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'''Generation Rescue''' is a ] that advocates the view that ] and related disorders are primarily caused by environmental factors,<ref name=grhome>{{cite web |url=http://generationrescue.org |accessdate=2009-05-08 |title=Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey's autism organization – Generation Rescue}}</ref> particularly ]s.<ref name=GR-vaccines/> These claims are biologically implausible and lack convincing scientific evidence.<ref name=vaccines-and-autism/> The group gained widespread attention through use of an aggressive media campaign, including sponsoring full page ads in the '']'' and '']''.<ref name="USAToday2"/> Today, Generation Rescue is known as a platform for ]'s autism and anti-vaccine advocacy.<ref name=Coombes/> '''Generation Rescue''' is a ] that advocates the view that ] and related disorders are primarily caused by environmental factors,<ref name=grhome>{{cite web |url=http://generationrescue.org |accessdate=2009-05-08 |title=Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey's autism organization – Generation Rescue}}</ref> particularly ]s.<ref name=GR-vaccines/> The group gained widespread attention through use of an aggressive media campaign, including sponsoring full page ads in the '']'' and '']''.<ref name="USAToday2"/> Today, Generation Rescue is known as a platform for ]'s autism and anti-vaccine advocacy.<ref name=Coombes/>


==Media campaign== ==Media campaign==
The organization was established in 2005 by Lisa and J.B. Handley and 150 volunteer "Rescue Angels" that included many members of the biomedical treatment movement at the time. Beginning in the spring of 2005 and running through January 2007, Generation Rescue began a national media campaign in the US, placing advertisements in such publications as '']''.<ref name="USAToday2">{{cite web |url=http://www.generationrescue.org/images/060406.gif |title=USA Today Ad |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website=Generation Rescue website |publisher= |accessdate=9 October 2013 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080414094223/http://www.generationrescue.org/images/060406.gif|archivedate=April 14, 2008}}</ref> More recently it has been fronted by ], an author, television personality and former '']'' model.<ref name=Coombes>{{cite journal |author=Coombes R |title=Vaccine disputes |journal=BMJ |volume=338 |issue= |pages=b2435 |year=2009 |pmid=19546136 |doi=10.1136/bmj.b2435 |url=http://www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk/documents/vaccines/Vaccine%20disputes,%20BMJ.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2009-11-08}}</ref> ], during his relationship with McCarthy, also promoted Generation Rescue. The organization was established in 2005 by Lisa and J.B. Handley and 150 volunteer "Rescue Angels" that included many members of the biomedical treatment movement at the time. Beginning in the spring of 2005 and running through January 2007, Generation Rescue began a national media campaign in the US, placing advertisements in such publications as '']''.<ref name="USAToday2">{{cite web |url=http://www.generationrescue.org/images/060406.gif |title=USA Today Ad |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website=Generation Rescue website |publisher= |accessdate=9 October 2013 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080414094223/http://www.generationrescue.org/images/060406.gif|archivedate=April 14, 2008}}</ref> More recently it has been fronted by ], an author, television personality and former '']'' model.<ref name=Coombes>{{cite journal |author=Coombes R |title=Vaccine disputes |journal=BMJ |volume=338 |issue= |pages=b2435 |year=2009 |pmid=19546136 |doi=10.1136/bmj.b2435 |url=http://www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk/documents/vaccines/Vaccine%20disputes,%20BMJ.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2009-11-08}}</ref>


