Product Description
A London researcher was the first to assert that the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine known as MMR caused autism in children. Following this "discovery," a handful of parents declared that a mercury-containing preservative in several vaccines was responsible for the disease. If mercury caused autism, they reasoned, eliminating it from a child's system should treat the disorder. Consequently, a number of untested alternative therapies arose, and, most tragically, in one such treatment, a doctor injected a five-year-old autistic boy with a chemical in an effort to cleanse him of mercury, which stopped his heart instead. Children with autism have been placed on stringent diets, subjected to high-temperature saunas, bathed in magnetic clay, asked to swallow digestive enzymes and activated charcoal, and injected with various combinations of vitamins, minerals, and acids. Instead of helping, these therapies can hurt those who are most vulnerable, and particularly in the case of autism, they undermine childhood vaccination programs that have saved millions of lives. An overwhelming body of scientific evidence clearly shows that childhood vaccines are safe and does not cause autism. Yet widespread fear of vaccines on the part of parents persists. In this book, Paul A. Offit, a national expert on vaccines, challenges the modern-day false prophets who have so egregiously misled the public and exposes the opportunism of the lawyers, journalists, celebrities, and politicians who support them. Offit recounts the history of autism research and the exploitation of this tragic condition by advocates and zealots. He considers the manipulation of science in the popular media and the courtroom, and he explores why society is susceptible to the bad science and risky therapies put forward by many antivaccination activists.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 99 reviews)

Truth from a modern-day hero by Truth to Power (Pennsylvania)

5 Stars
November 20, 2009
Dr. Offit thoroughly discredits those medical professionals, journalists, celebrities and parents who continue to blame autism on MMR or thimerosal. Furthermore, he exposes those same people who continue to exploit the children and parents affected by autism with expensive, worthless and often dangerous treatments. The world is round; we don't accommodate flat-earth believers by "teaching the controversy." We don't yet know what causes autism. What we do know for certain is that the MMR vaccine and thimerosal play no part in the process. There is no controversy among honest scientists. Every dollar we spend on this false controversy will delay the day we find a real answer to this serious issue. Thank you Dr. Offit for standing up and telling the truth.

Excellent book, should be given to parents when they receive the diagnosis by Cobra Man (Where you can't find me)

5 Stars
November 14, 2009
Dr. Offit is the voice of reason and every parent with a child on the specturm should read this book. We have a daughter who was diagnosed PDD-NOS in early 2005 at the age of almost 4 and we have seen tremendous progess in the last 4 and half years with ABA, RDI, speech therapy, HANDLE, and OT in addition to various after school activities she enjoys (music, swimming, tennis for now). We love her for who she is and she is happy. Our experience has inspired us to start an NPO to raise awareness and provide training to parents and professionals. Unfortunately not everyone is in the same position or shares the same point of view. I'm sorry for them, but it's time to accept your child and do what's scientifically proven to help your child. There's a lot of people trying to profit from the misery. Knowledge is power and let science protect you. Sorry for not saying more about the book, but thanks Dr. Offit for your work and the courage to stand against ignorance and exploitation.

Clearing up a lot of confusion. by D. Lee (East Coast, USA)

5 Stars
November 10, 2009
It's hard to be a parent of a special needs child. What went wrong, did you (as the parent) do something wrong, is there something that still can be done? I loved this book. Finally, a well-researched and thoughtful book about vaccines and autism!

The definitive book on the nonexisting link b/w autism and vaccines by Emiliano A. Tatar (Philadelphia, pa)

5 Stars
October 29, 2009
This is it! A full, well written and page turning summary of the history of the flawed notion that vaccines cause autism. Not only is this book a great reference for autism questions, it is also a testament to the power of real science to answer important questions. Offit may have done more for autism research with his writings than anyone else, by keeping the focus on the probable causes: genetics and in-utero processes.

Lifting the fog by Roland Machold (Princeton, New Jersey USA)

5 Stars
October 14, 2009
This book is controversial, because there are many adherents to the very practices that Dr. Offit critiques, yet it is very important to have a factual and rational exposition of some of the treatments that have been proposed for autism. My wife and I are the parents of a 45 year old autistic adult, and our families founded the Princeton Child Development Institute in Princeton, N.J. Over the years we have been open to any treatment that might help our son, and we have tried many, without prejudice. We have tried holding therapy, special diets and vitamin treatments, auditory training and special exercise programs. We recognize that some of these programs may benefit individual children, but none have helped us. Sadly, we have also been victimized by false claims, such as Bruno Bettelheim's assertion that the parents were the cause of a child's withdrawal. The slow pace of science has disproved this, but for several decades Bettelheim's assertions held sway. There is still a great deal that is unknown about autism, which gives opportunists the chance to assert any unproven theory they wish. For our part, we have learned to accept only proven and properly documented scientific reports. Dr. Offit's book discusses the state of science of many of the alternative therapies that are being preached nowadays, and he finds them wanting on a scientific basis. It is very important for those who are questing for answers to the problems of autism to be fully aware of the validity of claimed therapies, and the many conflicts they have engendered. Naturally, Dr. Offit's motives will be questioned, but we are satisfied that he his interests are independent, based on his professional qualifications and his apparent independence from conflicts of interest.

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