Autism Wars: Bernadine Healy vs. Nancy Snyderman

The Contenders:

Bernadine Patricia Healy (b. August 4, 1944) is a Harvard and Johns Hopkins educated physician and cardiologist and a former head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She has been a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins, professor and dean of the College of Medicine and Public Health at the Ohio State University, and served as president of the American Red Cross. Currently she is health editor and columnist for U.S. News & World Report. She has become a well-known commentator in the media on health issues. {More at Wikipedia: Bernadine Healy}

Nancy L. Snyderman, MD, (b. 1952 St. Louis, Missouri) is an American physician and broadcast journalist. Dr. Snyderman is currently the chief medical editor for NBC News, and frequently appears on NBC's Today Show in various medicine-related features. Snyderman is on the staff of the otolaryngology-head and neck surgery department at the University of Pennsylvania. She hosts Dr. Nancy airing weekdays 12-1 p.m. ET. on MSNBC. {More at Wikipedia: Nancy Snyderman}

Video vs Video: While the Dr. Snyderman video presented here relates to the H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine, it pretty much sums up her views of vaccines in general. She is forever telling us basically that the scientists have all the answers, quit questioning it, vaccines are safe and not related to autism, so shut the f*@% up and get the vaccines. It seems that she must have missed the discussion on "informed consent" in medical school.

Bernadine Healy:

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Nancy Snyderman:



Key Quotes:

Bernadine Healy:

• "The nature of medicine is having humility."
• "It's not necessarily humble to say 'We have all the answers. Don't ask any questions, just do what I say."

Nancy Snyderman:

• "Listen to our government agencies. These guys are telling the truth. Just get your damn vaccine"

Related:

• Nancy Snyderman says the Gardasil Vaccine is safe, shut up and get it.

Autism Wars: Parents vs Government (How Much Longer?)

The National Autism Association made 9/9/9 the official "How Much Longer" day and parents from all over the country have used the NAA's site to contact the President, their members of congress, and departments that need to be working harder on autism. This includes the CDC, FDA, and the NIH.

At this rate, go ahead and pencil in 10/10/10 , 11/11/11 and 12/12/12 for "What the F^ck, How Much Longer? Day" Maybe just "WTF Day for Autism!"

With All Eyes On Swine Flu, Thousands of Parents Ask President Obama �How Much Longer� Until Autism Gets Similar Attention

WASHINGTON, DC - Just since midnight, over 50,000 letters have gone to President Barack Obama and others as part of a new campaign to bring attention to the rising numbers of autism cases. The National Autism Association (NAA) declared today as National �How Much Longer� Day for Autism, a day of letter-writing to the media, health agencies, Department of Education, lawmakers and the Obama Administration asking for such things as health insurance coverage, federal laws to protect special-ed students from dangerous restraint and seclusion practices in schools, safer vaccines, and for autism to be declared a nation health crisis. Seeing how much attention is being paid to the H1N1 virus, many parents are wondering why autism is the fastest growing disorder, yet has received very little aid.

In a letter to its members, NAA stated, �We've asked for [help] politely, impolitely, loudly, softly, creatively, professionally, in small numbers and in large...we�ve asked and we�ve asked again. But as it stands today, we have more cases of abuse, wandering-related deaths, seizure-related deaths, bankruptcies and divorce in our community than ever before. With the fatigue that comes from constant uphill battles, along with a gross lack of resources, we live in a permanent state of asking one question: How Much Longer?�

Eight ads have gone out over the last six weeks promoting the �How Much Longer� campaign. When asking the public to participate, NAA says, �Say yes only if you don�t mind a little controversy. This campaign isn�t warm and fuzzy and it�s far from polite. It�s edgy, sarcastic and harsh at times, but when you live day to day seeing an increasing number of children suffer from vulgar abuse, impossible challenges, even death, you tend to put graceful asks aside for a message that people might actually notice.�

The group reports that out of all the autism campaigns they�ve done, this by far has received the highest amount of response.

�We�ve had an overwhelming amount of feedback, mostly positive, but this campaign isn�t for everyone,� says Ann Brasher, Vice President of NAA. �We essentially call the CDC out for labeling us as �anti-vaccine� every time we ask a question about vaccine safety. We call out the NIH for directing more dollars towards genetic research when environmental factors are playing a huge role in triggering autism, and we call out the Department of Education for their slow response in keeping more special-ed students from being abused and killed in our school systems. We�ve gone out on a limb here to say what needs to be said.�

The group�s letter to President Obama covers the daily challenges of living with autism. �Most days, we don�t know which issue to tackle first,� states Rita Shreffler, NAA Executive Director. �There are too many and we�re overwhelmed. We�ve asked President Obama to declare autism a national health crisis so that autism may receive the attention it needs and our children may receive the basic resources they deserve.�

According to a recently released survey by the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), which is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Autism Spectrum Disorders now affect 1 in 100 children.

�It�s time for answers,� says Brasher. �It�s long overdue.�

To learn more about NAA�s �How Much Longer� campaign, please visit http://www.nationalautismassociation.org.