The Panic Virus
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71 he’d been for years the go-to guy: Baker, “The Pertussis Vaccine Controversy in Great Britain, 1974–1986,” 4004, 4006.
71 When she highlighted the conclusions: Gonzalez, “TV Report on DPT Galvanizes US Pediatricians,” 21.
72 Stewart questioned whether these outbreaks: Thompson, “DPT: Vaccine Roulette.”
72 “I think much of the potshotting”: Gonzalez, “TV Report on DPT Galvanizes US Pediatricians,” 22.
72 her station didn’t have the budget: Ibid., 20.
72 Thompson and her employer’s role: Allen, Vaccine, 254.
73 One of these parents was Barbara Loe Fisher: Fisher, “In the Wake of Vaccines.”
73 Many years later, Fisher would describe: Barbara Loe Fisher, “Statement to the IOM Immunization Safety Committee,” January 11, 2001.
73 “When we got home”: Ibid.
74 “She lies”: Amy Wallace, “Epidemic of Fear,” Wired, November 2009, 166.
74 In her e-mail to me Fisher wrote: E-mail to author, “Subject Re: checking in,” April 19, 2010.
74 In December 2009: Complaint with Demand for Jury Trial, Barbara Loe Arthur v. Paul A. Offit et al., No. 09-CV-1398 (U.S. Dist. Ct., E.D. VA), March 10, 2010.
74 The case was summarily dismissed: Memorandum Opinion, Barbara Loe Arthur v. Paul A. Offit et al.
74 Fisher, as she told a government vaccine safety committee: Fisher, “Statement to the IOM Immunization Safety Committee.”
74 Fisher founded the National Vaccine Information Center: “About National Vaccine Information Center,” National Vaccine Information Center, n.d., http://www.nvic.org/about.aspx.
75 Today, every state save for Mississippi: “Vaccine Laws,” National Vaccine Information Center, n.d., http://www.nvic.org/vaccine-laws.aspx.
75 In 2010, Pediatrics released a study: Gary L. Freed et al., “Parental Vaccine Safety Concerns in 2009,” Pediatrics, March 1, 2010, http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/
content/abstract/peds.2009-1962v1.
75 “The genie is not going back”: J. B. Handley, “Tinderbox: U.S. Vaccine Fears up 700% in 7 years,” Age of Autism, March 17, 2010, http://www.ageofautism.com/2010/03/tinderbox-us-vaccine-fears-up-700-in-7-years.html.
CHAPTER 6: AUTISM’S EVOLVING IDENTITIES
PAGE
76 In 1943, Leo Kanner: Leo Kanner, “Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact,” Pathology 1943: 217–50.
77 Six years later, in Kanner’s second major paper: Leo Kanner, “Problems of Nosology and Psychodynamics in Early Childhood Autism,” American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 1949;19(3): 416–26.
77 In 1959, Bettelheim published: Bruno Bettelheim, “Joey: ‘A Mechanical Boy,’ ” Scientific American, March 1959, 117–26.
78 to compare the households in which autistic children: Bruno Bettelheim, The Informed Heart (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1961).
78 By the time his book The Empty Fortress: Bruno Bettelheim, The Empty Fortress (New York: Free Press, 1967).
78 claimed they’d been physically and mentally abused: Richard Bernstein, “Accusations of Abuse Haunt the Legacy of Dr. Bruno Bettelheim,” The New York Times, November 4, 1990, 4–6.
80 In the United States, this shift was illustrated: G. N. Grob, “Origins of DSM-I: A Study in Appearance and Reality,” The American Journal of Psychiatry 1991;148(4): 421–31.
80 when the gay rights movement: R. L. Spitzer, “The Diagnostic Status of Homosexuality in the DSM-III: A Reformulation of the Issues,” The American Journal of Psychiatry 1981;138: 210–15.
80 Jonathan Metzl writes about one: Jonathan Metzl, The Protest Psychosis: How Schizophrenia Became a Black Disease (Boston: Beacon Press, 2010).
80 The evolution of the DSM’s handling of autism: Richard Roy Grinker, Unstrange Minds (Philadelphia: Basic Books, 2007), 111–35.
80 The notion that scientific progress: Thomas Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 3rd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996). Originally published 1962. See also: Thomas Kuhn, The Copernican Revolution (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1985). Originally published 1957.
81 the heading of “schizophrenic reaction, childhood type,” which listed: American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Mental Disorders (Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association Mental Hospital Service), 28.
81 In the DSM-II: American Psychiatric Association, DSM-II: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2nd ed. (Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association), 35.
81 It wasn’t until 1980, with the publication of the DSM-III: “Diagnostic Criteria for Autism Through the Years,” Unstrange Minds, n.d., http://www.unstrange.com/dsm1.html.
