Wikipedia

Generation Rescue

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Generation Rescue is a nonprofit organization which was founded by parents united by their belief that many childhood neurological disorders, such as autism, Asperger's syndrome, ADHD, speech delay, sensory integration disorder and other developmental delays, are the effects of a primary diagnosis of mercury poisoning and related complications. Generation Rescue is funded and managed by its members. The members have joined on a mission to "share the truth with parents about the cause of their child’s developmental disabilities so they can focus on treatment."

Childhood neurological disorders and heavy metal poisoning

In May, 2005, over 150 parents, led by Lisa and JB Handley, launched Generation Rescue, a non-profit, California based, international support group dedicated to treating autistic spectrum and other neurological disorders, which the group contends result from poisoning by heavy metals, particularly thimerosal containing vaccines (TCVs). As of January, 2006, more than 315 families have joined the organization.

The group has collected scientific papers, opinion pieces, and journalistic reports to substantiate their case, all of which are presented on their website.

The group advocates the use of biomedical intervention and other autism therapies to help reverse autistic symptoms. Some mistakenly characterize the group as focused only on chelation therapy. In fact, Generation Rescue promotes dietary change and supplementation, toxin reduction, and many different forms of detoxification.

Media campaign

Late in the spring of 2005, Generation Rescue began running full-page ads in national newspapers, including the New York Times, asserting the symptoms of autism and childhood mercury poisoning are too similar to be coincidental. The ads include quotes, regarding the escalating vaccine controversy, from key Republicans and Democrats in the United States Congress, in addition to numerous other leaders who claim mercury is the leading potential cause for autism.

The advocacy group's print and internet advertisements are part of a broader campaign to educate politicians, medical professionals and other parents learn about the possible connection between autism and mercury poisoning. In launching the campaign, J.B. Handley said, "Every day, another 50 kids are diagnosed with autism," adding, "Too often the parents receiving this life-changing news are not aware of the real, medical treatments available to reverse autistic symptoms. The parents, and media, are also not aware of the growing number of physicians, researchers, elected officials and other leaders who have mounting evidence to lead this fight."

  • USA Today Ad #1 - 'Autism is Preventable and Reversible!! May 24, 2005'
  • NY Times Ad #1 - 'Mercury Poisoning and Autism are the same thing. June 8, 2005'
  • NY Times Ad #2 - 'Ad thanking researchers for furthering Thimerosal Autism Link. November 14, 2005'

Rescue Angel program

Generation Rescue has developed a mentoring program, 'Rescue Angels', for other parents. 'Rescue Angels' are parents of autistic spectrum children willing to help other parents in treating their children, sharing expertise, local knowledge, and experience.

As of January 2006, more than 315 families serve as Rescue Angels for other families. According to Generation Rescue, more than 5,000 new families have begun treating their children due to Generation Rescue's Rescue Angels.

At least one Rescue Angel, John Best Jr., has become very controversial. John Best Jr. maintains a blog called Hating Autism, where Mr. Best documents his thoughts on autism, neurodiversity, autistic people, and homosexuals. After being asked to offer his thoughts on the Rescue Angel program, Mr Best said, "I don’t mind helping kids who have idiots for parents and I think most other rescue angels feel the same way." The Natural Variation blog has compiled a list of statements by John Best Jr. [1].

Criticisms

Critics of Generation Rescue point out that the vast majority of the science that Generation Rescue base their case on that it is either not peer reviewed or fails to establish a causative connection between thimerosal/vaccines and autism or both. In particular, the 'landmark' article that Generation Rescue rely on Autism: A Novel Form of Mercury Poisoning has been refuted. There is no reason to think that autism did not exist before 1931 as JB Handley strongly asserts.[citation needed]

Generation Rescue's home page has been criticized for containing inaccuracies regarding the prevalence of autism. As of 2006, it claimed that the prevalence of autism in the 1970s was 1 in 10,000 (in a paragraph that has been subsequently removed). In reality, the prevalence of autism was known to be 4-5 in 10,000 in the 1960s. Handley has been asked to cite the lower prevalence number, but has not come forward with a reply. Additionally, the site does not clarify that the prevalence of 1 in 166 is for ASD, not Kanner autism as is the lower prevalence number. The increase of 6000% (60 times) claimed in the GR home page should be about 1200% (12 times) if the lower prevalence number is corrected. This type of prevalence change claim has been characterized as a comparison of "oranges with sheep" [2].

See also

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