==Causes of autism== ==Causes of autism==
Generation Rescue believes that autism and other developmental issues are caused by environmental factors. Its members primarily blame vaccines, the increase in the number of vaccines administered,<ref name=GR-vaccines>{{cite web |url=http://generationrescue.org/vaccines.html |title=About vaccines |publisher=Generation Rescue |accessdate=2009-10-26 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070504084600/http://www.generationrescue.org/vaccines.html |archivedate= May 4, 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> and ], a ]-based vaccine preservative.<ref name=GR-mercury>{{cite web |url=http://generationrescue.org/isit.html |title=Is it the mercury? |publisher=Generation Rescue |accessdate=2009-10-26 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Generation Rescue claims that ] can help children recover.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://generationrescue.org/biomedical.html |title=Treatment: what's biomedical treatment? |publisher=Generation Rescue |accessdate=2009-10-26 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The hypotheses that vaccines, such as ], or ] cause autism are not supported by scientific evidence,<ref name=vaccines-and-autism>Vaccines and autism: Generation Rescue has proposed a number of possible causes for developmental-related issues, such as vaccines, the increase in the number of vaccines administered,<ref name=GR-vaccines>{{cite web |url=http://generationrescue.org/vaccines.html |title=About vaccines |publisher=Generation Rescue |accessdate=2009-10-26 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070504084600/http://www.generationrescue.org/vaccines.html |archivedate= May 4, 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> and ], a ]-based vaccine preservative.<ref name=GR-mercury>{{cite web |url=http://generationrescue.org/isit.html |title=Is it the mercury? |publisher=Generation Rescue |accessdate=2009-10-26 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
*{{cite journal |journal= Can J Neurol Sci |year=2006 |volume=33 |issue=4 |pages=341–6 |title= Immunizations and autism: a review of the literature |author= Doja A, Roberts W |pmid=17168158}}
*{{cite journal |author= Gerber JS, ] |title= Vaccines and autism: a tale of shifting hypotheses |journal= Clin Infect Dis |volume=48 |issue=4 |pages=456–61 |year=2009 |pmid=19128068 |pmc= 2908388 |doi=10.1086/596476 |url=http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/596476 |laysummary=http://www.idsociety.org/Content.aspx?id=13336 |laysource=IDSA |laydate=2009-01-30}}{{dead link|date=September 2011}}
*{{cite journal |author=Gross L |title=A broken trust: lessons from the vaccine–autism wars |journal=PLoS Biol |volume=7 |issue=5 |pages=e1000114 |year=2009 |pmid=19478850 |doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.1000114 |url=http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1000114 |pmc=2682483 }}
*{{cite journal |journal=N Engl J Med |year=2007 |volume=357 |issue=13 |pages=1278–9 |title=Thimerosal and vaccines—a cautionary tale |author=Offit PA |doi=10.1056/NEJMp078187 |pmid=17898096 |url=http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/13/1278 }}
*{{cite journal |author= Paul R |title= Parents ask: am I risking autism if I vaccinate my children? |journal= J Autism Dev Disord |volume=39 |issue=6 |pages=962–3 |year=2009 |pmid=19363650 |doi=10.1007/s10803-009-0739-y}}
</ref> nor are claims that diets or drugs can cure autism.<ref>Claims of autism cures:
*{{cite journal |journal= J Dev Behav Pediatr |year=2006 |volume=27 |issue=2 Suppl 2 |pages=S162–71 |title= Elimination diets in autism spectrum disorders: any wheat amidst the chaff? |author=Christison GW, Ivany K |pmid=16685183 |doi= 10.1097/00004703-200604002-00015}}
*{{cite journal |journal=Autism |year=2007 |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=335–48 |title= Systematic review of the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder |author= Broadstock M, Doughty C, Eggleston M |doi=10.1177/1362361307078132 |pmid=17656398}}
</ref> Because of Generation Rescue's public profile through national advertising and because its point of view is not shared by the mainstream medical community, its message has been controversial<ref></ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/debunking-the-link-between-autism-and-vaccination-20100204-nf9p.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Debunking the link between autism and vaccination | first=Nick | last=Miller | date=2010-02-04}}</ref> and the organization has been described as ].<ref name="Anatomy of a Scare">, Sharon Begley, '']'', February 21, 2009</ref><ref>, Jennifer Steinhauer, '']'', October 15, 2009</ref>

