For immediate release: January 28, 2008
              
CHICAGO - The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is demanding ABC cancel the opening episode of “Eli Stone” scheduled for Thursday, January 31. As reported in The New York Times, the episode features a lawyer who argues in court that a vaccine caused a child’s autism. While the show includes statements that science has refuted any link between autism and vaccines, the episode’s conclusion delivers a contrary impression; the jury awards the mother $5.2 million, leaving audiences with the destructive idea that vaccines do cause autism.

“A television show that perpetuates the myth that vaccines cause autism is the height of reckless irresponsibility on the part of ABC and its parent company, The Walt Disney Co.,” said Renee R. Jenkins, MD, FAAP, president of the AAP. “If parents watch this program and choose to deny their children immunizations, ABC will share in the responsibility for the suffering and deaths that occur as a result. The consequences of a decline in immunization rates could be devastating to the health of our nation’s children.”

No scientific link has been found between vaccines and autism. The AAP and other health organizations will continue to work to ensure the safety of childhood vaccines.

For accurate information on autism, immunization and other child health topics, visit the AAP’s Web site, http://www.aap.org.

Related Items:

- Huffington Post covers Eli Stone, autism and vaccines

- Audio Interview With AAP President Renee R. Jenkins, MD, FAAP

- Letter from AAP President Renee R. Jenkins, MD, FAAP to ABC

- ABC News covers "Eli Stone" controversy

- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports on "Eli Stone"

- Boston Globe op-ed on "Eli Stone"

- Autism Health Topic Info

- Autism Facts for Parents

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.