Discussing Autism

Yes, I am just as confused as most of the general public…and I even made a mistake in yesterday’s posting (corrected).

I followed the Autism Omnibus last year but knew little of it, as I was new to the whole autism world. But, as I have become more familiar with vaccines, court, compensations, etc. it has become more familiar to me.

What exactly is the Omnibus Autism Proceeding?
According to Mary Holland at Age of Autism, , the Omnibus Autism Proceeding was started in 2002 by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims’ because parents of children with autism had filed thousands of lawsuits in local courts claiming that thimerosal caused their child’s autism.

In the case, Leroy v. Secretary of HHS, Chief Special Master Golkiewicz decided that because thimerosal is “vaccine-related” that its cases should be heard in “vaccine court”, not local court.

Since 2002, petitioners have filed approximately 4,900 claims arguing that vaccines caused the petitioners’ autism. The Court is holding hearings before Special Masters on three different theories: (1) that the Mumps-Measles-Rubella vaccine together with thimerosal causes autism; (2) that thimerosal alone causes autism; and (3) that MMR alone causes autism. Special Masters heard three “test cases” on the first MMR-thimerosal theory in June, 2007; the transcripts of those hearings are available at the Court’s website.

The testimonies in “vaccine court” were once mainly based upon the “Vaccine Injury Table” and included injuries that fell within the guidelines of the “table injuries”, a set list of injuries the court agreed upon to compensate. However, as injuries have progressed to ones like autism (allegedly), experts are now arguing thimerosal and mercury in court.

The first theory, that thimerosal and the MMR vaccine combine to cause autism is still being heard by the Special Masters, despite hearing testimony last June, October and November. Hopefully, there will be a decision on one of those three cases by the end of this month.

The second theory is that thimerosal causes autism by itself. That is the case currently being heard; from May 12 to May 30.

The third theory, that the MMR causes autism will not be heard until September, 2008 and the individuals in that case have not been identified.