May 12, 2008 3:49 pm US/Pacific
The Debate Over Vaccines And Autism; Thimerosal
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
An estimated one out of every 150 children these days is born with autism. And Doctor Mallika Marshal reports thousands of families are now suing the government.
The debate over vaccines and autism is back in court.
These two lawyers represent two ten year olds with autism. They blame a component formerly used in vaccines called thimerosal, saying the mercury preservative leads to brain damage.
"Our theory as we go forward is not a legal theory but a scientific theory and it's a scientific theory based on the emerging evidence," says Tom Powers, attorney.
For years parents have protested thimerosal. Now some 49,000 families of autistic children have filed claims against the government.
Many parents point to the case of Hannah Poling. In March, the nine-year-old, with a rare cell disorder and autistic symptoms, won a settlement after a government program concluded vaccines aggravated her underlying condition.
However, federal officials say that was an isolated case and does not prove a connection. Government experts also offer a number of studies that have never found a link between thimerosal and autism.
And Touro College's Doctor Bruce Peters points out that in recent years thimerosal was taken out of standard infant vaccines. Despite that the autism rate has continued to climb.
"Vaccines have been time tested and used for many, many years now and I should say for many, many decades now, they've all been very, very, safe," explains Dr. Bruce Peters.
Lawyers disagree and are seeking money for their clients.
"These children are entitled to compensation and their only way to get it is to go to court," says Mike Williams, attorney.
It may take months for the court to make a decision. A decision that could affect thousands of cases in the future.
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