On Monday, the parents of two ten year old boys brought their case to the United States federal court on Monday saying that a mercury preservative in the shots caused a rare reaction. Most medical experts believe there is no link but the court can “rule there is a plausible association and allow parents of children with autism to get federal compensation from a special vaccine fund.”
So far there have been more than 3500 cases filed and who are seeking payment under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. This is a no-fault program so it isn’t necessary to prove that the vaccine actually caused any injuries. The only thing that has to be proven is that vaccines can sometimes cause that particular condition or injury. “The no-fault payout system is meant to protect vaccine makers from costly lawsuits that drove many out of the vaccine-making business.”
The theory that the boys’ parents will be using is that thimerosal, a mercury containing preservative, can cause autism from the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. The boys had conditions that made them vulnerable to the thimerosal.
“What we will conclude … is that thimerosal-containing vaccines belong on the list of environmental factors … when one is evaluating what might have caused autism in a child when all of the other theories have been ruled out,” attorney Tom Powers told the court in opening arguments.”
Doctors believe there is a genetic link, environmental link and maybe even prenatal link that can cause the “brain effects that lead to symptoms.” Thimerosal has now been removed from most childhood vaccines.
“The debate is over. There is no controversy,” government attorney Lynn Ricciardella retorted in her opening arguments. “The credible scientific community has already spoken on this issue and has rejected it.”
One girls from Georgia, Hannah Poling won a case claiming a vaccine caused autism-linke complications from a rare disorder, but the government says that it was an exception and can’t be used as a precedent.
As soon as we hear the results of these cases I’ll post them here.
Source: Reuters