81 it was folded into the newly expanded class: American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 2000), 59–60.
81 the number of members of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Grinker, Unstrange Minds, 108
82 In 1964, at the precise time the medical community: Bernard Rimland, Infantile Autism (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1964).
82 In 1965, Rimland founded: “About Us,” Autism Society of America, n.d., http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=asa_home.
82 The Autism Research Institute: “ARI Mission Statement,” Autism Research Institute, n.d., http://www.autism.com/gen_mission.asp.
83 Lobbying efforts in states: Saul Spigel, “Medicaid Autism Waivers and State Agencies Serving People with Autism,” Connecticut General Assembly, April 10, 2007, http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-R-0319.htm.
83 As the anthropologist Roy Richard Grinker explains: Grinker, Unstrange Minds, 130–31.
83 there are huge variations: Lynn Waterhouse et al., “Diagnosis and Classification in Autism,” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 1996;26(1): 59–86.
83 The most remarkable example of the arbitrary nature: Grinker, Unstrange Minds, 141.
83 the rise in the number of children: Craig J. Newschaffer et al., “The Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders,” Annual Review of Public Health April 2007;28:240.
84 including advanced maternal age: Janie F. Shelton, Daniel J. Tancredi, and Irva Hertz-Picciotto, “Independent and Dependent Contributions of Advanced Maternal and Paternal Ages to Autism Risk,” Autism Research February 2010:3(2): 30–39.
84 paternal age as related to maternal age: Maureen Durkin et al., “Advanced Paternal Age and the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders,” American Journal of Epidemiology December 2008;168(11):1268–76; Shelton, Tancredi, and Hertz-Picciotto, “Independent and Dependent Contributions of Advanced Maternal and Paternal Ages to Autism Risk.”
84 proximity to families with autistic children: Ka-Yuet Liu, Marissa King, and Peter S. Bearman, “Social Influence and the Autism Epidemic,” American Journal of Sociology March 2010;115(5): 1387–434.
84 the growing use of a type of muscle relaxant: F.R. Witter et al., “In Utero Beta 2 Adrenergic Agonist Exposure and Adverse Neurophysiologic and Behavioral Outcomes,” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology December 2009;201(6): 553–59.
84 From 1989 through 2005: Christine Russell, “Covering Controversial Science,” Joan Shorenstein Center Working Paper Series, Spring 2006.
84 In 2008, CNN got rid of: Curtis Brainard, “CNN Cuts Entire Science, Tech Team,” Columbia Journalism Review, December 4, 2008.
84 in a 2009 survey: Phil Galewitz, “Survey Shows ‘Battered’ Health Journalists Press On,” Association of Health Care Journalists, March 11, 2009, http://www.healthjournalism.org/resources-articles-details.php?id=94.
84 Take a 2009 piece: Michael Johnson, “Watch What You Think,” International Herald Tribune, March 3, 2009.
85 early research has shown promising results: Tom M. Mitchell et al., “Predicting Human Brain Activity Associated with the Meanings of Nouns,” Science, May 30, 2008;320(5880): 1191–95.
85
As Vaughan Bell: Vaughan Bell, “Cigarette Smoking Lady Cops to Read Minds,” Mind Hacks, March 15, 2009, http://mindhacksblog.wordpress.com/2009/
03/15/cigarette-smoking-lady-cops-to-read-minds.
CHAPTER 7: HELP! THERE ARE FIBERS GROWING OUT OF MY EYEBALLS!
PAGE
87 In 2007, a sixty-year-old woman: Robert Accordino et al., “Morgellons Disease?,” Dermatologic Therapy 2008;21: 8.
88 a disease that was invented in 2002: Brigid Schulte, “Figments of the Imagination?,” The Washington Post, January 20, 2008, W10.
88 Leitao could be suffering: Elizabeth Devita-Raeburn, “The Morgellons Mystery,” Psychology Today, March 1, 2007.
88 After using a RadioShack microscope: Chico Harlan, “Mom Fights for Answers on What’s Wrong with Her Son,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 23, 2006, A1.
88 The name “Morgellons” is taken from a seventeenth-century monograph: “Frequently Asked Questions,” Morgellons Research Foundation, n.d., http://www.morgellons.org/faq-home.htm#item2.
88 For the first four years of its existence: “Media and Public Relations,” Morgellons Research Foundation, n.d., http://www.morgellons.org/media.htm.
88 That all changed in May 2006: Martin Savidge, “Controversial Morgellons Disease and Its Sufferers,” Today, NBC, July 28, 2006; Elizabeth Cohen, “Morgellons,” Paula Zahn Now, CNN, June 23, 2006.
