Some parents of children with autism upset with provision in security act - Many parents of children with autism are hoping a provision in the Homeland Security Act dealing with childhood vaccines is removed.
Some parents of children with autism upset with provision in security act
By Denise Allabaugh ,
Citizens' Voice Staff Writer
11/21/2002
Many
parents of children with autism are hoping a provision in the Homeland
Security Act dealing with childhood vaccines is removed.
The act
was approved by the U.S. Senate Wednesday by an overwhelming 90-9 vote, but
some provisions of the act will be debated in January.
Allentown resident James McGuire, who is formerly from the Wyoming Valley
and whose 2-year-old son has autism, is opposed to language in the act that
exempts drug manufacturers from any liability for the manufacturing, sale
and use of defective vaccines and pharmaceutical products.
McGuire noted that "compelling clinical evidence" shows a link between
vaccines and autism, a neurological disorder that affects brain functioning.
While he supports the creation of a Department Homeland Security, McGuire
believes this provision in the act would "severely abridge the legal rights
of millions of Americans."
By passing this bill with the vaccine exemptions intact, McGuire believes,
"The Senate is unjustly removing legal remedies for families that have been
injured as a result of defective vaccines and pharmaceutical products."
Attorney Gerald Hanchulak, who is representing more than 30 families of
children with autism, believes parents' claims - that thimerosal in vaccines
may have a link to autism - have merit.
He is pursuing litigation against the drug manufacturer Eli Lilly and other
drug companies that manufactured vaccines, which contained 49.6-percent
ethyl mercury.
He also believes the provision in the Homeland Security Act "may affect the
right of people to their current claims."
"Claims have been be made by families of autistic children all over the
country, particularly about the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine," Hanchulak
said. "We've known that heavy metal causes neurological injuries for 400
years. Some don't support the theory, but there are plenty of people who
do."
George Shadie, president of SAFE (Supporting Autism & Families Everywhere)
and father of a 13-year-old son with autism, said he also was disappointed
with the provision attached to the Homeland Security Act dealing with
childhood vaccines.
"We would like meaningful dialogue," Shadie said. "This was a coward's way
to protect their special interests. There should be a national debate about
it."
Parents of children with autism also questioned what relations vaccines have
to homeland security.
Both U.S. Sens. Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter voted in favor of the
Homeland Security Act.
Erica Clayton Wright, Santorum spokeswoman, pointed out that seven
provisions of the act, including the provision on childhood vaccines, would
be debated during the next Congressional session. That debate is expected to
be held in January.
"We feel this is a great first step to protect our homeland," she said. "But
with any bill, there may or may not be things in bill that we agree with."
Specter said he believed it was "vitally important" that the act be passed
so "we move ahead to put all the so-called dots on the screen."
"Had all the dots been on the screen, I think 9/11 may have been prevented,"
Specter said.
Specter added that all provisions, including the provision about childhood
vaccines, "require very extensive consideration and analysis."
"I am very distressed to see them added on the bill, with no hearings and no
chance for consideration," Specter said, "This is really a case where it is
a matter of take it or leave it on a bill which is undesirable in many
aspects, but the importance of protecting America from terrorist attacks
outweighs so many of these provisions which are highly undesirable."
The Homeland Security Act is a voluminous bill, which is hundreds of pages
of long. Under this act, one government agency now will be responsible for
coordinating protection of the nation's borders, coastlines, airports,
landmarks, utilities and other public and private facilities.
The new agency, which is expected to have more than 170,000 employees, also
will help lead the nation's defense against potential chemical, biological
or nuclear attacks.
"It is so important to have a secretary with authority on homeland security
to act to protect against terrorism," Specter said. "The bill is very
weighty and has undesirable aspects, and there are amendments which would
have improved the bill tremendously."
Specter concluded that the bill was presented as "legislative blackmail,
with the House having gone home, a take-it-or-leave-it proposition" which
put him in a "very difficult position."
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
"A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth."
-- Albert Einstein, letter to a friend, 1901
"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."
-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William C. Jarvis, September 28, 1820
"What's the point of vaccination if it doesn't protect you from the unvaccinated?"
-- Sandy Gottstein
"Who gets to decide what the greater good is and how many will be sacrificed to it?"