], promoted by ], were declared in January 2011 to be based on manipulated data and fraudulent research.<ref name=WakefieldarticleBMJ>{{cite journal |year= 2011 |doi= 10.1136/bmj.c7452 |pages= c7452 |volume= 342:c7452|title= Wakefield's article linking MMR vaccine and autism was fraudulent |author= Godlee F, Smith J, Marcovitch H |journal = ] |url=http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c7452.full |pmid=21209060}}</ref><ref name="BMJ2011">{{cite journal | title=How the case against the MMR vaccine was fixed| author=Deer B| journal=BMJ| year=2011| volume=342| pages=c5347| url=http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c5347.full |doi= 10.1136/bmj.c5347| pmid=21209059}}</ref><ref name=NPRWakefield>{{cite news |url= http://www.npr.org/2011/01/05/132692497/journal-study-linking-vaccine-to-autism-was-fraud |publisher=NPR | agency= Associated Press |title= Study linking vaccine to autism was fraud |date= January 5, 2011 |accessdate= January 6, 2011}}{{dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref><ref name="CNN2011">{{cite news |publisher= CNN |title= Retracted autism study an 'elaborate fraud,' British journal finds |url= http://edition.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/05/autism.vaccines/index.html |date=January 6, 2011 |accessdate=January 6, 2011| location=Atlanta}}</ref> Parental concerns over vaccines have led, in turn, to decreased immunization rates and an increased incidence of ] and ], a highly contagious and sometimes deadly disease.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-vaccine2-2008may02,0,6944471.story |title= Rise in measles prompts concern |author= Lin RG II |work= Los Angeles Times |date=2008-05-02 |accessdate=2008-11-04}}</ref> Generation Rescue issued a statement that the "media circus" following the revelation of fraud and manipulation of data was "much ado about nothing".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.generationrescue.org/ |title= Jenny McCarthy's Generation Rescue | publisher= Generation Rescue |accessdate= January 6, 2011}}</ref> ] responded to Generation Rescue's statement with:<ref name=SalonMcCarthy>{{cite web |url=http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/01/06/jenny_mccarthy_autism_debate/ |author= Williams, Mary Elizabeth |title= Jenny McCarthy's autism fight grows more misguided |date= January 6, 2011 |accessdate= January 7, 2011}}</ref>{{cquote|But any organization using a celebrity to mislead parents with claims of "new" data that rely on decade-old vaccine formulas and schedules is more than disingenuous, it's flat-out dangerous.}}

==Websites==
It maintains three websites: Generation Rescue,<ref name=grhome/> Fourteen Studies.org, and PutChildrenFirst.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.putchildrenfirst.org |accessdate=2007-08-20 |date=2006-11-12 |title=PutChildrenFirst.org}}</ref> Generation Rescue details the organization’s points of view described above. PutChildrenFirst alleges a cover-up by the ] concerning the role that vaccines have played in ].

==Criticisms== ==Criticisms==


===Lack of peer-reviewed research=== ===Lack of peer-reviewed research===
Generation Rescue have been accused{{whom}} of much of their case on publications that do not go through a proper ] process. {{Citation needed|date=September 2014}}
Generation Rescue bases much of their case on publications that do not go through a proper ] process. In particular, an article Generation Rescue publishes in its website, "Autism: A Novel Form of Mercury Poisoning"<ref>{{cite journal |author=Bernard S, Enayati A, Redwood L, Roger H, Binstock T |title=Autism: a novel form of mercury poisoning |journal=Med Hypotheses |volume=56 |issue=4 |pages=462–71 |year=2001 |pmid=11339848 |doi=10.1054/mehy.2000.1281 |url=http://generationrescue.org/pdf/bernard.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2009-11-27 }}{{dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> appeared in '']'', a journal without scientific peer review; the hypothesis has not been confirmed by credible scientific evidence.<ref name=vaccines-and-autism/> In addition, Generation Rescue released a phone survey in 2007 which, they claimed, demonstrated that vaccinated children were more than 2.5 times as likely to develop autism and ] than were unvaccinated children;<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/75333.php | title=Vaccinated Children Two And A Half Times More Likely To Have Neurological Disorders Like ADHD And Autism, New Survey In California And Oregon Finds | publisher=] | date=27 June 2007 | accessdate=22 October 2013}}</ref> however, this study was not published in a peer-reviewed journal and its methodology has been sharply criticized.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2007/06/27/fun-with-phone-surveys/ | title=Fun with phone surveys and vaccines | work=] | date=27 June 2007 | accessdate=22 October 2013 | author=Gorski, David}}</ref>

