Teresa
Binstock
Researcher in Developmental & Behavioral Neuroanatomy
January 21, 2010; revised April 16, 2010
This essay was originally presented here:
http://www.generationrescue.org/binstock/100121-inatrogenecists-encourage-iatrogenic-procedures.htm
The English language may
need a new word, Iatrogenecist.
Consider a summary of the words iatrogenesis and iatrogenic:
According to Wikipedia, "The terms iatrogenesis and iatrogenic
artifact refer to inadvertent adverse effects or complications caused
by or resulting from medical treatment or advice. In addition to
harmful consequences of actions by physicians, iatrogenesis can also
refer to actions by other healthcare professionals, such as
psychologists, therapists, pharmacists, nurses, dentists, and others.
Iatrogenesis is not restricted to conventional medicine and can also
result from complementary and alternative medicine treatments." (1)
As suggested by a Google search which generated no urls for the word
iatrogenecist (2), the term "iatrogenecist" may need be added to the
English language
My concern arises from observing trends in autism research. When the
CDC's Verstaeten and colleagues first studied adverse effects of
thimerosal injections, significant associations included autism, tics,
and sleep disorders (3). Rather than issue warnings against thimerosal
injections, Verstraeten et al proceeded to dilute their own data and to
publish a diluted-data version in the journal Pediatrics (4).
In contrast, researchers not affiliated with the CDC have confirmed the
CDC's original findings regarding thimerosal's adverse effects (eg,
5-8), even as various "experts" continue to assert that
thimerosal-containing vaccinations do no harm (eg, 9-10). Indeed, in a
peer-reviewed thimerosal review that omitted inculpatory evidence about
thimerosal's adverse effects, methylmercury specialist Michael Aschner
and colleague wrote, "...one cannot rule out the possibility that the
individual gene profile and/or gene–environment interactions may play a
role in modulating the response to acquired risk by modifying the
individual susceptibility." (11; see also 14)
Amid these conflicting findings, questions remain: Why are thimerosal
injections being deliberately continued? Is the purpose to induce
pathologies associated with prescription medications? A recently
published study reported that among 286 adolescents and young adults,
70% were taking a prescription medication (12). This finding suggests
that if thimerosal-containing vaccinations are helping increase rates
of autism and other developmental disabilities for which pharmaceutical
medications are often prescribed, then the market for such drugs is to
some extent founded upon the iatrogenic procedure of injecting
thimerosal during vaccinations. Indeed, the profitability of iatrogenic
medicine is highlighted in a citation-filled book by Grace E. Jackson,
M.D., who describes "drug-induced dementia" (13).
Other commentors have
reached similar conclusions. C. Linderman, Sr., has written
Vaccines: The Cause of Disease, More Proof (here).
Mark Blaxill and Dan Olmstead have co-authored a book entitled, The
Age of Autism: Mercury, Medicine, and a Manmade Epidemic (here).
But let us return to language. If various experts are making statements
alleging that thimerosal injections do no harm, are those experts
contributing to an epidemic at least somewhat rooted in iatrogenic
medicine? Might such individuals be thought of as iatrogenecists?
When Verstraeten and colleagues embarked upon a deliberate diluting of
their own data and then published a summary of their diluted-data
findings, were they acting as iatrogenecists?
When as CDC director, Julie Gerberding, M.D., allowed the Verstraeten
et al CDC-team to dilute their own data regarding thimerosal's adverse
effects, was she acting as an intentional iatrogenecist?
When MSNBC's Nancy Snyderman, M.D., said, "just get your damn vaccine"
(15), was she supporting a virtually one-size-fits-all vaccination
protocol whereby hyper-inflammatory alleles and detoxification alleles
are to be ignored? In other words, was her statement that of an
iatrogenecist willing to sacrifice some children so as to increase
sales of pharmaceuticals?
As the word iatrogenecist gains acceptance in the English language,
gradations among iatrogenecists may become important. For instance,
some individuals seem to be deliberate iatrogenecists. They seem to
know the financial ramifications that accompany certain iatrogenic
procedures such as thimerosal injections. In contrast, many physicians
and nurses - those who refuse to examine the peer-reviewed evidence of
thimerosal's toxicity - may be considered passive- or unconscious- or
accidental-iatrogenecists.
Initially, three categories of iatrogenesis merit attention. Firstly,
some iatrogenic illnesses are acquired accidentally and despite
preventional efforts - eg, an MRSA infection acquired in a hospital.