88 On ABC’s Good Morning America: Cynthia McFadden, “Mysterious Skin Disease Causes Itching, Loose Fibers; Morgellons Has Plenty of Skeptics,” Good Morning America, ABC, July 28, 2006.
88 Several weeks later: Page Bowers, “Itching for Answers to a Mystery Condition,” Time, July 28, 2006.
89 there were rumors that Morgellons was the product: “Horror Illness Is Viral . . . Marketing?,” Sploid, May 23, 2006.
89 In the coming year, the number of hits: Accordino, “Morgellons Disease?,” 10.
90 Schwartz began treating Morgellons: Wendy Brown, “Doctor Now Focuses on Disputed Skin Disease,” The Santa Fe New Mexican, December 14, 2005, A2.
90 In 2006, Schwartz’s license: Polly Summar, “Doctor Agrees to Retire License,” Albuquerque Journal, July 15, 2008, 1.
90 That March, Savely had left Texas: Howard Witt, “A Mystery Ailment Gets Under Skin,” Chicago Tribune, July 25, 2006, C1.
90 Wymore, whose last published study: Randy Wymore, “Tissue and Species Distribution of mRNA for the IKr-like K+ Channel,” Circulation Research 1997;80: 261–68.
91 He claimed to have “physical evidence”: Randy Wymore. “A Position Statement from Randy S. Wymore on the Topic of Morgellons Disease and Other Morgellons-Related Issues,” Oklahoma State University’s Center for Health Sciences Center for the Investigation of Morgellons Disease, June 19, 2007, http://www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/
morgellons/docs/Wymore-position
-statement-2-19-07.pdf.
91 On her official OSU staff page: “Faculty & Staff: Rhonda L. Case,” Oklahoma State University, n.d., http://www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/
college/clinical/pediatrics/casey.cfm.
91 advertised itself as having six specialties: Union Square Medical Associates, n.d., http://www.usmamed.com/03viagra/index.htm; http://www.usmamed.com/04weightloss/index.htm; http://www.usmamed.com/02fertility/index.htm; http://www.usmamed.com/07hyperbaric/index.html; http://www.usmamed.com/05hiv/index.htm; http://www.usmamed.com/06lyme/lyme.htm.
91 In October 2006, Stricker was the sole: Michael Mason, “Is It Disease or Delusion? U.S. Takes on a Dilemma,” The New York Times, October 24, 2006, F5.
92 In a 2007 study, researchers at the University of Michigan: Norbert Schwarz et al., “Metacognitive Experiences and the Intricacies of Setting People Straight,” Advances in Experimental Social Psychology 2007;39: 127–61.
92 On January 20, 2008, the Washington Post’s: Schulte, “Figments of the Imagination?”
93 one of four recognized caffeine-induced psychiatric illnesses: R. Gregory Lande, “Caffeine-Related Psychiatric Disorders,” eMedicine from WebMD, n.d., http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/290113-overview.
95 Two days after her article ran: Brigid Schulte, “Morgellons Disease. Live Discussion with Brigid Schulte,” washingtonpost.com, January 22, 2008.
95 More than three dozen members of Congress: Schulte, “Figments of the Imagination?”
95 In a statement announcing a study: “Morgellons: Statement of Work,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007, http://www.morgellons.org/docs/
CDC_Morgellons_RFQ_2007.pdf.
96 The CDC’s “Unexplained Dermopathy Project”: “Unexplained Dermopathy (also called ‘Morgellons’),” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, November 5, 2009, http://www.cdc.gov/unexplaineddermopathy
/investigation.html.
CHAPTER 8: ENTER ANDREW WAKEFIELD
PAGE
99 In September 1992, British officials: Liz Hunt, “New Vaccine for Children Aims to Curb Meningitis,” The Independent (London), October 1, 1992, 9.
99 estimates ranged from one in six thousand: Carol Midgley and Vikki Orvice, “Why Did They Wait?,” The Daily Mail (London), September 21, 1992, 18.
99 as nothing tempered the panic: Angella Johnson, “Doctors Angered by Jabs Ban Hitch,” The Guardian (London), September 16, 1992, 2.
99 or that one in four hundred: Celia Hall, “Children Received Vaccine Despite Meningitis Link,” The Independent (London), September 16, 1992, 2.
99 in 1988, the year the single-dose MMR vaccine: Carol Midgley, “Vaccination: The Dilemma Now Facing Every Parent,” The Daily Mail (London), September 16, 1992, 14.
99 Within twenty-four hours of the announcement: Ibid.
100 Britain found itself facing a potential measles epidemic: Liz Hunt, “Measles Campaign to Avert Epidemic,” The Independent (London), July 29, 1994, 7.
100 With epidemics in Great Britain historically occurring: Jenny Hope, “The Flaw That Let Measles Back in Force, The Daily Mail (London), August 2, 1994, 38.
