Title:         Autism's False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure
Author:     Offit, Paul A.
Year:        2008

Rating:         
                      (5 out 5)

Autism’s False Prophets is a must read for parents with children diagnosed with Autism, Asperger's, Autism Spectrum Disorders, or Pervasive Developmental Disorders. The book is also recommended for everyone else, parent or not parent. 

"Ten epidemiological studies have shown MMR vaccine doesn't cause autism; six have shown Thimerosal doesn't cause Autism; three have shown Thimerosal does not cause subtle neurological problems" yet despite strong scientific evidence, parents are continuing to not have their children vaccinated due to fears of Autism. Autism's False Prophets presents the reader with a very important primer on the scientific method; its importance to society and despite its efficacy for the past 500 years, how human emotion can subvert the best science has to offer.  Offit offers readers a journey through the controversies surrounding claims of Autism “cures”, "treatments", or “recovery”; how it begins, and how it weaves, sometimes quickly, into the broader population and mass media where it can take hold.  One is reminded of Dawkins "meme" when considering how an idea permeates our culture's thinking.  Below is a recap of some of  the “therapies” Offit identifies as having taken this path in regards to treating Autism: 

            Vaccines case an immune response against the sheath that lines nerve cells and drugs             like steroids can treat autism.

            Facilitated Communication

            Cod Liver Oil

            Cranial Manipulation

            Chelation Therapy

            Lupron

            Sonar Depuration

            Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber

            TD-DMPS (form of Chelation therapy)

            RNA Drops

            Body Ecology Diet (fermented foods, such as kimchee, sauerkraut, and kefir)       

            Camel’s Milk

            Foot-soaking Machines

            Laser Therapy

            Bacteria-containing Nasal Spray

            Pig Whipworm Eggs

            Baths in Magnetic Clay

            Stem-cell Transplantation

            Secretin

            Fluconazole

            Nystatin

            Amphotericin B         

            Sporanox

            Gluten Free Diet

            Casein Free Diet

            Activated Charcoal

            Colostrum

Offit poses the question to the reader, how can all these therapies capture the minds of untold number of parents, professionals and even some scientists?  He offers the following  explanation, “Parents want to believe these therapies work because they desperately want their children to get better; they don’t want to watch them struggle anymore.”

As a parent, we raise our children with love and do whatever is needed to protect them.  When they are hungry, we feed them.  When they are thirsty, we give them a drink.  When they are hurt, we fix it.  When they are sick, we comfort them and do whatever we can to help them be well.  For parents of children with Autism this presents a difficult situation. Most are compelled to do something to help, to make their child better.  A common retort is, “What’s the big deal?  If it doesn’t work, then it didn’t work.  We’ll move on and try something different.  At least I’m doing something.”  Offit provides evidence that this practice is not only counter progressive, but can also be dangerous. Evidence supporting his stance is ultimately provided with the case of Abubaker Tariq Nadama, a child diagnosed with Autism who died after the administration of Chelation therapy.

Offit does an excellent job demonstrating how a relatively small number of people can sway the entire public’s opinion with faulty science and false claims.  Even in the face of numerous contradictory scientific publications these claims persist. 

Why should you read this book?

In the past, the members of the scientific field have not been the greatest steward of the public’s education regarding the merits of the scientific method.  In general, American’s are “scientifically illiterate.”  This book details what can happen when parental instinct and  emotion is mixed with a lack of skepticism, critical analysis, and rational thinking.  For those interested, this book is a well written, evidenced based, and has numerous stories that can be generalized for use in everyday life.  For parents with children with Autism, ASD, or Pervasive Developmental Disorders it’s a critical primer on the seemingly never ending tidal wave of false claims, scientific fraud, and misguided commitment of those who wish to help that seems to have found a home in the Autism world. 

"Falsehood flies, and the truth comes limping after; so that when men come to be undeceived, it is too late; the jest is over, and the tale has had its effect."

                                                                                                             - Jonathan Swift