Paul A. Offit

‘Autism‘s False Prophets’ makes for a compelling read. Of course, the main topic here is to debunk the junk idea that the MMR vaccine cause autism. The flabbergasting saga which saw a self-interested physician in cahoots with injury lawyers and having gone as far as to falsify data, collected and handled in an unethical way in the first place, after relying on a study which was everything but conclusive to end up with a study itself inconclusive is, in itself, quite disturbing. That show more the results of such fraud contributed to a tsunami of scaremongering within the mass media (never shy when it comes to spread sensationalism over facts) and, as a result, the public at large, is also telling of what a sad era we are living in -an era shaped by science, yet when people have no understanding of what the scientific method is to start with.

Had it been just that, the retelling of a medical and scientific fraud still believed by the gullible and the price of which we are still paying to this day (measles, mumps and rubella made a come-back, while autism hasn’t been ‘cured’ -should we be surprised?), such book would have been necessary enough. But, fascinatingly, and with high relevance, it goes way beyond that.

First, it's about scientific research itself. Science indeed cannot be objective when the research is financed by vested lobbies, a state of affair which is common in the USA, where lawyers can fund their own research to serve their own legal cases (and where Andrew Wakefield, incidentally, is now ‘in exile’ and free to carry on sprouting his nonsense...) but wasn’t the case in Europe back then. As the author states:

‘The case against MMR was the first in England’s history in which the Legal Services Commission financed scientific research. And it will probably be the last. The commission concluded: “In retrospect, it was not effective or appropriate for us to fund research. The courts are not the place to prove medical truths”. The commission reasoned that science directed by a team of personal injury lawyers wasn’t likely to be the best kind of science.’

Well, duh! It seems common sense, and in the case of the MMR vaccine saga we saw the terrible consequences of such colluding (the author, in fact, also recounts what had happened with the tobacco industry to nail the point). Still, we ought to bear that in mind when faced with a dangerous trend these days, that the author doesn’t mention but which nevertheless is taking hold, whereas corporates and entrepreneurs are hijacking whole scientific fields (e.g. genetics) while public funding are drained.

Then, it’s also about the scientific method, and, beyond, about critical thinking. Dealing with a vaccine, the author outlines what the precautionary principle really entails -a nice reminder at a time of mass hysteria on all side around COVID-19 (both pro and anti vax alike ought to read this, although this book, obviously, doesn’t address the COVID pandemic since it was published in 2008…). Nothing is simple, but he reminds of the key difference between biological studies and epidemiological studies as well, in explanations which are straightforward but crucial. He also points at the absurdity prevalent among the anti MMR vaccines, purporting to be enlightened but being, in the end, nothing but useful idiots preyed upon by quacks:

‘Although some parents have been skeptical of the scientists and public health officials who failed to find that vaccines caused autism, questioning their motives and occasionally threatening them, they haven’t been similarly skeptical of the vast array of autism therapies, all of which are claimed to work and all of which are based on theories that are ill-founded, poorly conceived, contradictory, or disproved.’

Now, it’s easy to point at such absurd cherry-picking and failure in critical thinking (and feeling sad for the vulnerable yet gullible parents being targeted) yet the impact matters and it matters a great deal.

Finally indeed, and above all, what this book brilliantly exposes is what such bogus research and the alternative treatments coming in their trails really embody: a twisted and prejudicial perception of what is autism, and, by extension, of autistic people. We may live a time when autism as a spectrum is gaining better recognition and understanding, and when neurodiversity is gaining ground. However, there are still people out there, especially ‘doctors’ and businesses, entertaining the false view than autism is nothing but a burden, an horrible illness, a tragedy to be cured at all cost and autistic children nothing but damaged goods. It might be a prejudicial view and a whole self-serving industry and market, but it has consequences. Chelation, cranial manipulation, secretin, Lupron… The author does more than debunking the supposed causation between the MMR vaccine and a learning disability, and he does more than outlining how science works and is about. He, also, details the harrowing treatments such children are being put through by the ‘false prophets’, who are the only ones, in the end, profiting from such scaremongering.

