There were a lot of things I could have written about today. But I woke up with this particular subject on my mind, so I thought I would address it. I'm sure there will be people that read this and completely disagree with me, or people who want to debate the issue. For those who wish to do so, I would like to add the following disclaimer:
I respect every parent's right to raise their child the way that they feel is necessary for that child's well-being. I have some good friends who chose not to vaccinate their children. That is their choice. They have their reasons. That's fine and I want everyone who reads this blog to understand that what I am about to write is in no way intended as a criticism of parents who choose not to vaccinate their children. You are the expert on your own child (or you should be!).
Back in 1998, a British doctor named Andrew Wakefield published a study. The study involved twelve test subjects, and the study indicated that vaccinations cause autism in children. The study was published in Great Britain and in the United States medical journal the Lancet.
Subsequently, in was found that Dr. Wakefield had acted unethically. The method that he used to procure his test subjects, the claim that his investigations were given consent by an ethics committee (later proven false), and the disregard he showed for controlled conditions caused him to be stripped of his medical license in Great Britain and the Lancet to formally retract the study in February of 2010.
Some might argue that Wakefield's questioning of vaccinations in general caused pharmaceutical companies to paint a bright red target on his forehead. It's quite possible, but the fact remains that there is still no solid evidence linking vaccinations to autism. In the meantime, it created a scare; so much so that parents have thought twice before having vaccines administered to their children. As a result we have seen more occurrences of measles, mumps, and whooping cough. We are also seeing an increase in autism each year. One might also conclude that Wakefield did more harm than good.
So, if vaccines don't cause autism, what does? That's the million dollar question. There are many theories. Lead poisoning. Dietary issues. Genetics. We could talk all day about the benefits of the gluten-free diet or how to detox your child if you suspect mercury poisoning. As of June 2010, the CDC reports that 1 in 110 children are on the autistic spectrum. Yes, let's find a cure. Let's find out what causes autism. But let's find better ways to treat it also. If we said 1 in 110 children were blind, would we not see more Braille books in our schools, more audio equipment, a better atmosphere in our schools that would accommodate this disability? I think if that many children were blind, we wouldn't just ask for these things. We would demand it. And I am all about demanding when it comes to my son.
No comments:
Post a Comment