Pediatricians call for ABC to cancel TV show linking vaccines and autism

A new ABC courtroom drama is drawing fire from a physicians’ organization and local pediatricians over its verdict on vaccines and autism.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is calling for ABC to pull Thursday night’s debut of “Eli Stone," a courtroom drama. In the episode, the main character wins a case after arguing that a childhood vaccine containing a mercury-based preservative caused the defendent to develop 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.,” AAP president Dr. Renee R. Jenkins said in a statement. “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.”

Dr. Robin Adair, assistant professor of pediatrics at University of Massachusetts Medical School, supports the academy’s position.

“I agree with the concern that the show might frighten people away from vaccinating their children due to a risk that I think is fairly conclusively shown not to exist,” she said in an interview. “Yes, it’s put out there as entertainment, but these sorts of things can be influential.”

The link between the additive thimerosal and autism has been promoted by parents and advocacy groups despite repeated research studies finding no basis for the belief. The most recent study came earlier this month from the California Department of Public Health, which found that after thimerosal had been removed from vaccines, autism diagnoses continued to rise.