Callous Disregard: Autism and Vaccines: The Truth Behind a Tragedy

Description

As Andrew Wakefield states in his prologue, "If autism does not affect your family now, it will. If something does not change-and change soon-this is almost a mathematical certainty. This book affects you also. It is not a parochial look at a trivial medical spat in the United Kingdom, but dispatches from the battlefront in a major confrontation-a struggle against compromise in medicine, corruption of science, and a real and present threat to children in the interests of policy and profit. It is a story of how 'the system' deals with dissent among its doctors and scientists." In the pursuit of possible links between childhood vaccines, intestinal inflammation, and neurologic injury in children, Wakefield lost his job in London's Royal Free Hospital, his country of birth, his career, and his medical license. A recent General Medical Council ruling stated that he was "dishonest, irresponsible and showed callous disregard for the distress and pain of children." Maligned by the medical establishment and mainstream media, Wakefield endeavors to set the record straight in Callous Disregard. While explaining what really happened, he calls out the organizations and individuals that are acting not for the sake of children affected by autism, but in their own self-interests.

Andrew J. Wakefield, MB, BS, FRCS, is an academic gastroenterologist. He received his medical degree from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School (part of the University of London) in 1981, and pursued a career in gastrointestinal surgery with a particular interest in inflammatory bowel disease. He has published over 130 original scientific articles, book chapters, and invited scientific commentaries. He and his wife, Carmel, live in Austin, Texas.

Andrew Wakefield has been subjected to extraordinary criticism andcondemnation from professional colleagues and the wider community sincehe first questioned the safety of the MMR vaccine. In this book heanswers his criticspowerfully and comprehensivelyand sets therecord straight. It is essential reading for anyone wanting to know thetruth behind the MMR debate and the politics of vaccination policy. --Dr. Richard Halvorsen, author of The Truth about Vaccines As a mother of a boy who regressed into autism immediately following hisMMR vaccination, I welcome this book unreservedly . . . Whatever yourthoughts on the issue, if you read nothing else at all on thevaccine-autism debate, this has to be the most crucial book you read. --Polly Tommey, editor of The Autism File Dr. Wakefield sets the record straight. It was not he who showed callousdisregard towards vulnerable, sick children with autism. It was theBritish medical establishment, the General Medical Council, the mediaand the pharmaceutical industry that threw the children under the bus toprotect the vaccine program. This is a book for everyone who caresabout our future. --Mary Holland, Esq., co-founder, Elizabeth Birt Center for Autism Law and Advocacy I'm so glad Andy Wakefield finally has the chance to tell his story. . . . For hundreds of thousands of parents around the world, myself included, Andy Wakefield is a symbol of strength and conviction that all parents of children with autism can use to fight for truth and the best lives possible for their kids. --Jenny McCarthy, from her foreword Meeting Dr. Andy Wakefield changed our lives and . . . we are forever grateful. His wise and measured advice about vaccinations helped us dodge a bullet . . . Our fourth son [had] multiple allergies and repeated infections . . . We now fully realize [he] would have been a victim of immune overload had we followed the regular vaccine schedule. . . . [He] is [now] bright and healthy . . . This book provides a terrifying insight into what has been happening behind the scenes as efforts redouble to silence Dr. Wakefield . . . It is a wake-up call to those who think [he] is anything other than a modern day hero fighting for all of our children. --Robert Rodriguez and Elizabeth Avellan, Troublemaker Studios, Austin, Texas