Open Letter to Autism Speaks by
F. Edward Yazbak, MD, FAAP Feb 2007 Vaccine Autoimmune Project for
Research and Education (VAP) http://www.vaproject.org/yazbak/open-letter-to-autism-speaks-20070304.htm |
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F. Edward Yazbak, MD, FAAP
TL Autism Research Falmouth Massachusetts Dear Ms. Singer. Here it is, for the benefit of anyone who did not see it.
Autism is certainly not a genetic disorder for three reasons:
Children with autism have a genetic predisposition. The fact that such predisposition is increasing (and increasing the incidence of autism) is ample proof for the presence of an environmental trigger in the previous generation. It is an undeniable fact that the present generation of children is the most vaccinated ever. It is also a fact that the present generation of mothers is the most vaccinated ever. I believe that I may be one of the few researchers who have ever investigated that angle. Except for pure genetic disorders that do not need triggers, a clinical illness is always due to one or more predisposing causes and one or more precipitating causes. Regardless of how many predisposing causes a child has, he or she will not exhibit clinical symptoms and develop the disease unless he or she is exposed to a precipitating trigger. The period in history when autism first appeared, and the timing of the regression in the majority of cases clearly indicate what those triggers are and… where research should be focused. My wife cried when she saw and heard Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wright on the Imus show. Their little grandson’s story was so similar to ours. I wrote a 3 page letter to Mr. Wright in which I offered to help (gratis) and I faxed it to him at NBC less than an hour after the show. It was never acknowledged. The Board of Directors at Autism Speaks must initiate and support independent clinical research into all environmental triggers. Nothing should ever be “out of bounds”. Unless you change or balance your scientific advisory board, you will never seriously look at the role of vaccines and Thimerosal. A change in direction would be welcome. We certainly need early diagnosis and early intervention but wouldn’t it be better if the children did not develop the disease altogether and did not require a lifetime of care? The brain of a child is a wonderful gift. Let us keep it uninjured and undamaged instead of trying to rehabilitate it. Sincerely F. Edward Yazbak, MD |