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Parents and Physicians Outraged over Comments from NBC's Dr. Snyderman

on Autism Omnibus Hearings
snyderman

NAA Press Release

Physician's ties to drug companies prompt letter to NBC asking for
Snyderman's dismissal and network retraction

Washington, DC - NBC's coverage of the Autism Omnibus Proceedings in the
U.S. Federal Claims Court that began last week has sparked a firestorm of
criticism among parents of vaccine-injured children from around the
country. A letter protesting on-air statements made last week by NBC chief
medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman has been sent to top NBC officials.

The letter, signed by over 50 advocacy organizations and physicians,
objects to Dr. Snyderman's assertion on last Tuesday's Today show that the
mercury-based preservative thimerosal no longer exists in vaccines.
Thimerosal is still contained in most flu shots and several other vaccines
as well.

Before coming to NBC, Dr. Snyderman served as ABC's medical correspondent
for 17 years where she was briefly suspended for being paid to promote J &
J's product Tylenol. She later spent four years with Johnson & Johnson as
Vice President of Consumer Education. J & J's company Ortho Clinical
Diagnostics is responsible for producing the thimerosal-containing RhoGAM
shot administered to RH-negative women during and after pregnancy. Ortho is
currently the respondent in litigation for fetal injuries associated with
the shot, including autism.

"Tolerating such a blatant conflict of interest is bad enough, but the fact
that NBC did not disclose Dr. Snyderman's Johnson & Johnson ties to viewers
is completely unacceptable," according to National Autism Association Vice
President and grandparent Ann Brasher. "It appears that Dr. Snyderman is
speaking on behalf of J & J and not as an unbiased physician looking out
for the best interests of children.

Also raising concern is Dr. Snyderman's unequivocal statement in an earlier
NBC broadcast that there is "no science" to support a link between
thimerosal and the development of autism. Advocacy organizations are quick
to point out a plethora of peer-reviewed published science supporting the
extreme neurotoxicity of thimerosal and the relationship between mercury
exposure and neurological injuries with symptoms nearly identical to those
of autism.

NBC has not responded to the letter sent last week from the advocacy
organizations. To read the letter to NBC, click here.

http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/press061907.php
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
June 19, 2007

Contact:
Rita Shreffler, NAA (Nixa, MO) 401-632-6452
Wendy Fournier, NAA (Portsmouth, RI) 401-632-7523


Parents and Physicians Outraged over Comments from NBC’s Dr. Snyderman
on Autism Omnibus Hearings, Vaccines
Physician’s ties to drug companies prompt letter to NBC asking for
Snyderman’s dismissal and network retraction

Washington, DC – NBC’s coverage of the Autism Omnibus Proceedings in
the U.S. Federal Claims Court that began last week has sparked a firestorm
of criticism among parents of vaccine-injured children from around the
country. A letter protesting on-air statements made last week by NBC chief
medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman has been sent to top NBC officials.

The letter, signed by over 50 advocacy organizations and physicians,
objects to Dr. Snyderman’s assertion on last Tuesday’s Today show that the
mercury-based preservative thimerosal no longer exists in vaccines.
Thimerosal is still contained in most flu shots and several other vaccines
as well.

Before coming to NBC, Dr. Snyderman served as ABC’s medical
correspondent for 17 years where she was briefly suspended for being paid
to promote J & J’s product Tylenol. She later spent four years with
Johnson & Johnson as Vice President of Consumer Education. J & J’s company
Ortho Clinical Diagnostics is responsible for producing the
thimerosal-containing RhoGAM shot administered to RH-negative women during
and after pregnancy. Ortho is currently the respondent in litigation for
fetal injuries associated with the shot, including autism.

“Tolerating such a blatant conflict of interest is bad enough, but the
fact that NBC did not disclose Dr. Snyderman’s Johnson & Johnson ties to
viewers is completely unacceptable,” according to National Autism
Association Vice President and grandparent Ann Brasher. “It appears that
Dr. Snyderman is speaking on behalf of J & J and not as an unbiased
physician looking out for the best interests of children.

Also raising concern is Dr. Snyderman’s unequivocal statement in an
earlier NBC broadcast that there is “no science” to support a link between
thimerosal and the development of autism. Advocacy organizations are quick
to point out a plethora of peer-reviewed published science supporting the
extreme neurotoxicity of thimerosal and the relationship between mercury
exposure and neurological injuries with symptoms nearly identical to those
of autism.

NBC has not responded to the letter sent last week from the advocacy
organizations.

To read the letter to NBC, go to http://www.nationalautismassociation.org