According to the ''BMJ'', the implication the MMR vaccine is linked to autism "relied on parental recall and beliefs &hellip; epidemiological studies consistently found no evidence of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. By the time the paper was finally retracted 12 years later, after forensic dissection at the General Medical Council's (GMC) longest ever fitness to practise hearing, few people could deny that it was fatally flawed both scientifically and ethically."<ref name=WakefieldarticleBMJ/>


===Promotion of quack treatments=== ===Promotion of quack treatments===


Generation Rescue co-sponsors an annual conference in ] along with another charity, Autism One.<ref>, AutismOne.org, May 2012</ref> The choice of speakers at these conferences have led critics to accuse both organizations of promoting unproven therapies and harmful ]. Generation Rescue has previously co-sponsored an annual conference in ] along with another charity, Autism One.<ref>, AutismOne.org, May 2012</ref> The choice of speakers at these conferences have led critics to accuse both organizations of promoting unproven therapies.<ref>http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2011/06/autismone-throws-their-support-behind-the-geiers-in-autism-science-digest/</ref><ref>, ScienceBasedMedicine.org, 28 May 2012</ref><ref>, LeftBrainRightBrain.co.uk, 29 May 2012</ref>

Generation Rescue and Autism One have been criticized for including ] ] physician ] at their conference, despite the Maryland State Board of Physicians having suspended Geier's ].<ref>, LeftBrainRightBrain.co.uk, 16 June 2011</ref> The board stated that Geier "endangers autistic children and exploits their parents by administering to the children a treatment protocol that has a known substantial risk of serious harm and which is neither consistent with evidence-based medicine nor generally accepted in the relevant scientific community."<ref></ref> The board ruled that Geier misdiagnosed patients, diagnosed patients without sufficient tests, recommended treatments without fully explaining the risks to parents, and misrepresented his credentials. Geier lost his medical licenses in ], ], and ] shortly thereafter; he has also seen his licenses revoked and/or suspended in ], ], and ].

Speakers at the conference from 2012 onwards have been Kerri Rivera and Andreas Ludwig Kalcker, who have both promoted the ], or MMS, a liquid product containing ] that they claim have cured thirty-eight children of autism.<ref>, AutismOne.org, 27 May 2012</ref> Several bloggers criticized the presentation, noting that MMS consists of the same chemical compound as industrial strength ] and was thus potentially harmful to children being given the product, both orally and through ]s.<ref>, ScienceBasedMedicine.org, 28 May 2012</ref><ref>, LeftBrainRightBrain.co.uk, 29 May 2012</ref> MMS has been subject to a warning by the ], and by government health agencies in the ] and ]; MMS was banned outright in ] in February 2012.<ref>, Health Canada, 15 February 2012</ref>

=== Disassociation of cited researchers ===
Generation Rescue's second ''New York Times'' advertisement had to undergo one alteration due to one scientist who asked to be removed from the ad. Also, after the ad ran, several of the scientists thanked in the ad wanted to disassociate their work from the mercury/autism connection. This group of scientists wrote: "we believe Generation Rescue’s advertisement, at first appearance an innocuous gesture of appreciation, may actually mislead the public into thinking that the mercury–autism hypothesis has stronger support in the scientific literature than it actually does."<ref>{{cite web |title=General confusion and the NYT |url=http://autismdiva.blogspot.com/2005/11/general-confusion-and-nyt.html |work=Autism Diva |date=2005-11-25 |accessdate=2009-11-27 }}</ref>