Here’s a must read for anyone interested not only in autism, but, also, in science and the importance of critical thinking at a time of triumphing quackeries. When greed, sloppiness and fraud ally themselves with ignorance and harmful prejudice, the impact can be catastrophic indeed. Clear, accessible, well-argued and dispassionate, here’s debunking at its best. Highly recommended! show less

Paul Offit's "Vaccinated" is an engaging look at the history and development of the vaccines invented or improved by Maurice Hilleman. It is broad in scope, including elements of history, biography, science, and bioethics, but Offit's narrative is neither overly simplistic nor too technical to be hard to understand for the lay reader. Offit is also unapologetic about the anti-vaccination hypocrisy and disinformation campaigns promulgated by the conserative religious right--a refreshing bit show more of fresh air in this country's current repressive conservative climate.

He does lose major points, however, for including several unnecessary movie product placements in his text, including a page-long summary of the D-movie flop "Anaconda" (including extended quotations!), the effect of which is rather patronizing. Nevertheless, "Vaccinated" gives a good overview of the history of vaccines, Maurice Hilleman, and his many important contributions to the health and well-being of people the world over, which have been vastly overlooked. show less

I can't say I looked forward to reading this book for book club but once I started it, I couldn't put it down.
The book is separated into 7 stories of scientific revelations which sound good at the start, like margarine, but have watershed moments where things go entirely wrong. In the name of science and hoping for notoriety, some experiments became nefarious and horrific such as with Dr Josef Mengele. Some ideas sound benign, a quick fix which could help society as a whole but, yeah, show more lobotomies although the rage at first, wasn't all it claimed.
Which brings the reader to the eighth and final chapter, how to decipher which new and exciting scientific discovery is legit. How to separate good data from bad and which ones are simply pushed by "health gurus" you have little or no scientific credentials....just a well promoted idea. The book concludes with some reasonable and sound advice....."We need to approach all scientific advances cautiously and with eyes wide open". show less

It is infuriating to know that so many charlatans and snake oil salesman are not only practicing in the 21st century, but are being defended by powerful people. Dr. Offit's stories of politicians who either defended the quacks or intimidated the scientists were most frustrating. I am a member of the choir to whom Dr. Offit is preaching, but as I was reading I kept thinking of people I know who I wish would read it. Sadly, I doubt they will. If they do, they will likely do so with an show more antagonistic viewpoint. Most of them don't seem to realize that the alternative medicine business is a huge money making operation. I am going to have my teenage son read this as part of his homeschool science reading. Maybe his generation can be the one that finally puts this magical thinking out to pasture.

Dr. Offit clearly explains a number of (often crazy) treatments, and shows evidence that they don't work. He also clearly shows why conventional methods for the same illnesses do work, even when those methods have limitations. Big names such as Jenny McCarthy, Suzanne Somers, Dr. Oz, Deepak Chopra, and Joe Mercola are here, but so are the names of people who were taken in. There are famous people such as Steve McQueen and Steve Jobs, but most are just everyday people desperately searching for something that science couldn't give them. Several times I was brought to tears reading about desperate parents trying to find a cure for their child's illness, only to be brought to financial (and likely emotional) ruin by hucksters. To say that alternative medicine "can't hurt" is untrue. It can and does. Every day.

The placebo effect is very real, and something that is still not fully understood by science, as Dr. Offit tells us near the end of the book. He ends with a story about Norman Cousins and Albert Schweitzer as an example of how science based, evidence based medicine can co-exist with complimentary medicine without harming the patient. As has been said before by Offit and others: There's no such thing as alternative medicine. Alternative medicine that works is simply called medicine.

I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 because I wish Dr. Offit had addressed the role of social media, particularly facebook, in spreading the foolishness that is alternative/complimentary 'medicine'. show less