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Antivaccine nonsense Autism Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Quackery

The Autism Omnibus: When you don’t have scientific evidence, tug on the heartstrings!

The Autism Omnibus is now officially under way, having begun with the first test case, that of Cedillo v. Secretary of Health and Human Services. The Omnibus proceeding is the culmination of the legal cases brought to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program by nearly 5,000 families who “feel” that their children’s autism was in fact […]

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Antivaccine nonsense Autism Medicine Quackery

A myth memorialized (a.k.a. “Simpsonwood Remembered”)

Here is the myth of Simpsonwood being memorialized on the seventh anniversary of the meeting where, if you believe the mercury militia, the CDC, in cahoots with big pharma, tried to suppress the “truth” that thimerosal in vaccines causes autism. it is a myth that was popularized by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s misinformation-laden Salon.com article […]

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Complementary and alternative medicine Hitler Zombie Quackery Religion Skepticism/critical thinking

Scientology and psychiatry: Even the Hitler Zombie wouldn’t touch this one

When I learned of this, I had been highly tempted trot out everybody’s favorite undead Führer for a little fun with the Church of Scientology‘s latest antics. Indeed, when you find out what I’m about to discuss, you’ll see why it was a candidate for the loving chomp of his rotting jaws. Heck, I even […]

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Autism Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Quackery

Silencing the opposition over autism

Now here’s something you don’t see every day. Nature Neuroscience has weighed in about the pseudoscience that claims that mercury causes autism. Based on British experience with animal rights activists, it points out a parallel that I hadn’t considered before: The idea that autism is caused by vaccination is influencing public policy, even though rigorous […]

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Evolution Intelligent design/creationism Medicine Skepticism/critical thinking Surgery

The Energizer Bunny of antievolution

I need some β-blockers STAT. I say that not because I’m hypertensive or because I’m having heart palpitations–at least not at the moment. I’m saying it because, after reading the latest brave foray into antievolutionary ignorance by–as much as I hate to admit it–a fellow surgeon named Dr. Michael Egnor, I need to do something […]