The US Court of Federal Claims ruled today that three cases filed by families with autistic children who contended the autism was caused by the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) combination vaccine and thimerosal-containing vaccinations lacked sufficient evidence. The court originally ordered separate trials for cases brought against the US Department of Health and Human Services seeking compensation from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program under three different liability theories. The ruling today related to the first theory that the MMR vaccines combined with the thimerosal vaccines can cause autism. Cases will continue relating to the second theory of liability that the thimerosal vaccine can cause autism on its own, while the families have dropped the cases based on the third theory of liability- that the MMR vaccine can cause autism on its own.
The US Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement following the ruling that it will continue to support autism research.
Source: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2009/02/federal-court-rejects-cases-linking.php
Tags: Autism, MMR Vaccine, Thimerosal
