercury are hazardous waste based on the toxicity characteristic leach test of 0.2 mg/L (200 parts per billion).
See http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/mercury/regs.htm .
The TCLP test uses a dilution factor of 20.
See http://www.wipp.energy.gov/library/CRA/BaselineTool/Documents/Appendices/WAP%203.PDF .
Thus a liquid waste with 4,000 parts per billion mercury in water soluble form would be diluted in the TCLP test by 20, giving 200 parts per billion (the 0.2mg/L threshold level for hazardous waste). So a liquid hazardous waste with 6.25 milliliters, or one and and quarter teaspoons, containing 4,000 parts per billion mercury (or 4 parts per million or 4 milligrams per liter) has 25 micrograms of mercury by weight, the same as the multidose flu shot with Thimerosal.

[kwombles]

Sdtech, I'm stumped. Do you keep repeating your argument here because you want to be the first thing people see, because you need the attention, what, why?

There are thimerosal free shots for all vaccines. There you go, done and fixed. What more do you want?

Don't you have anything else to bring to the table?

[mofmars333]

I thank Sdtech for all the important & good information brought to this table because it's been a whole lot .

Anyone can learn this to be the truth from comments in the profile section.

Truth & evidence continues to mount, no matter how misinformed people who've been deceived try to tell it, or those purposely trying to cover up fact, for whatever their personal reasons may be.

The simple fact to this matter is mathematical.

Witness numbers are growing & added together, this proves our long time suspicions & voids old arguments, no matter how well one is able to spin the issue.

People are gathering & many know first hand what happened to their little ones, directly after vaccinating, as well as results further up the road which took place.

All this leaves no room for doubt or denial.

The large numbers coming forward, help tell the tale & defy the logic of consideration for coincidence.

People on the side who believe vaccinations are not safe are scared & worried.

They have reason not to trust past scientific studies & reports. I won't go into detail because we have all heard that reasoning before.

I will say & stress the need & demand for new studies with strict oversight.

The numerous warning bells have been ignored for far too long.

Knowledgeable & influential people who care are finally listening now. Those voices will be heard no matter the loud ones trying to stifle them get. Thank goodness! Truth

[mofmars333]

Dear Judy,

It was great speaking with you today & to hear your little girl is doing well. I'm copying this message to you at the three debates I told you about before I email it to you.

If you'd like to address past discussion on this matter your story first came about at;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/top-us-panel-some-vaccine_b_211843.html?show_comment_id=25378211#comment_25378211

Posted 09:45 AM on 06/08/ by Stemcellblogger

I followed up at;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-lovinger/should-a-former-playboy-m_b_206648.html?page=7&show_comment_id=24723352#comment_24723352

Posted at 10:48 AM on 06/08/

Also at;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-schneider/oprah-backlash-in-newswee_b_211673.html?show_comment_id=25374453#comment_25374453

Posted at 11:12 AM on 06/08/

If you change your mind & choose not to weigh in, I'll understand due to potential stress the opposition we're up against can cause in some of us.

I know you've already experienced unfair negativity in this matter & won't blame you if you choose not to enter this spin zone.

I am glad to give everyone your message, though, in case we don't hear from you.

Judy DiCorcia said to tell you that she'll be the one President Obama points to at the Stem Cell & Autism National Debate.

Sincerely,
Marsha

[mofmars333]

Part 2

If you decide to do a lot of catching up & read those threads in depth, you can see how mean spirited they have been. Then they go on to try & play the good guy as they continue to twist others words & aggravate as much as they can get away with.

Many insulting & terrible posts lacking honesty & truth get deleted but some real bullying still gets through, as you'll be able to see should you decide to check it out.

They call it censoring but it's kind of like free speech in that there's an understandable line that shouldn't get crossed. Many times that line gets crossed & no one has the right to scream censorship or say their free speech has been violated, either.

It's only common sense to know where that line is & they either don't have enough & are mean hearted or they purposely have agenda for the deception they bring in hurtful ways

I sure hope they don't stop you from joining in, if they should start acting up. We need all the honest people we can get on all sides of this vaccination & possible link to autism issue, we can get.

I know we didn't even discuss which side we each stand concerning this matter & for me, it will be interesting to learn.

[Kruddler]

Nice soliloquy, mofmars. Although as a self-professed activist, I would have thought you would have a thicker skin. You should have also stated that readers should only believe posts made by yourself and other approved commentators.