Secondly, some iatrogenic traits are known to be a side effect of a
specific treatment - eg, Risperdal when prescribed for an autistic
child. Thirdly and insidiously, some iatrogenically acquired traits
arise because a medical procedure - eg, thimerosal injection - is
enacted when other options exist - eg, the use of thimerosal-free
vaccines, especially when recommendations to inject thimerosal are
rooted in an ignoring of thimerosal's adverse effects (eg, 4-8). The
third category represents injurious actions by deliberate
iatrogenecists. Financial ramifications of intentional iatrogenesis
deserve analysis.
Summary: An iatrogenecist is a person who knowingly or unknowingly uses
medical treatments as a way to induce pathologies. Many pathologies of
iatrogenic origin lead to enhanced revenues for various segments of the
medical industry. The continued injecting of thimerosal is an example
of intentional iatrogenesis.
Were someone to write "The Principles and Practice of Iatrogenic
Medicine", a chapter dedicated to prominent iatrogenecists would be
merited.
References:
1. Iatrogenesis
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Jan 21, 2010)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iatrogenesis
2. A Google search
for iatrogenecist generated no urls
Jan 21, 2010. 7:49am MST USA.
3. Generation
Zero {Analysis of CDC's 1999
thimerosal findings}
Blaxill M, Safeminds 2004
http://www.safeminds.org/research/library/GenerationZeroPowerPoint.pdf
4. Safety of
thimerosal-containing vaccines: a two-phased study of computerized
health maintenance organization databases
Verstraeten T et al.
Pediatrics. 2003 Nov;112(5):1039-48.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/112/5/1039
5. Thimerosal
exposure in infants and neurodevelopmental disorders: an assessment of
computerized medical records in the Vaccine Safety
Datalink.
Young HA, Geier DA, Geier MR.
The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health
Services
J Neurol Sci. 2008 Aug 15;271(1-2):110-8.
$ http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022-510X%2808%2900157-3
The study evaluated possible associations between neurodevelopmental
disorders (NDs) and exposure to mercury (Hg) from Thimerosal-containing
vaccines (TCVs) by examining the automated Vaccine Safety Datalink
(VSD). A total of 278,624 subjects were identified in birth cohorts
from 1990-1996 that had received their first oral polio vaccination by
3 months of age in the VSD. The birth cohort prevalence rate of
medically diagnosed International Classification of Disease, 9th
revision (ICD-9) specific NDs and control outcomes were calculated.
Exposures to Hg from TCVs were calculated by birth cohort for specific
exposure windows from birth-7 months and birth-13 months of age.
Poisson regression analysis was used to model the association between
the prevalence of outcomes and Hg doses from TCVs. Consistent
significantly increased rate ratios were observed for autism, autism
spectrum disorders, tics, attention deficit disorder, and emotional
disturbances with Hg exposure from TCVs. By contrast, none of the
control outcomes had significantly increased rate ratios with Hg
exposure from TCVs. Routine childhood vaccination should be continued
to help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious
diseases, but efforts should be undertaken to remove Hg from vaccines.
Additional studies should be conducted to further evaluate the
relationship between Hg exposure and NDs.
6. Hepatitis B triple
series vaccine and developmental disability in US children aged 1-9
years
Gallagher C, Goodman M. Toxicol Environ Chem 2008 90(5):997-1008.
{free online}
http://fourteenstudies.org/pdf/hep_b.pdf
This study investigated the association between vaccination with the
Hepatitis B triple series vaccine prior to 2000 and developmental
disability in children aged 1-9 years (n = 1824), proxied by parental
report that their child receives early intervention or special
education services (EIS). National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey 1999-2000 data were analyzed and adjusted for survey design by
Taylor Linearization using SAS version 9.1 software, with SAS callable
SUDAAN version 9.0.1. The odds of receiving EIS were approximately nine times
as great for vaccinated boys (n = 46) as for unvaccinated
boys(n = 7), after
adjustment for confounders. This study found statistically significant
evidence to suggest that boys in United States who were vaccinated with
the triple series Hepatitis B vaccine, during the time period in which
vaccines were manufactured with thimerosal, were more susceptible to
developmental disability than were unvaccinated boys.
7. Hepatitis B
vaccination of male neonates and autism
[conference abstract as published]
CM Gallagher, MS Goodman, Graduate Program in Public
Health, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY
Annals of Epidemiology, p659
Vol. 19, No. 9 Abstracts (ACE) September 2009: 651–680
PURPOSE: Universal newborn immunization with hepatitis B vaccine was
recommended in 1991; however, safety findings are mixed. The Vaccine
Safety Datalink Workgroup reported no association between hepatitis B
vaccination at birth and febrile episodes or neurological adverse
events. Other studies found positive associations between hepatitis B
vaccination and ear infection, pharyngitis, and chronic arthritis; as
well as receipt of early intervention/special education services (EIS);
in probability samples of
U.S. children. Children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) comprise
a growing caseload for EIS. We evaluated the association between
hepatitis B vaccination of male neonates and parental report of ASD.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used U.S. probability samples
obtained from National Health Interview Survey 1997–2002 datasets.
