IOM Committee member Dr. Alfred Berg already has his mind madeup/KIROTV Seattle 2-11-04

Posted February 14, 2004 · February 14, 2004

IOM Committee member Dr. Alfred Berg already has his mind

madeup/KIROTV Seattle 2-11-04

link: http://www.kirotv.com/health/2841010/detail.html

From the article:

Scientists disagree on a link between vaccines and autism. While some

studies suggest there's no connection, one report just out concludes

mercury may interfere with brain activity in a way that could cause

autism.

" It was done on cells in laboratories, and we're a long way from

showing that's actually the way it works in humans, " said Dr. Alfred

Berg of the University of Washington.

Dr. Berg returned Wednesday from his ninth meeting of a national panel

of experts. They're evaluating the research to hopefully give parents

answers about vaccines' connection to autism.

" I find the evidence for the most part reassuring that in most cases

the evidence favors no association between vaccine and adverse

outcome, " said Berg

Posted February 14, 2004 · February 14, 2004

Just to keep the record straight, I've posted the entire article which

quotes Dr. Berg. His first quote is referring to the other vaccine

safety issues the IOM committee has already addressed, such as vaccines

and MS, immune dysfunction, cancer, and SIDS. He continues his quote by

saying that the autism issue is still being deliberated. It doesn't

negate the fact that more research is needed and IOM review of the issue

is premature.

___________________________

>

> Researchers Closer To Answers About Vaccines And Autism

>

> Micki Flowers

> <http://www.kirotv.com/station/1867996/detail.html> KIRO 7

> Eyewitness News Health Reporter

>

> POSTED: 3:26 PM PST February 11, 2004

>

> While anxious parents wait, researchers hope they're a step closer to

> answers about the possible link between vaccines and the devastating

> condition of autism.Autism is a heartbreaking brain disorder that's on

> the rise in the US. While no one knows the cause, many parents suspect

> childhood vaccinations play a role.Now a national panel of experts

> just completed another round in the struggle to find answers.

>

> We first visited three years ago. His mother, Ricci King,

> noticed the early, disturbing signs of autism when he was a

> toddler. " He has limited ability to communicate with us. It's a

> struggle for him, " said King.Ricci suspects a link to his childhood

> vaccinations.Until 1999, the vaccines were routinely made with a

> mercury preservative called Thimerosal. " Mercury is one of the most

> poisonous substances that we know, " said King.

> Scientists disagree on a link between vaccines and autism. While some

> studies suggest there's no connection, one report just out concludes

> mercury may interfere with brain activity in a way that could cause

> autism.

>

> " It was done on cells in laboratories, and we're a long way from

> showing that's actually the way it works in humans, " said Dr. Alfred

> Berg of the University of Washington.Dr. Berg returned Wednesday from

> his ninth meeting of a national panel of experts. They're evaluating

> the research to hopefully give parents answers about vaccines'

> connection to autism.

> Berg says the panel has already looked at the connections between

> vaccines and a variety of outcomes. " I find the evidence for the most

> part reassuring that in most cases the evidence favors no association

> between vaccine and an adverse outcome, " said Berg.

> But regarding autism, Dr. Berg says he and others on the panel

> convened by the Institute of Medicine have not reached any

> conclusions. They are taking comments from the public until February

> 16th, and their final report is not expected until this summer.

> Still, Ricci King is doubtful the panel will bring her and other

> parents closer to the answers they need. " What will resolve the issues

> for parents is to see adequate funding directed toward the cause of

> autism how to treat it. How we as parents and families are to support

> our children for you know, a lifetime, " said King.

>

> rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,

> rewritten or redistributed.

>

Binstock wrote:

>The google search [with the quote marks]

> " university of washington " " alfred berg "

>is informative.

>

>Berg knows from whence is bread is buttered. The docs who heard

>Semmelweiss' data about hand-washing and its saving of lives proceeded

>to have him exited from his university. Berg seems of the same

>temperment as the docs who fired Semmelweiss, as the docs and

>administratoros who fired Wakefield or supported his firing. Berg

>probably realizes that grant projects under his supervision have jumped

>a few notches upward in process of grant-reviews for NIH funding and for

>pharmaceutical company funding -- because of his ongoing position on

>issues like vaccinations and because of his public statements.

>

>I too have known of the Simpsonwood hypocrisy and related data-fraud by

>the CDC and have watched the story remain hidden until just recently,

>when at least some media are reporting the CDC's cover up. And parent

>contacts to media personnel are helping get the story out. And I too am

>irate that ethylmercury continues to be injected into humans. The CDC

>even pushed this year's flu shot and its thimerosal.

>

>I can't help but believe that the pharmaceutical company big wigs know

>that profit ensues from damaging infants and toddlers from thimerosal,

>and thus med school profs like Alfred Berg know how to espouse the

>company line!

