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Antivaccine nonsense Autism Medicine Science Skepticism/critical thinking

Motivated reasoning and the anti-vaccine movement

One theme that I keep revisiting again and again is not so much a question of the science behind medical therapies (although certainly I do discuss that issue arguably more than any other) but rather a question of why. Why is it that so many people cling so tenaciously to pseudoscience, quackery, and, frequently, conspiracy […]

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Antivaccine nonsense Autism Medicine

A press conference touting “proof” that vaccines cause autism and that the government has admitted it?

I can hardly wait to see what the “proof” is this time: Investigators and Families of Vaccine-Injured Children to Unveil Report Detailing Clear Vaccine-Autism Link Based on Government’s Own Data Report Demands Immediate Congressional Action Directors of the Elizabeth Birt Center for Autism Law and Advocacy (EBCALA), parents and vaccine-injured children will hold a press […]

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Antivaccine nonsense Autism Medicine

The annals of “I’m not anti-vaccine,” part 8 (argumentum ad Nazium edition #3, 2011)

Anti-vaccine activists are constantly repeating the claim that they’re “not anti-vaccine” but rather are “pro-safe vaccine” or “vaccine safety activists.” Depending on the specific anti-vaccine activist, it’s either a lie or self-delusion, of course, although I suppose it’s good that anti-vaccine activists do have enough of a sense of shame to realize that being anti-vaccine […]

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Antivaccine nonsense Autism Medicine

Why not just castrate them? (Part 7): The fallout from the suspension of Mark Geier’s medical license

The other day, I wrote about how mercury militia general and autism quack extraordinaire Dr. Mark Geier had his medical license suspended by the State of Maryland. At the time, I lamented how it was at least five years two late, but there was one aspect of the story that I didn’t really dwell on, […]

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Antivaccine nonsense Autism Medicine Skepticism/critical thinking

The Internet as anti-vaccine tool

It’s official now. The U.S. is on track to accumulate more cases of measles than it has seen in a decade: The United States seems to be on track to have more measles cases than any year in more than a decade, with virtually all cases linked to other countries, including Europe where there’s a […]