[NVIC] Parents, 11-Year-Old Denied Entry To AAP Convention

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BL Fisher Note:

I spoke at the Power of Parents demonstration in front of the DC Convention

Center where the American Academy of Pediatrics was holding their annual

convention on Saturday, Oct. 8. NVIC co-founder Kathi and I

witnessed the hostility of AAP officials and the DC police who were called

in to disrupt the peaceful parent demonstration. Parents with their vaccine

injured autistic children were gathered to appeal to the AAP leadership to

stop misleading pediatricians about vaccine risks and stop opposing efforts

by parents to pass mercury-free vaccine laws in states. Unfortunately, the

AAP's callous behavior toward parents with vaccine injured children at the

demonstration only reinforces the perception that the AAP is teaching

pediatricians to use heavy-handed bullying tactics when dealing with parents

asking questions about vaccine safety. This kind of behavior, of course,

will backfire on all pediatricians as parents learn to fear the doctors who

they have always trusted with their children's lives.

http://biz./prnews/051011/cltu043.html?.v=22

Tuesday October 11, 11:18 am ET

Press Release Source: National Autism Association

Parent Group and 11-Year-Old Child Escorted From American Academy of

Pediatrics Convention

" We have the freedom of speech, but not the freedom to be heard, " says one

parent after being thrown out of conference in DC

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday morning, six parents and an

11-year-old child were removed from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Convention. They were escorted by security officers after being told by

coordinators that they were not welcome. The parents, two of which are

medical professionals, were pre-registered to work at a booth and hand out

materials to pediatricians about autism. Two camera crews were also escorted

out prior to the ouster of the parent group so that the AAP's actions could

not be recorded by the media.

According to parents, Airhart, AAP Director of Division of

Convention and Meeting Services, said that even though the group was pre-

registered, their badges would not be issued because the group had broken

the AAP rule of disseminating information at a demonstration outside of the

conference. When it was pointed out to her that not all of the parents had

done so, she changed her reason for banning them and said it was because

they took part in Friday's " Power of Parents " rally, a non-hostile and

family- friendly event on Capitol Hill which focused on the association

between mercury and autistic-like symptoms.

One of those asked to leave was an 11-year-old child who had been previously

diagnosed with autism and was subsequently found to have suffered from

mercury toxicity. After biomedical treatments aimed at correcting the many

known sequela of mercury exposure, the child has made remarkable

improvement. His plan was to hand brochures to doctors in order to spread

awareness about autism and the potential for effective biomedical

treatments. After he was escorted from the premises, the young boy was

terribly upset. " He only wanted to help raise awareness and felt like he had

failed in doing so, " said his mother. " It is a sad day when a child is asked

to leave a meeting which is supposed to be about the care of children. "

Not all participants of the conference agreed with AAP's actions. Many of

the pediatricians were surprised and gave the escorted parents words of

encouragement for their work in speaking about the disorder. Many also

signed a petition at the booth.

Rita Shreffler was allowed to stay, but was accused of stealing someone

else's badge in order to enter the conference. After she showed proper

identification, Ms. Shreffler, a mother of two vaccine-injured children, was

followed around the conference for the remainder of the day. " I feel as

though the AAP violated our civil rights and grossly overreacted to an

embarrassing level, " says Shreffler.

Other parents expressed similar dismay over first amendment rights

violations after being escorted out by AAP security for wearing T-shirts

with messages regarding the role of mercury-containing vaccines in the

development of their children's neurological disorders.

Parents traveled from as far away as Hawaii to have the opportunity to

address pediatricians and ask for help for their autistic children. Several

political figures were also on the list to be banned. Although Congressman

Dave Weldon, Congressman Dan Burton, Senator Debbie Stabenow and

Representative Carolyn Maloney had no intention of going to the conference,

the AAP stated that they would be turned away after delivering speeches at

Friday's rally.

" We came here today asking for help for our injured children. We brought

with us relevant new research and information that the AAP denied its

members access to. Why? " asks parent and president of the National Autism

Association, Fournier. " The AAP should be ashamed of the treatment we

received here today. I hope its members will look beyond their leadership in

search of treatment options for their patients with autism. "

Last year, the AAP refused to print an ad in their journal that thanked

pediatricians for their work and dedication to the autism cause and asked

them to request mercury-free vaccines from vendors. Just this year, the New

York AAP fought a measure that, starting in 2008, would limit mercury

exposure in vaccines given to children under three and pregnant women.

Governor Pataki was asked by the AAP to veto the measure after it passed

unanimously in the State Senate and passed 147-3 in the State Assembly.

For more information on autism, visit www.nationalautism.org.

Contact:

Rita Shreffler, NAA (Nixa, MO) 417-725-6107

Fournier, NAA (Portsmouth, RI) 401-632-7523

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