>

>What with state legislators moving to ban thimerosal, I envision a time

>in the near future when med school and vaccine-lobby big-wigs are

>charged with Reckless Endangerment for encouraging thimerosal injections

>while helping to cover up the findings of thimerosal-induced neurologic

>damage.

>

>I attended the 2001 IOM hearing, as did Sallie, Lyn, Heidi, and Albert

>and many others. Albert brought his son Payam to the hearing, and during

>closing comments, Albert's sadness and anger were much like that so well

>expressed today by Asmus.

>

>Hugs to all of you. The thimerosal tragedy and the MMR tragedy ought

>never have happened. The individuals responsible and their collaborators

>must be stopped.

>

> J. Krakow wrote:

>

>> IOM Committee member Dr. Alfred Berg already has his mind

>>madeup/KIROTV Seattle 2-11-04

>>

>>link: http://www.kirotv.com/health/2841010/detail.html

>>

>>From the article:

>>

>>Scientists disagree on a link between vaccines and autism. While some

>>studies suggest there's no connection, one report just out concludes

>>mercury may interfere with brain activity in a way that could cause

>>autism.

>>

>> " It was done on cells in laboratories, and we're a long way from

>>showing that's actually the way it works in humans, " said Dr. Alfred

>>Berg of the University of Washington.

>>

>>Dr. Berg returned Wednesday from his ninth meeting of a national panel

>>of experts. They're evaluating the research to hopefully give parents

>>answers about vaccines' connection to autism.

>>

>> " I find the evidence for the most part reassuring that in most cases

>>the evidence favors no association between vaccine and adverse

>>outcome, " said Berg

>>

Posted February 14, 2004 · February 14, 2004

Sallie et al,

Dare we hope that the IOM's Alfred Berg, MD, can keep the record

straight? His position at U of Washington suggests he is likely to be

an integral part of superintending millions of dollars of grants from

pharmaceutical companies. If so, his department's grants ought be public

record. If he's directly or indirectly benefitting from such grant

moneys flowing thru his department, then perhaps his role on IOM

committee is shaped by conflict of interest.

The slant created by Berg and even by the WaPost's Rob Steiner is that

Verstraeten et al are credible and that Geier and Geier hardly exist.

The following quote from the news article leads a reader to go along

with the flow in that according to Berg's priorities the following are

irrelevant (a) the CDC group's data-fudging strongly resembles

scientific fraud, ( Verstraeten at al 2000 and Geier and Geier's eval

of the VSData found significant associations between thimerosal and

autism, tics, language disorders, adhd, etc, © Baskin et al's study

about thimerosal-induced neuronal deatht, and (d) mercury and thimerosal

findings published as Holmes et al and Westphal et al. Note how a

master spin-meister recasts the issue:

" Scientists disagree on a link between vaccines and autism. While

some studies suggest there's no connection, one report just out

concludes mercury may interfere with brain activity in a way that could

cause autism. "

Was Berg asleep during the IOM hearing? Or, as another listmate

observed, does Berg have his mind made up in advance? His misleading

oversimplification as quoted above makes clear his intent to hide the

real issues and any data that conflict with his NIH- and

pharmaceutical-sponsors' financial interests.

Here are two addresses, one for Berg, the other for the U Wash president.

" Alfred O. Berg, M.D. " <aberg@...>

+1 206 543-3101; Box 356390

CHAIR, FAMILY MEDICINE

C 408 HEALTH SCIENCES

FAX: +1 206 685-7276

Lee Huntsman <pres@... <mailto:pres@...>>

Office of the President

301 Gerberding Hall

Box 351230

University of Washington

Seattle, Washington 98195-1230 phone: (206) 543-5010

U of Washington may delineate (brag about via urls) many of the grants

awarded to researchers within the UW med school

http://www.washington.edu

There may be more direct ways to learn about grants to Dr. Berg and to

researchers in his department. My hunch: he's rife with conflict of

interest. ???

Sallie Bernard wrote:

> Just to keep the record straight, I've posted the entire article which

> quotes Dr. Berg. His first quote is referring to the other vaccine

> safety issues the IOM committee has already addressed, such as vaccines

> and MS, immune dysfunction, cancer, and SIDS. He continues his quote by

> saying that the autism issue is still being deliberated. It doesn't

> negate the fact that more research is needed and IOM review of the issue

> is premature.

>

> ___________________________

>

> >

> > Researchers Closer To Answers About Vaccines And Autism

> >

> > Micki Flowers

> > <http://www.kirotv.com/station/1867996/detail.html> KIRO 7

> > Eyewitness News Health Reporter

> >

> > POSTED: 3:26 PM PST February 11, 2004

> >

> > While anxious parents wait, researchers hope they're a step closer to

> > answers about the possible link between vaccines and the devastating

> > condition of autism.Autism is a heartbreaking brain disorder that's on

> > the rise in the US. While no one knows the cause, many parents suspect

> > childhood vaccinations play a role.Now a national panel of experts

> > just completed another round in the struggle to find answers.

