[NVIC] Alan , M.D.- Autism/Vaccine Safety Advocate

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" Protecting the health and informed consent rights of children since 1982. "

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NVIC Note:

Alan , M.D., an enlightened physician and dedicated autism and vaccine

safety activist, died on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006. On behalf of their son,

Devon, and many other vaccine injured autistic children, Dr. and his

wife, Lugene, have been leading advocates of state laws banning the use of

mercury preservatives in childhood vaccines. Alan 's vision and legacy

will live on with every state law that has been passed - and will be

passed - banning toxic mercury in vaccines. Our heartfelt sympathy and

prayers go out to his wife, son and family.

Memorial gifts are suggested to the Alan D. M.D. Memorial Research

Fund in care of US Bank, 2208 S. Grand Avenue, Carthage, Missouri 64836.

Sympathy cards may be sent to his family at their home: 1803 S. Maple

Street, Carthage, Missouri 64836.

Barbara Loe Fisher and Kathi

FROM THE NATIONAL AUTISM ASSOCIATION:

The National Autism Asso The National Autism Association is deeply saddened

by the loss of Alan D. , M.D. A member of our scientific advisory

board, Alan was respected and admired by all who had the honor of working

with him. His love for his family was boundless, as was his compassion for

all families affected by neurological disorders resulting from mercury

exposure.

Although a genteel, soft-spoken man, Alan's words and intellect were

powerful. He was a selfless seeker of medical truth, even when that truth

might prove unpopular with the medical community in which he served. Alan

was one of only a handful of physicians in the entire state of Missouri

brave enough to confront the reality that overexposure to mercury through

vaccines has led to epidemic numbers of neurologically injured children.

Alan's tireless pursuit to educate others about the devastating effects of

mercury upon children led him to all parts of the country, where all who met

him were struck by his sincerity, kindness, and dedication to helping

others.

We have lost a much loved and irreplaceable friend in Alan , and the

autism community has lost a fearless advocate for truth and healing. Our

sympathy and prayers go out to Alan's family and loved ones. We join with

countless others nationwide in mourning the loss of a hero.

Memorial gifts are suggested to the Alan D. M.D. Memorial Research

Fund in care of US Bank, 2208 S. Grand Avenue, Carthage, Missouri 64836.

Sympathy cards may be sent to his family at their home: 1803 S. Maple

Street, Carthage, Missouri 64836

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060209/NEWS01/602090

353

News-Leader.com, MO

Published Thursday, February 9, 2006

Doctor, autism advocate a 'total servant'

By Kathleen O'Dell

News-Leader

Former Springfield emergency room physician Dr. Alan D. was remembered

by friends and colleagues this week as a " total servant to public health "

and a " genteel, soft-spoken man " whose words and intellect were powerful.

, 55, died from complications of lung cancer Tuesday afternoon in

Carthage, where he and his wife, Lugene, and son Devon lived.

was diagnosed with cancer in August 2005 and had been undergoing

treatments while continuing tireless work for the state's upcoming tobacco

tax initiative, lobbying on behalf of autism research, and writing medical

articles and an online general health column, " Ask Dr. , " for the St.

's Health System Web site. He recently wrote a forensics book on burns

for medical and legal professionals.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday and the service will be at 1 p.m.

Saturday, both at First Assembly of God, Baker Street and Centennial Avenue

in Carthage. Knell Mortuary of Carthage is handling arrangements.

In his memory, his widow established the Alan D. M.D. Memorial

Research Fund through U.S. Bank, 2208 S. Grand Ave., Carthage, MO 64836.

In recent years, and his wife earned a national following as founders

of NoMercury.org, a philanthropic venture designed to educate policymakers,

physicians and the public about dangers associated with the use of a

mercury-based preservative in vaccines. also served on the National

Autism Association's Scientific Advisory Board.

The s, who testified about the issue before congressional leaders and

state legislators, believe Devon developed a form of autism after receiving

a flu shot containing the preservative.

" All we did every day was just try to do the right thing, " Lugene said

Tuesday, hours after his death. " His work will continue. I made him that

promise. "

Friends praised the many roles took on throughout his life.

" I think that my everlasting memory of Alan is just that he was a total

servant to public health and to the communities he lived in, " said

Springfield physician Jim Blaine, who worked with on the Child

Advocacy Center, DWI Task Force and several tobacco tax and smoke-free

workplace efforts.

" He wasn't afraid to take a risk and wasn't afraid to sustain criticism, and

he had an absolute passion for helping others, " Blaine said.

's diagnosis came as a shock last year, being a lifelong tobacco foe

who never smoked cigarettes, but grew up among smokers in Atlanta.

It only fueled his anti-tobacco advocacy, and told the News-Leader,

" It's time people were made aware of how serious this is. "

befriended many Springfield-area physicians during his committee work

and term as 2003 president of the Greene County Medical Society and his

years as an emergency room physician at St. 's Hospital in Springfield.

" He was sort of the epitome of a southern gentleman, " said Dr. Barry Spoon,

a St. 's emergency room physician.

" A very bright individual, a superb emergency medicine physician, both from

a practical as well as an academic standpoint, " Spoon said. " He was very

interested in teaching - coworkers, physicians, anybody who would be

taught. "

In a time when physicians are pressured to see more patients, Spoon said,

" Alan always respected the time with his patients and Alan always enjoyed

time with his patients. "

reluctantly left emergency room work after an injury forced him to

retire several years ago, but remained on various St. 's and community

public health projects in Springfield and Carthage and continued writing for

medical journals.

More recently, 's name became synonymous with advocacy on behalf of

parents with autism.

" Alan's love for his family was boundless, as was his compassion for all

families affected by neurological disorders resulting from mercury

exposure, " said Rita Shreffler, a Nixa mother of two autistic children and a

board member of the National Autism Association.

" He was a selfless seeker of medical truth, even when that truth might prove

unpopular with the medical community in which he served, " she said.

" My family and I have lost a much loved and irreplaceable friend in Alan

, and the autism community has lost a fearless advocate for truth and

healing. We join with countless others nationwide in mourning the loss of a

hero. "

Dr. Roy Holand, a former Springfield state representative, credits for

educating legislators about the mercury preservative issue. Missouri

ultimately banned the preservative from childhood vaccines.

Holand noted that the headquarters for the National Autism Association

recently moved to Nixa. " That is a move that sort of symbolizes the energy

and devotion of Alan and his wife as well as others in this area to

the point where it's a recognized area of expertise and energy on behalf of

children and parents dealing with autism. "

's varied interests and talents - publishing an online novel, an online

medical column, writing music, playing piano and his medical career - earned

him the nickname " Renaissance Man, " said his friend and St. 's coworker

Cora . only laughed, she said.

Among her lasting memories of , she said, is this quote by an unknown

author that he used to close his e-mails:

" Don't tell God how big your storm is ... tell the storm how big God is. "

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