Poul Thorsen is a key figure in the shaky research that denied justice to thousands of families whose children suffered a vaccine-related neurological injury that developed into autism spectrum disorder (ASD or autism). Thorsen’s influence on US vaccine projects and policies is extensive. The studies he led strongly influencedthe review of thimerosal in vaccines by the Institute of Medicine (now known as the National Academy of Medicine) of the National Academy of Sciencesand the outcomes of that review. Today, Thorsen is a fugitive from justice since a warrant for his arrest was issued in April 2011. Thorsen was added to the HHS Office of Inspector General’s ‘Most Wanted’ list in April 2012.
The management of the vaccine injury-autism epidemic research link by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been fraught with controversy from the outset. These controversies include:
- Studies that were fatally flawed in their design. The studies in question were conducted or funded by CDC and promoted by public health authorities as proof that no connection exists between vaccines and autism.
- Failing to disclose a statistically significant correlation between exposure to thimerosal (mercury) in the first six months of life from infant vaccines and neurodevelopmental outcomes when compared to those with no thimerosal exposure. A watered down, but still troubling, report was shared with those attending the, now infamous, Simpsonwood meeting.The data,now referred to as the Generation Zero data,clearly show an increased risk for autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Allegations of scientific misconduct by CDC employees by a CDC researcher.
- The status of fugitive researcher, Poul Thorsen,MD, PhD,whom the United States has yet to extradite from Denmark after more than six years; and
- A cover up,rather than retraction,of papers from fraudulent autism studies conducted without legally-required ethical clearances in the CDC-funded Danish Cooperative Agreement.