> >

> > We first visited three years ago. His mother, Ricci King,

> > noticed the early, disturbing signs of autism when he was a

> > toddler. " He has limited ability to communicate with us. It's a

> > struggle for him, " said King.Ricci suspects a link to his childhood

> > vaccinations.Until 1999, the vaccines were routinely made with a

> > mercury preservative called Thimerosal. " Mercury is one of the most

> > poisonous substances that we know, " said King.

>

> > Scientists disagree on a link between vaccines and autism. While some

> > studies suggest there's no connection, one report just out concludes

> > mercury may interfere with brain activity in a way that could cause

> > autism.

>

> >

> > " It was done on cells in laboratories, and we're a long way from

> > showing that's actually the way it works in humans, " said Dr. Alfred

> > Berg of the University of Washington.Dr. Berg returned Wednesday from

> > his ninth meeting of a national panel of experts. They're evaluating

> > the research to hopefully give parents answers about vaccines'

> > connection to autism.

>

> > Berg says the panel has already looked at the connections between

> > vaccines and a variety of outcomes. " I find the evidence for the most

> > part reassuring that in most cases the evidence favors no association

> > between vaccine and an adverse outcome, " said Berg.

>

> > But regarding autism, Dr. Berg says he and others on the panel

> > convened by the Institute of Medicine have not reached any

> > conclusions. They are taking comments from the public until February

> > 16th, and their final report is not expected until this summer.

>

> > Still, Ricci King is doubtful the panel will bring her and other

> > parents closer to the answers they need. " What will resolve the issues

> > for parents is to see adequate funding directed toward the cause of

> > autism how to treat it. How we as parents and families are to support

> > our children for you know, a lifetime, " said King.

> >

> > rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,

> > rewritten or redistributed.

> >

>

> Binstock wrote:

>

> >The google search [with the quote marks]

> > " university of washington " " alfred berg "

> >is informative.

> >

> >Berg knows from whence is bread is buttered. The docs who heard

> >Semmelweiss' data about hand-washing and its saving of lives proceeded

> >to have him exited from his university. Berg seems of the same

> >temperment as the docs who fired Semmelweiss, as the docs and

> >administratoros who fired Wakefield or supported his firing. Berg

> >probably realizes that grant projects under his supervision have jumped

> >a few notches upward in process of grant-reviews for NIH funding and for

> >pharmaceutical company funding -- because of his ongoing position on

> >issues like vaccinations and because of his public statements.

> >

> >I too have known of the Simpsonwood hypocrisy and related data-fraud by

> >the CDC and have watched the story remain hidden until just recently,

> >when at least some media are reporting the CDC's cover up. And parent

> >contacts to media personnel are helping get the story out. And I too am

> >irate that ethylmercury continues to be injected into humans. The CDC

> >even pushed this year's flu shot and its thimerosal.

> >

> >I can't help but believe that the pharmaceutical company big wigs know

> >that profit ensues from damaging infants and toddlers from thimerosal,

> >and thus med school profs like Alfred Berg know how to espouse the

> >company line!

> >

> >What with state legislators moving to ban thimerosal, I envision a time

> >in the near future when med school and vaccine-lobby big-wigs are

> >charged with Reckless Endangerment for encouraging thimerosal injections

> >while helping to cover up the findings of thimerosal-induced neurologic

> >damage.

> >

> >I attended the 2001 IOM hearing, as did Sallie, Lyn, Heidi, and Albert

> >and many others. Albert brought his son Payam to the hearing, and during

> >closing comments, Albert's sadness and anger were much like that so well

> >expressed today by Asmus.

> >

> >Hugs to all of you. The thimerosal tragedy and the MMR tragedy ought

> >never have happened. The individuals responsible and their collaborators

> >must be stopped.

> >

> > J. Krakow wrote:

> >

> >> IOM Committee member Dr. Alfred Berg already has his mind

> >>madeup/KIROTV Seattle 2-11-04

> >>

> >>link: http://www.kirotv.com/health/2841010/detail.html

> >>

> >>From the article:

> >>

> >>Scientists disagree on a link between vaccines and autism. While some

> >>studies suggest there's no connection, one report just out concludes

> >>mercury may interfere with brain activity in a way that could cause

> >>autism.

> >>

> >> " It was done on cells in laboratories, and we're a long way from

> >>showing that's actually the way it works in humans, " said Dr. Alfred

> >>Berg of the University of Washington.

> >>

> >>Dr. Berg returned Wednesday from his ninth meeting of a national panel

> >>of experts. They're evaluating the research to hopefully give parents

> >>answers about vaccines' connection to autism.

> >>

> >> " I find the evidence for the most part reassuring that in most cases

> >>the evidence favors no association between vaccine and adverse

> >>outcome, " said Berg

> >>

>

Posted February 14, 2004 · February 14, 2004

IMO, Best's suggestion to write Berg has merit. Writing or ccing

Lee Huntsman (UWash president) might also be helpful.