Logistic regression modeling was used to estimate the effect of
neonatal hepatitis B vaccination on ASDrisk amongboys age 3–17 years
with shot records, adjusted for race, maternal education, and
two-parent household.
RESULTS:Boyswho received the hepatitis B vaccine during the first month
of life had 2.94 greater odds for ASD (nZ31 of 7,486; OR Z 2.94; p Z
0.03; 95% CI Z 1.10, 7.90) compared to later- or unvaccinated boys.
Non-Hispanicwhite boys were 61% less likely to have ASD(ORZ0.39;
pZ0.04; 95% CIZ0.16, 0.94) relative to non-white boys.
CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that U.S. male neonates vaccinated with
hepatitis B vaccine had a 3-fold greater risk of ASD; risk was greatest
for non-white boys.
8. Cellular and
mitochondrial glutathione redox imbalance in lymphoblastoid cells
derived from children with autism
James SJ et al.
FASEB J. 2009 Aug;23(8):2374-83.
Research into the metabolic phenotype of autism has been relatively
unexplored despite the fact that metabolic abnormalities have been
implicated in the pathophysiology of several other neurobehavioral
disorders. Plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress have been reported in
autistic children; however, intracellular redox status has not yet been
evaluated. Lymphoblastoid cells (LCLs) derived from autistic children
and unaffected controls were used to assess relative concentrations of
reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized disulfide glutathione (GSSG) in
cell extracts and isolated mitochondria as a measure of intracellular
redox capacity. The results indicated that the GSH/GSSG redox ratio was
decreased and percentage oxidized glutathione increased in both cytosol
and mitochondria in the autism LCLs. Exposure to oxidative stress via the sulfhydryl reagent
thimerosal resulted in a greater decrease in the GSH/GSSG ratio and
increase in free radical generation in autism compared to control
cells. Acute exposure to
physiological levels of nitric oxide decreased mitochondrial membrane
potential to a greater extent in the autism LCLs, although GSH/GSSG and
ATP concentrations were similarly decreased in both cell lines. These
results suggest that the autism LCLs exhibit a reduced glutathione
reserve capacity in both cytosol and mitochondria that may compromise
antioxidant defense and detoxification capacity under prooxidant
conditions.
9. Washington state's Secretary of
Health Mary Selecky: fraudulent, misquoted, or uninformed?
Teresa Binstock, Sep 30, 2009
10. Did NIAID's Anthony Fauci
commit fraud or did US News & World Report misquote Dr.
Fauci?
Teresa Binstock, Aug 29, 2009
11. Are
Neuropathological Conditions Relevant to Ethylmercury
Exposure?
Michael Aschner and Sandra Ceccatelli
http://www.springerlink.com/content/3398g44388158630/fulltext.pdf
12. A longitudinal
investigation of psychotropic and non-psychotropic medication use among
adolescents and adults with autism spectrum
disorders.
Esbensen AJ, Greenberg JS, Seltzer MM, Aman MG.
Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
J Autism Dev Disord. 2009 Sep;39(9):1339-49. Epub 2009 May 12.
$ http://www.springerlink.com/content/5870246756766672/
Medication use was examined in 286 adolescents and adults with ASD over
a 4.5 year period. A total of 70% were taking a psychotropic or
non-psychotropic medication at the beginning of the study. Both the
number of psychotropic and non-psychotropic medications taken, and the
proportion of individuals taking these medications, increased
significantly over the study period, with 81% taking at least one
medication 4.5 years later. Our findings suggested a high likelihood of
staying medicated over time. Thus, adolescents and adults with ASD are
a highly and increasingly medicated population.
13. Drug-Induced
Dementia: a perfect crime (Paperback)
Grace E. Jackson, M.D.
http://www.amazon.com/Drug-Induced-Dementia-MD-Grace-Jackson/dp/1438972318
14. Michael Aschner
& Sandra Ceccatelli: Sins of Omission Regarding
Thimerosal
Teresa Binstock; December 4, 2009
http://www.generationrescue.org/binstock/091204-aschner-ceccatelli-omissions.htm
15. Why SafeMinds
Declined Interview with Dr. Nancy Snyderman of
MSNBC
http://www.ageofautism.com/2009/08/why-safeminds-declined-interview-with-dr-nancy-snyderman-of-msnbc.html
16. Get Your Damn
Vaccine!
Nancy Snyderman, M.D.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX1mhiKEPtQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZNtMZI0jqE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NemXwhVqs0M
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