US television broadcaster ABC has a series entitled Eli Stone and an as-of-now pending episode treats the topic of a component of vaccine as the cause of Autism. The TV show has generated quite a lot of interest (probably great for the advertisers, no?) with many publishing opinions about whether it is appropriate to air the episode. Among others, the American Academy of Pediatrics weighed in with a letter condemning it and Edward Wyatt of the New York Times published a critical review.
As one should expect, people who advocate for the proposition that thimerosal causes Autism have published critiques of these expressions of concern. Certainly chief among these is David Kirby, who has long promoted the connection between minute amounts of mercury and Autism. Fortunately, people who know how to reason have examined Mr. Kirby’s comments and, not too surprisingly, found them wanting. Orac, who also chastised the show on his Respectful Insolence, examined Mr. Kirby’s comments and systematically showed how they reflected slippage in thinking; I encourage folks to read Mr. Kirby’s article with an eye for slight-of-rational arguments and then read Orac’s analysis and see how many of those slights of rational Orac identifies are the same as those the reader identified. And, after that, check Steven Novella’s entry at NewoLogica Blog for another worthwhile view; as he notes, the broadcasters “have the right to show their reckless drama, but that right does not relieve them of any responsibility. I and others have the right to heap scorn upon them for their callous irresponsibility, and you might say we have a responsibility to do so.”
Check the section of ABC’s Web site on the Eli Stone series; one can see a 12-min preview of the show and the episode in question. Read the AAP letter and Mr. Wyatt’s review. Check Mr. Kirby’s arguments for yourself. Here’s the link to Orac’s older entry about the show and another link to the excellent take-down of Mr. Kirby’s comments. And here’s a link to Dr. Novella’s comments.
By the way, I’m TV challenged. We have the machine, but we can’t get reception where we live without cutting down a half-acre of trees to provide open sky for a satellite dish. Y’all will just have to watch for me…or not.
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