Autism, Vaccines, and the Girl in Georgia

Originally published here on April 12, 2008.

The NY Times had a good piece today in its Health section on the case of 9-year-old Hannah Poling of Athens, Ga.

Hannah made the news recently when her family settled a case in which her autism was blamed on the ill effects she suffered after receiving five childhood immunizations in 2000.

The issue of what causes autism is a hot potato in both the political and medical arena. Many in the medical community have resisted the conclusion that some vaccines can be linked to autism. Hannah's case has given new energy to the advocates of the vaccine theory. But the situation is still not particularly clear.

The NY Times piece provides a good summary of the case and its implications...