Updates: Blogger on autism hit with subpoena **
**Updates at the end of this post.
Earlier this week I wrote a post about the possibility that parents were being disregarded by the medical and scientific community with regard to the alleged role of vaccines in the onset of autism. Now, we have a related story that New Hampshire blogger Kathleen Seidel has been served with a subpoena regarding her scrutiny of a particular law suit against the vaccine maker Bayer.
For those who do not know of Seidel, she has a weblog called “neurodiversity.com,” a view of autism that is very different from the norm. My understanding is that neurodiversity advocates would prefer that people stop discussing autism in negative terms. Instead, as the term neuro-diversity suggests, people with autism should be seen simply as thinking, perceiving and processing differently than average people — who are referred to as neuro-typicals. While I can agree with that description for individuals who are high functioning, it has not been my personal or professional experience.
The point now, however, is not whether I disagree or agree with Seidel, it is that she has been served with papers by lawyer Clifford Showmaker of Vienna, Virginia who is acting on behalf of clients against the vaccine maker.
This news is being reported by both Instapundit and Overlawyered and I present it as a heads-up to the blogging community. If the legal action was meant to put a chill on free speech and open debate, we have to all gather around and support Seidel.
Note: H/T to Jack. C/P at Jack’s Newswatch.
Update: To follow the ongoing comment discussion at Seidel’s blog, click here. Regular readers will know that up to now I have more than given the parents who are undertaking legal action against vaccine manufacturers the benefit of the doubt even though I am 100% behind the need for vaccinations. Why? Because I am old enough to remember how devastating childhood diseases can be. Given this incident, however, I would have to say there appears to be more to this whole anti-vaccine matter than meets the eye. In fact, all the subpoena has done is question the motivation behind the intimidation directed at Seidel personally. I mean, requesting personal bank records is way over the top. While I don’t necessarily agree with Seidel’s point of view on all matters, she does bring up some excellent points and I recommend readers take the time to read some of her writings.
Further Update: The response to this attack on a fellow blogger has had an amazing reaction. People from all over the world are posting on it and supporting Seidel. Many are naming the support “I am Kathleen.” Something I have noticed is the affect the subpoena is having on other U.S. lawyers. Embarrassment comes to mind. Perhaps our coming together as a blogging community will put a chill on future threats of intimidation. Only time will tell. Another thing I have noticed about this process is the diversity of opinion on autism, its naming and its treatment. If regular readers have not followed this process, just follow the links in the main post and they will lead you to many other links.
Sharon:
Thanks for posting on this.
I think of neurodiversity as the concept that people’s minds work in diverse ways, just as our skin colour and sexuality is diverse. It’s all part of human variety. It’s not to say that autistic people do not have their individual strengths and difficulties with current society. My son is very autistic and is certainly disabled. But I value him, while at the same time trying to help him learn and develop to the best of his ability.
It’s really cool that you are seeing the diversity of opinion on these matters.
April 5, 2008, 12:14 pmBoth myself and LizD have been making lists of blogs and places where this is being discussed.
Sandy:
Sharon — Well, I have no problem with the notion of diversity. And, I value and love my son as well as I am sure do most parents of autistic children. I suppose even our love is expressed with a diversity of emotion.
I also value parents who desperately want help for their children using ABA. It wasn’t available when my son was young (he is now 42), so I can’t say what I would do if he were born now, although there was a type of behaviour modification in the 70’s an 80’s, so I can understand where the ABA parents are coming from.
And, last but not least, I value those who feel ABA is not the ONLY answer, or in fact, that it is an approach that should not be used at all — or put another way, that they don’t want treatment at all because they don’t feel there is anything wrong with their children or themselves.
ASD is a very complex group of different or diverse behaviours. What I hope is that we can all pull together and that no one is criticized for their diversity of opinion.
Perhaps some good will come out of this threatened litigation in that we will learn more about each other. Even as a retired researcher and special needs teacher educator, I am amazed at how much I learn every day.
But at the end of the day, no one who doesn’t want treatment or doesn’t want to be labelled should stop anyone else from receiving treatment, be it ABA or whatever. Likewise, no one who is receiving treatment should force their views on someone else.
I live in hope.
April 5, 2008, 4:52 pm