CBS News’ Sherryl Attkisson reported (click here, then see Vaccines Linked to Autism Case on the right) on the case of Hannah Poling, whose case the government conceded last week. At 1:57:
The Poling case is the first of its kind to become public, but our investigation uncovered nine other cases as far back as 1990, where records show the court ordered the government to compensate families whose children developed autism or autistic-like symptoms — toddlers who have been called “very smart” and impressed doctors with their intelligence and curiosity until their vaccination — children like Hannah Poling.
I don’t like a scare; high emotion leads to panic and bad law. The vast majority of children still benefit more than are harmed by vaccinations.
This may amaze or even anger us, but what it should not do is surprise. The government does not hold all of the knowledge it wants us to think it has. It is not the panacea some presidential candidates want us to think it is. If more of the vaccine cases win, that is simply a consequence of the government’s complete insistence that vaccines were safe.
There is a little incongruity, though, when some who distrust the government’s present research into vaccines and autism want the government to do more studies into vaccines and autism. The government is not the only entity who can do research. Cancer, juvenile diabetes, muscular dystrophy, autism, and other causes have private support from donations. When tax dollars are used to fund research, our choice of what gets researched is morphed into the choice of our legislators. When we donate directly to these foundations, we bypass the government loop, and we aren’t forcing anyone to donate to our cause that would prefer to donate to causes that would help their own children. I would want those of other causes would extend us the same courtesy.
