RESPECTFUL INSOLENCE

"A statement of fact cannot be insolent." The miscellaneous ramblings of a surgeon/scientist on medicine, quackery, science, and pseudoscience (and anything else that interests him).

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One last time: The latest Geier & Geier paper is not evidence that thimerosal causes autism

Post author By Orac
Post date June 15, 2008
10 Comments on One last time: The latest Geier & Geier paper is not evidence that thimerosal causes autism

Several people have been sending me either links to this paper or even the paper itself:

Young HA, Geier DA, Geier MR. (2008). Thimerosal exposure in infants and neurodevelopmental disorders: An assessment of computerized medical records in the Vaccine Safety Datalink. J Neurol Sci. 2008 May 14 [Epub ahead of print]. (Full text here.)

Some have asked me whether I was planning on deconstructing it, given that the mercury militia has apparently been promoting it as “evidence” that it really, truly, and honestly was the mercury in vaccines after all that caused autism. I did mention it about three weeks ago, but I really didn’t do a full deconstruction because I didn’t need to. A new blogger called EpiWonk did a three part take-down that eviscerated this latest bit of “science” from Geier pÃ¨re et fils so thoroughly and with a much greater knowledge of epidemiology than I could ever muster, that I saw no need. However, since this study appears to be rearing its ugly head again, it’s worth directing you to EpiWonk’s three-part take-down. I had been meaning to to this anyway, but had gotten side-tracked by numerous other topics. To make up for my lapse, here we go:

Enjoy! And the next time an antivaccinationist points to this particular study, send ’em over to see EpiWonk. Tell ’em Orac sent you.

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By Orac

Orac is the nom de blog of a humble surgeon/scientist who has an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his copious verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few probably will. That surgeon is otherwise known as David Gorski.

That this particular surgeon has chosen his nom de blog based on a rather cranky and arrogant computer shaped like a clear box of blinking lights that he originally encountered when he became a fan of a 35 year old British SF television show whose special effects were renowned for their BBC/Doctor Who-style low budget look, but whose stories nonetheless resulted in some of the best, most innovative science fiction ever televised, should tell you nearly all that you need to know about Orac. (That, and the length of the preceding sentence.)

DISCLAIMER:: The various written meanderings here are the opinions of Orac and Orac alone, written on his own time. They should never be construed as representing the opinions of any other person or entity, especially Orac's cancer center, department of surgery, medical school, or university. Also note that Orac is nonpartisan; he is more than willing to criticize the statements of anyone, regardless of of political leanings, if that anyone advocates pseudoscience or quackery. Finally, medical commentary is not to be construed in any way as medical advice.

To contact Orac: [email protected]

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