"Eli Stone" Controversy Spurs Autism Expert to Speak Out

By Sophia Brink

Published on February 13, 2008

The plot of the episode centers on a young lawyer who secures a successful verdict in his client’s lawsuit. The suit is filed by a woman who claims that her son’s autism was caused by a vaccine containing a mercury-based preservative.

The controversial episode aired Jan. 31 to the dismay of many health professionals, including Dr. Nancy Minshew, director of the Autism Research Project at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Minshew says there is no scientific evidence to support the theory that mercury-based vaccines cause autism. She feels that the vaccine-autism theory may be endangering children’s lives by preventing parents from having their children vaccinated. By speaking out, she hopes to educate parents that are struggling with the decision whether or not to vaccinate their child.

In the ongoing debate over mercury and autism, several major health institutions have come out against the idea of a potential link. These include the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, the Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, which, prior to its airing, requested that the controversial Eli Stone episode be cancelled.

However, those that believe there is a connection – including the Coalition for SafeMinds (Sensible Action For Ending Mercury-Induced Neurological Disorders), Moms Against Mercury, and Generation Rescue – continue to try to raise awareness of the alleged link.

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