=== Misleading claims ===
Generation Rescue has asserted that countries that require fewer infant vaccines have lower infant mortality rates. However, this has been criticized as "rhetorical sleight of hand": in the U.S., a country that requires more vaccines than most, the infant mortality rate declined 50% from 1966 to 1981, during which the number of vaccines increased.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Fraser Forum |author=Katz D |title=The missing link between vaccines and autism |year=2009 |issue=07/09 |pages=22–5 |url=http://fraseramerica.org/commerce.web/product_files/MissingLinkBetweenVaccinesAndAutism_US.pdf |format=PDF |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110726063440/http://fraseramerica.org/commerce.web/product_files/MissingLinkBetweenVaccinesAndAutism_US.pdf |archivedate= July 26, 2011 }}</ref>

=== Poor taste in responding to critics ===
Generation Rescue and its staff has been accused of exhibiting poor taste when responding to critics and journalists who have brought up the above points of criticism. After '']'' magazine published journalist Amy Wallace's profile on Generation Rescue critic ], Generation Rescue founder J. B. Handley wrote an essay titled "Paul Offit Rapes (intellectually) Amy Wallace and Wired Magazine." The essay implied that Offit had slipped Wallace "a date-rape drug." Wallace made an argument that the implication was ].<ref>Wallace, Amy. ''New York Times''. 19 January 2014. 23 January 2014.</ref>


==See also== ==See also==

Revision as of 12:42, 19 September 2014

Generation Rescue is a nonprofit organization that advocates the view that autism and related disorders are primarily caused by environmental factors, particularly vaccines. The group gained widespread attention through use of an aggressive media campaign, including sponsoring full page ads in the New York Times and USA Today. Today, Generation Rescue is known as a platform for Jenny McCarthy's autism and anti-vaccine advocacy.

Media campaign

The organization was established in 2005 by Lisa and J.B. Handley and 150 volunteer "Rescue Angels" that included many members of the biomedical treatment movement at the time. Beginning in the spring of 2005 and running through January 2007, Generation Rescue began a national media campaign in the US, placing advertisements in such publications as USA Today. More recently it has been fronted by Jenny McCarthy, an author, television personality and former Playboy model.

Causes of autism

Generation Rescue has proposed a number of possible causes for developmental-related issues, such as vaccines, the increase in the number of vaccines administered, and thiomersal, a mercury-based vaccine preservative.

Criticisms

Lack of peer-reviewed research

Generation Rescue have been accused of much of their case on publications that do not go through a proper peer review process.

Promotion of quack treatments

Generation Rescue has previously co-sponsored an annual conference in Chicago along with another charity, Autism One. The choice of speakers at these conferences have led critics to accuse both organizations of promoting unproven therapies.

See also

References

  1. "Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey's autism organization – Generation Rescue". Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  2. ^ "About vaccines". Generation Rescue. Archived from the original on May 4, 2007. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
  3. ^ "USA Today Ad". Generation Rescue website. Archived from the original on April 14, 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  4. ^ Coombes R (2009). "Vaccine disputes" (PDF). BMJ. 338: b2435. doi:10.1136/bmj.b2435. PMID 19546136. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
  5. "Is it the mercury?". Generation Rescue. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
  6. AutismOne / Generation Rescue Conference 2012, AutismOne.org, May 2012
  7. http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2011/06/autismone-throws-their-support-behind-the-geiers-in-autism-science-digest/
  8. Bleaching away what ails you, ScienceBasedMedicine.org, 28 May 2012
  9. MMS, or how to cure autism with bleach. Brought to you by AutismOne, LeftBrainRightBrain.co.uk, 29 May 2012

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