I tried to use Dr. Offit as a tether/offset when reading Turtles all the Way Down. I had to tap out of the his book, Autism's False Prophets, when he decided to chide the scientist who pushed to remove thimerosol from vaccines and explain why by commenting on the amount of law suits around breast implants. He never explicitly said it but…
I tried to use Dr. Offit as a tether/offset when reading Turtles all the Way Down. I had to tap out of the his book, Autism's False Prophets, when he decided to chide the scientist who pushed to remove thimerosol from vaccines and explain why by commenting on the amount of law suits around breast implants. He never explicitly said it but implied that because Americans look to sue too much scientists need to keep some information to themselves. Never mind the principle of informed consent. The argumentation was so condescending, elitist, and paternalistic I had to quit. Glad he's continuing to make foolish arguments so I don't feel bad not listening to him. If he is the best the vaccine industry has this has been a one sided case for awhile and it turns out the vaccine skeptics have been right all along. This may surprise some at first but really it shouldn't. When mothers/parents claim they know something has hurt their child, until we have hard proof it didn't, they should be listened to.
100%. Confusion arises when vaccine proponents assume that we, the vaccine skeptics, claim that every case of autism was due to vaccination. That of course is untrue. To really understand the claim one has to listen to the families who are convinced that a series of shots caused the condition. Very often the change was immediate, rapid and profound. These are the stories that cannot be buried. It's astounding to me that so many doctors are unwilling to listen to the testimonies of parents who have stories like these. One of the first things we learn in medical school is to listen to your patients with an open mind. Very often the diagnosis can be made from the story alone.
I also have heard similar arguments coming from highly educated people about the liability immunity issue. "If people thought they were open to litigation from harm they might get the idea that these products weren't safe!"
There was an episode of Doogie Howser that has always stuck with me that drives home this very point and I can't help but share it. In the episode Doogie is obsessed with seeing how many patients he can get through in a day. So he goes quickly room to room figuring out the tests needed only paying token attention to what the patients are saying. One patient he can't figure out as all the tests come in keeps going on about some fancy plates she uses. When he finally slows down and listens he realizes the plates are tainted with lead. I do think our sub-conscious has a way of figuring out things that hurt us and when we talk to others it can come out very much like a confession.
I tried to use Dr. Offit as a tether/offset when reading Turtles all the Way Down. I had to tap out of the his book, Autism's False Prophets, when he decided to chide the scientist who pushed to remove thimerosol from vaccines and explain why by commenting on the amount of law suits around breast implants. He never explicitly said it but implied that because Americans look to sue too much scientists need to keep some information to themselves. Never mind the principle of informed consent. The argumentation was so condescending, elitist, and paternalistic I had to quit. Glad he's continuing to make foolish arguments so I don't feel bad not listening to him. If he is the best the vaccine industry has this has been a one sided case for awhile and it turns out the vaccine skeptics have been right all along. This may surprise some at first but really it shouldn't. When mothers/parents claim they know something has hurt their child, until we have hard proof it didn't, they should be listened to.
100%. Confusion arises when vaccine proponents assume that we, the vaccine skeptics, claim that every case of autism was due to vaccination. That of course is untrue. To really understand the claim one has to listen to the families who are convinced that a series of shots caused the condition. Very often the change was immediate, rapid and profound. These are the stories that cannot be buried. It's astounding to me that so many doctors are unwilling to listen to the testimonies of parents who have stories like these. One of the first things we learn in medical school is to listen to your patients with an open mind. Very often the diagnosis can be made from the story alone.
I also have heard similar arguments coming from highly educated people about the liability immunity issue. "If people thought they were open to litigation from harm they might get the idea that these products weren't safe!"
There was an episode of Doogie Howser that has always stuck with me that drives home this very point and I can't help but share it. In the episode Doogie is obsessed with seeing how many patients he can get through in a day. So he goes quickly room to room figuring out the tests needed only paying token attention to what the patients are saying. One patient he can't figure out as all the tests come in keeps going on about some fancy plates she uses. When he finally slows down and listens he realizes the plates are tainted with lead. I do think our sub-conscious has a way of figuring out things that hurt us and when we talk to others it can come out very much like a confession.