100 Kenneth Calman, the government’s chief medical officer: Hunt, “Measles Campaign to Avert Epidemic.”
100 Well aware of the need for positive publicity: Bryan Christie, “Measles Jab for 800,000 Scots Children,” The Scotsman, September 30, 1994.
100 The media, while quick to cover any unease: Annabel Ferriman, “Why Another Needle, Mummy?,” The Independent (London), October 11, 1994, 23.
100 Ampleforth and Stonyhurst: Liz Hunt, “Vaccine Ban Blow to Fight Against Epidemic,” The Independent (London), October 27, 1994, 6.
100 days later, Muslim leaders: Liz Hunt and Andrew Brown, “Muslims Urged to Boycott Rubella Vaccine,” The Independent (London), October 29, 1994, 2.
100 In London, a group of homeopaths: Deborah Jackson, “Please Be Sick After the Party,” The Independent (London), November 15, 1994, 27.
101 Jackie Fletcher, a suburban housewife: Jan Roberts, “Vaccination: Do You Know the Risks?,” The Independent (London), April 12, 1994, 20.
101 Fletcher embarked on a strategy: Ibid.
101 From the outset, Barr claimed: “Measles: A Spot of Bother,” The Economist, October 29, 1994, 98.
102 In late 1995, Fletcher told reporters: “Measles Jab Row over 85 Ill Children,” The Independent (London), October 1, 1995, 1.
102 The coverage was at times unintentionally humorous: Jill Palmer, “My Son Went Bald After His Measles Jab,” The Daily Mirror (London), January 29, 1996, 25.
102 In late 1996, Barr let the press: Grania Langdon-Down, “A Shot in the Dark,” The Independent (London), November 27, 1996, 25.
102 As Fletcher’s husband, John, told The Guardian: John Illman, “Painful Choice of Risks: Measles Kills. But Preventative Vaccination Causes Problems, Too,” The Guardian (London), November 2, 1994, T12.
103 a Canadian-trained surgeon: Jeremy Laurance, “Not Immune to How Research Can Hurt,” The Independent (London), March 3, 1998, 14.
103 He was a former amateur rugby player: Brian Deer, “Tru
th of the MMR vaccine Scandal,” The Times (London), January 24, 2010.
103 an autoimmune disorder that causes the body: M. Comalada and M. P. Peppelenbosch, “Impaired Innate Immunity in Crohn’s Disease,” Trends in Molecular Medicine 2006;12(9): 397–99.
103 The disease’s trademark inflammations: Laurance, “Not Immune to How Research Can Hurt.”
103 “[It was] an interesting idea”: Transcript of record, Hazlehurst v. Sec’y of Health and Human Services, No. 03-654V (Ct. Fed. Cl., February 12, 2009), 630.
104 His “eureka” moment: Laurance, “Not Immune to How Research Can Hurt.”
104 According to an investigative journalist: Brian Deer, “The MMR-Autism Fraud—Our Story So Far,” n.d., Briandeer.com, http://briandeer.com/solved/story-highlights.htm.
104 That spring, he and several co-authors: Andrew Wakefield et al., “Evidence of Persistent Measles Infection in Crohn’s Disease,” Journal of Medical Virology 1993;39(4): 345–53.
104 That study created such a furor: Deer, “The MMR-Autism Fraud—Our Story So Far.”
104 Wakefield’s next attention-getting paper: N. P. Thompson and A. J. Wakefield, “Is Measles Vaccination a Risk Factor for Inflammatory Bowel Disease?,” The Lancet 1995;345(8957): 1071–74. See also: A. J. Wakefield, “Crohn’s Disease: Pathogenesis and Persistent Measles Virus Infection,” Gastroenterology 1995;108(3): 911–16.
105 In the years to come, teams in Japan: Snyder v. Sec’y of Health and Human Services, No 01-162V (Ct. Fed. Cl., February 12, 2009), 117.
105 the chemical solutions he’d used: Ibid., 122.
105 actually stemmed from contamination: Ibid., 120.
105 as Thomas MacDonald explained later: Transcript of record, Hazelhurst v. Sec’y Health and Human Services, 630a.
CHAPTER 9: THE LANCET PAPER
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106 On February 26, 1998: Andrew Wakefield, press conference, Royal Free Hospital, London, February 26, 1998.
106 a dense academic paper in The Lancet: Andrew Wakefield et al., “Ileal-Lymphoid-Nodular Hyperplasia, Non-Specific Colitis, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder in Children,” The Lancet 1998;351: 637–41.
106 the Royal Free’s PR team gave hints: “New Research Links Autism and Bowel Disease,” Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, February 26, 1998.