Monday, January 14, 2013

MMR-Encephalitis NVICP Decision

The United States Court of Federal Claims (USCFC) has recently compensated petitioners Saeid B. Mojabi, Parivash Vahabi and their minor son, Ryan B. Mojabi for a table injury of encephalitis as a result of MMR vaccination.  Naturally the usual suspect is exploiting this for his own validation.  Dr. Bob Sears states:
Vaccines don't cause autism . . . except when they do. Here is another case of MMR-induced encephalitis that resulted in autism.
While the child clearly suffers from neurological deficits there is no diagnosis of autism, only an allegation by the parents (petitioners).
Petitioners allege that the MMR vaccination that Ryan received on December 19, 2003 (the first MMR vaccination), resulted in a Vaccine Table Injury, specifically an encephalopathy that produced “a severe and debilitating injury to his brain, described as Autism Spectrum Disorder (‘ASD’).” Id. Alternatively, petitioners argue that “as a cumulative result of [Ryan’s] receipt of each and every vaccination between March 25, 2003, and February 22, 2005, Ryan has suffered, and continues to suffer, neuroimmunologically-mediated dysfunction[] in the form of asthma and ASD, [conditions] which were ‘caused-in-fact’ by the vaccinations.” Id. at 1-2.
The child did not have any ASD behaviours from two CHAT screenings:
On May 10, 2004, at Ryan’s sixteen month well-child visit, Dr. Armstrong completed a Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) screen. Ps’ Ex. 4 At 25. That CHAT screen indicated that Ryan was interested in other children, pretend play, peek-a-boo, points with index finger, makes eye contact, and brings object for show. Id. On January 25, 2005, Dr. Armstrong examined Ryan for his twenty-four month well-baby check. Ps’ Ex. 4 at 31. During the visit, Dr. Armstrong conducted another CHAT screen, and again Ryan postively performed each of the listed behaviors.
Although, again the child exhibited neurological deficits affecting language and behaviour:
A month later, on October 27, 2005, Ryan was examined by the intake team at the Early Start Program. Id. at 55. The notes from this assessment reflect that Ryan’s parents “are concerned that Ryan’s development of speech and language appears to be delayed.” Id. The notes go on to state that “[Ryan] does not say very many words. Father relates that Ryan seems to have about 10 words that he will sometimes use. [Ryan] no longer uses words that he has previously learned. He is shy with other children and he is not able to adapt to new situations easily. He does not like to have other people come over to visit.” Id. On November 7, 2005, Dr. Armstrong examined Ryan again and observed that Ryan had “some aggressive interactions with vocalizations and hitting outbursts.” Ps’ Ex. 4 at 57.
Fewer than one child per million doses of MMR develops encephalitis but as many as 1,000 children will develop encephalitis per million cases of natural measles.  This is what we would observe in less than a generation if people like Dr. Bob get their way and stop vaccinating.  It's easy for people like him to criticise vaccines but do nothing to offer a viable alternative.  Single measles vaccines are no different in terms of serious reactions.

The Mojabi-Vahabi family has my utmost sympathy and I am glad that the NVICP system worked for them as it should.  But this decision, in no way, represents the thousands of OAP petitioners who claim some compilation of vaccines caused autism.  Dr. Bob would do well to report the facts instead of continuing to whip parents into a frenzy with histrionics but then again, if he did, he wouldn't be able to sell books, products and "services".


18 comments:

  1. I don't *do Facebook*, but I do post on the Ho-Po, where David Kirby is posting his legal opinion about the two recent decisions. I've got two comments in moderation:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/post2468343_b_2468343.html

    Thanks so much Science Mom, for the link to the court document re: Ryan Mojabi. There's a whole lot of *odd testimony* there by the child's parents about symptoms he supposedly displayed while in Paris for three weeks and then in Teheran for another seven weeks.

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  2. The description of the two year old Ryan is almost exactly the same as my son, who had seizures at about 15 months due to a real illness (a few years before the vaccine was available). He was given the diagnoses of dyspraxia and static encephalopathy which may or may not be related to a history of seizures. He has never been diagnosed with autism, but he still has disabilities.

    How to parents of children harmed by actual diseases get compensated?

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  3. Chris, by removing the skank's post, replies were too. I'm sorry you had to read that; it's gone but not forgotten.

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    1. No problem, and thanks. She has this new kick where she now accuses parents of children who have suffered from the actual diseases of purposely infecting them. She does it to get a reaction, but it just shows how she is both evil and is completely divorced from reality.

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  4. When the hell are people going to learn that autism isn't brain damage?!

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  5. Thanks so much for posting this. My husband suffers from hypogammaglobulinemia (a side effect from prior cancer treatment). He relies on herd immunity and a monthy IVIG treatment to live. Dr. Sears and others like him are dangerous to my husband and my family. It breaks my heart that they perpetuate their lies and ignore the science.
    Thanks so much for helping me fight the good fight.

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  6. Thingy - your personal attack comments will be deleted, so don't bother.

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  7. justthevax,

    " Sears and others like him are dangerous to my husband and my family."

    But you don't consider that as a personal attack?

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    Replies
    1. Sears is a public figure who presents himself as an authority on vaccines; he's fair game. Personally attacking people with your slime is not. Your comments in that vein will not be allowed. Posting anonymously doesn't get you under the radar either.

      Delete
    2. Oh so you don't think it's ad hominem but if it was Offit it's a different story.

      Delete
    3. If you have a criticism of Dr. Offit that is valid, go for it. Personally attack anyone here with your vile nonsense? You're wiped.

      Delete
  8. Replies
    1. Nah, I'll let her whinge pathetically as long as she doesn't attack anyone.

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  9. And the comments keep getting posting by the cranks from AoA at Kirby's blog on the Ho-Po and his *guest* blog at AoA.

    The second case that was settled by the NVIP due to encephalopathy following a series of immunizations, is also being *touted* as a case of autism, by Kirby and AoA. The mother involved in that case has posted a long video of her interview with Barbara Loe Fisher on Fisher's NVIC Facebook page.

    Loe-Fisher has come up with a *new* syndrome "Vaccine Injury Spectrum".


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    1. Well what else do the cranks have but thin gruel? Of course they are going to latch onto any and every possible correlation between "something bad" and "vaccines" and even then they have to make them up out of thin air e.g. Christina England. Same as it ever was.

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    2. The cranks who are posting on the Ho-Po have brought up England's blog.

      I keep asking them if they will apologize if, following a thorough investigation, it is found to be bogus.

      Will they also apologize to the youngsters who die due to meniningoccal meningitis, because their parents believed the rumors being spread about the vaccine causing paralysis?

      Will they also apologize to health care workers who are attacked or murdered, because of those same rumors?

      I doubt it.

      Delete
  10. >> The child did not have any ASD behaviours from two CHAT screenings
    What about "Ryan was diagnosed with autism on December 28, 2005. See Id. at 67" in the same document?

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    Replies
    1. What about "Ryan was diagnosed with autism on December 28, 2005. See Id. at 67" in the same document?
      Unfortunately, the document is gone. The petitioners alleged Ryan had an ASD, no where in any of the documents did any experts diagnose Ryan with an ASD.

      Delete