[mofmars333]

The moderators posted 2 parts of a 3 part post that was meant for Judy & the moderators only. This should not have gotten through. I was complaining about another post that was important & was rejected. It was a mistake.

[kwombles]

Moffie:

"Description of Personal Attack
A personal attack is committed when a person substitutes abusive remarks for evidence when attacking another person's claim or claims. This line of "reasoning" is fallacious because the attack is directed at the person making the claim and not the claim itself. The truth value of a claim is independent of the person making the claim. After all, no matter how repugnant an individual might be, he or she can still make true claims.

Not all ad Hominems are fallacious. In some cases, an individual's characteristics can have a bearing on the question of the veracity of her claims. For example, if someone is shown to be a pathological liar, then what he says can be considered to be unreliable. However, such attacks are weak, since even pathological liars might speak the truth on occasion.

In general, it is best to focus one's attention on the content of the claim and not on who made the claim. It is the content that determines the truth of the claim and not the characteristics of the person making the claim."

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/personal-attack.html


:-)

[mofmars333]

Please stand by for important follow up on:

Stem Cells for Autism - An Open Letter to President Obama

Cologne, Germany (PRWEB) June 8, 2009 -- The mother of a Bayport, New York girl reaches out to President Obama to make stem cell therapy available in America after her daughter's successful treatment in Germany at the XCell-Center in January 2009...

http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/stem-cells-for-autism-an-open-letter-to-president-obama/

The Mother who wrote this letter told me she'd be here. She had to pick up her little girl when I spoke to her & is busy right now. So for those who haven't seen this & those that need a refresher, please review this matter.

[mofmars333]

If you're one seriously looking for answers, please, research for yourself by reviewing all sides of this matter.

Jim Carrey's thread is closed for comments but there's a gold mine of information, available, there;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-carrey/the-judgment-on-vaccines_b_189777.html?page=8&show_comment_id=24045095#comment_24045095

If you don't want to sift through masses of posts that, all added up, are "actually" plenty of evidence to what's up, just keep an open eye & ear out from here on out.

Keep that watch & study up here, as well as at the other debates going on currently & decide truth to the matter for yourself;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-schneider/oprah-backlash-in-newswee_b_211673.html?show_comment_id=25328099#postComment

&

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/top-us-panel-some-vaccine_b_211843.html?page=2&show_comment_id=25258701#postComment

[sdtech]

Kwombles you said “What battle, sdtech, is it that you think is being waged? Precisely, so I know where you've placed yourself and Moffie? It's only fair to define your agenda so that it's clear for all. Mercury bad. We've got that. You don't like the facts concerning mercury and vaccines. We got that, too.”

At this point that is all one can ask. It is left there.

But any person that is not humble in this ongoing debate in this country really should bow out. With one child, on average, diagnosed with autism every twenty minutes-personal attacks have no value in helping these children.

And everyone should do their own homework and then make up their minds.

Adieu and happy trails!

[kwombles]

If mercury is your only concern in the vaccine debate, then you can rest comfortably, since it has been removed from almost all vaccines and there are thimerosal free vaccines for those that still contain it.

Thanks for telling us how to conduct ourselves, sdtech. Humility is irrelevant to the discussion at hand. And an odd thing for you to say is required to engage in the debate.

Which of these three definition of humble were you suggesting was necessary to the debate and that you yourself were following:

"Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful.
Showing deferential or submissive respect: a humble apology.
Low in rank, quality, or station; unpretentious or lowly: a humble cottage."

http://www.answers.com/topic/humble


Disagreeing with another person and pointing out where the person's reasoning and conclusions are incorrect is not a personal attack.

[mofmars333]

You know by now that the same rhetoric being used concerning mercury is not the only concern. Keeping up with the repetition on this one is easily seen through, at this point.

Fact that it has not been removed & remains in small amounts in some vaccinations, is true, also, but in no way our only concern.

The only decent & fair thing to do is stop the practice of personal attacks or bow out as Sdteck suggests.

Everyone watching knows the truth to your behavior because of the way you "do" personally & consistently attack the messenger.

You do not just "disagree" as your past comments reflect very clearly.

And that's the truth no matter how you try to spin it!

[MNmommy]

Is it one child dx'd with autism every 20 minutes, or one child dx'd with an ASD every 20 minutes?

I've been perusing some of the statistics and numbers related to ASD, and it seems that the number of those profoundly affected have dropped, whilst the numbers with higher cognitive abilities has risen, markedly so in fact. What do you suppose is the reason for that?

