By parents convinced there is a connection.. While expressing sympathy for the parents involved in the emotionally charged cases, the court concluded they had failed to show a connection between the mercury-containing preservative and autism.. "Such families must cope every day with tremendous challenges in caring for their autistic children, and all are deserving of sympathy and admiration," special master George Hastings Jr. wrote.. But, he added, Congress designed the victim compensation program only for families whose injuries or deaths can be shown to be linked to a vaccine and that has not been done in this case.. The ruling came in the so-called vaccine court, a special branch of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims established to handle claims of injury from vaccines. It can be appealed in federal court.. The new ruling was welcomed by Dr. Paul Offit of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, who said the autism theory had "already had its day in science court and failed to hold up." But the controversy has cast a pall over vaccines, causing some parents to avoid them.. A group backing the parents' theory charged that the vaccine court was more interested in government policy than protecting children.. "The deck is stacked against families in vaccine court. Government attorneys defend a government program, using government-funded science, before government judges," Rebecca Estepp, of the Coalition for Vaccine Safety, said in a statement.. In reaction to the concerns of parents, thimerosal has been removed from most U.S. vaccines.
5th teen charged in gang assault ... Oak Chalet to close ... Visiting Christmasland in Deer Park
Credit: Newsday
Updated 39 minutes ago Rob Reiner's son latest charges ... 5th teen charged in gang assault ... 2 people, dog rescued from frigid waters ... LI Works: Model trains
5th teen charged in gang assault ... Oak Chalet to close ... Visiting Christmasland in Deer Park
Credit: Newsday
Updated 39 minutes ago Rob Reiner's son latest charges ... 5th teen charged in gang assault ... 2 people, dog rescued from frigid waters ... LI Works: Model trains