[dugmaze]

Are doctors really worried about the public's general health or is all about making money?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/27/AR2007042702631.html

http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,,24471927-5001021,00.html

[mofmars333]

Thank goodness there are doctor's of credibility concerned about the health of our people. But unfortunately, there are those who do not & are controlled by greed in ways that have removed any humanity they may of had at one time.

[MNmommy]

Thanks dug, for the interesting articles. Contradictory aren't they? So much for the blanket statement that there is financial incentive and profit to be made for doctors in vaccinating.

[dugmaze]

"So much for the blanket statement that there is financial incentive and profit to be made for doctors in vaccinating."

Don't remeber anyone ever saying that! Please post if you find one.

[mofmars333]

I just saw this at David Kirby's thread. Let's hope & pray good results occur in the near future for many desprate, suffering & worried loved ones of the afflicted children;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/top-us-panel-some-vaccine_b_211843.html?page=2&show_comment_id=25258701#comment_25258701

Stem Cells for Autism - An Open Letter to President Obama

Cologne, Germany (PRWEB) June 8, 2009 -- The mother of a Bayport, New York girl reaches out to President Obama to make stem cell therapy available in America after her daughter's successful treatment in Germany at the XCell-Center in January 2009...

http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/stem-cells-for-autism-an-open-letter-to-president-obama/

[MNmommy]

For the love of all that is holy, please stop re-posting that stem cell nonsense. There have been ZERO studies about it and there is absolutely no evidence beyond anecdotal of it's efficacy.

You've managed to pick up on a an ad campaign for a clinic in Germany. PRWeb is nothing but a glamor ad wrapped up in faux legitimacy.

[mofmars333]

I didn't repost anything. I sent this once to three separate debates on this mateer, including here;

Here;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/top-us-panel-some-vaccine_b_211843.html?show_comment_id=25341091#comment_25341091

& here;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-schneider/oprah-backlash-in-newswee_b_211673.html?show_comment_id=25262540#comment_25262540

If the Mother's story proves true, that says a whole lot, don't you think?

I don't care where it's from, if it's true, it has merit.

[RaisingAwareness]

Let's look at a sample of the unvaccinated homeschoolers and Amish and compare it to the over-vaccinated and see which is the healthier bunch and which group has less autism. It's really that simple. Let's not let our paychecks get in the way of some amount of justice for the children harmed.

[Principaldad]

Simple studies are rarely a simple as they sound. It is possible that there could be something to be gained from such studies. However, there would be problems with setting up such a study so that the results would be meaningful.

The Amish and the general US population are genetically and environmentally different. Genetic conditions are expected to occur at different rates in these populations. One such condition, MSUD, occurs very rarely in the general population (less than 1 per 100,000). However, in the US Amish population MSUD occurs in about 1 per 400 births. Since autism has been shown to have an almost certain strong genetic component, it too is expected to occur at different rates among the Amish.

There could also be issues in comparing unvaccinated persons to vaccinated. The reasons for not vaccinating may effect the sample. For example, because of negative publicity, families with a history of autism may be less likely to vaccinate. This would likely have the overall effect of making autism more prevalent in an unvaccinated group. If I remember correctly, there was one large study that showoed a somewhat higher autism rate among a less vaccinated group. This may have been the reason.

Eliminating these confounders may prove to be very difficult, if not impossible.

[kwombles]

And Dr. Sears is over at AoA recommending that families with one child with autism cease vaccination for all children in the family. Further confounding your sample pool.

[RaisingAwareness]

There are tens of thousands of home-schoolers who live in the general population that we can use.

[RaisingAwareness]

Do you have an autistic child? If you do how are you helping other autistic families such as your own? What is your contribution?

[Seldon]

Whoa...I just waded into this one. However I think between NetDude, kwombles, PrincipalDad and others have got it covered.

So just going to say, this is the first article I have seen on HuffPo that deals with this "controversy" appropriately, with both respect and context. Thank you for posting this Sarah. There can be far too much woo on this site some times.

[sirenity]

As a newbie to this debate I have been trying to take in all the 'information'. Trouble is this information is quite... hmm, what word to use? Ludicrous? When one is using exaggeration, stereotyping, open ended statements etc it is very difficult to take the words as FACT.
Quote: The patient knows what is best for themself
Rebuttal:
There are documented cases of persons suffering a heart attack, stroke or life threatining injury where they will refuse medical assistance stating they are 'fine'.

Quote: Unfortunately those same "professionals" routinely minimize, deflect and ignore the concerns of parents when it comes to children.
Rebuttal:
I ask that you define 'routinely minimize' and provide research studies that show this. Also define "Deflect and ignore'. Notet that the Mother you were responding to is a pediatrician who clearly did not 'ignore' your concerns. I read her post myself. She clearly responded.
Quote:
why were vaccinations OK until about 20 years ago?
Rebuttal:
Define OK and provide the studies that show that in 1989 the vaccinations met the definition of OK.

All I am saying people, is YES please do share information. Provide your resources so that others can utilize those resources and also reach an informed opinion. Rather than merely throwing mud at each other can you not answer the questions, provide the information in a factual manner?

I greatly look forward to seeing some FACTUAL information rather than finger pointing and smear campaigns.

[NetDude]

What factual information do you want to hear about?

[kwombles]

We're happy to provide references and to email the actual journal articles if you do not have access to them. We've spent the last several months providing an abundance of resources across threads here on Huff.

In addition, you can find more resources at scienceroc­ks.proboar­ds.com.

[mofmars333]

You're right Sirenty. I do try to cut down the individual I'm addressing & apologize.

I get upset when I feel one's being deceptive whether they mean to be or not & do lash out but that's no excuse for that behavior.

I've stressed the need & reason for new studies with close oversight many times so won't go into that but would like to say one thing.

This time, hopefully, without having to meet demands or feel stress to answer repeated same & unreasonable questions or feel I risk losing ground on points I'm trying to make on this sensitive matter, I'd like to say just one most important thing.

I believe the main scientific fact to the matter is simple.

The simplicity is mathematical & the cry of so many parents in the world who are witness to timely reactions their child has had directly after being vaccinated. Results after each injury in conjunction with the growing number of others simultaneously & throughout time added together are the warning bells that have been going off for far too long, without remedy.

That's all I've been trying to say but continuing demands made on me & others to further explain ourselves does become quite frustrating & overwhelming.

Again, I'm sorry & will try to be a better person about it from now on. Thank you for pointing it out. We all needed to hear that.

[Kruddler]

"...the cry of so many parents in the world who are witness to timely reactions their child has had directly after being vaccinated. Results after each injury in conjunction with the growing number of others simultaneously & throughout time..."

I remember asking for scientific / medical evidence for children becoming autistic immediately after vaccination (0-3 days after), and no-one was able to provide any (I couldn't find any, either). Plenty of kids get reactions, it's there on the VAERS database; I just don't buy into claims that these reactions directly cause autism, particularly when nothing other than biased anecdote is provided.

[sdtech]

Sirenity: you said: “All I am saying people, is YES please do share information. Provide your resources so that others can utilize those resources and also reach an informed opinion.”

The following three books are recommended:

Evidence of Harm by David Kirby
Changing the Course of Autism by Bryan Jepson
Sacred Spark by Lisa Sykes

The following three websites are recommended:

www.safeminds.org
www.ageofautism.com
www.generationrescue.org

[kwombles]

These sites by sdtech are recommended only if you want an incredible dose of misinformation and outright lies. Period.

Wakefield: discredited. Geiers: discredited. Olmstead: discredited. Kirby: finally becoming reasonable. Wonder why that is?

Instead:

Volkmar, Paul, Klin, & Cohen. Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders.

Coleman. The Neurology of Autism.

Bauman & Kemper. The Neurobiology of Autism.

Weed through my posts for literally dozens of studies on autism, as well as on vaccine related questions.

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org is a good site, as well. See
www.sciencerocks.proboards.com for other suggestions.

[sirenity]

I have been looking at the names on the board of www.safeminds.org.
Sallie Bernard author of Autism: A Unique Type of Mercury Poisoning? (I can't find her name linked with any reputable studies)
Theresa Wrangham parent-no credentials found
Lyn Redwood: Even Wiki has her bio listed as lacking citations and therefore credibility.
Mark Blaxill: He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. I am unclear how this relates to expertise in autism?
Heidi Roger: A parent.
Laura Bono: She graduated with a B.S. in Journalism a minor in Marketing. Involved with the Institue of Medicine & NAA. No related credentials.

At this point I felt it safe to feel that website is an activist website.
AoA. I am sorry, but in my humble opinion this is not a credible website.
Generation Rescue: I went to the science page. I tried to find some of the studies listed in other credible science databases. I was unable to verify these studies as genuinely scientific.
On to the next suggested resources. :)