I'm never surprised when powerful corporations and their government pals subvert science and suppress the truth. That story is as old as the hills.

But I'm ALWAYS infuriated.

Puffed-up claims In 2006, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) was given permission to proceed with a study that would test chelation treatment in children with autism. Simple, right?

The treatment is somewhat controversial (it removes heavy metals from the body), but let's at least test it and see if this could be a breakthrough for autistic kids and their parents. But this past July we were told that the study was postponed and under review because of safety concerns.

Now keep in mind that more than 15 years ago chelation was approved by the FDA as a treatment for lead poisoning in adults and children. And keep in mind that the NIMH director supports the trial. In fact, in July, he told the Associated Press, "So many moms have said, 'It's saved my kids.'" Nevertheless, the trial has now been cancelled.

Reuters news service reports that health officials deemed this FDA-approved therapy too risky. Really? Too risky for whom? Those health officials tell us it puts the kids at risk. But I believe it's WAY too risky for drug companies that manufacture vaccines. If chelation were proved to be successful in treating autism, it would refuel the debate over the link between autism and childhood vaccines.

And this would happen at a time when the mainstream press is cooperating nicely, portraying any suggestion of that link as absurd. Let's look at some of the language.

Reuters: "Many studies and medical experts have dismissed the notion…"

Associated Press: "…based on the fringe theory that mercury in vaccines triggers autism - a theory never proved and rejected by mainstream science."

MedPage Today: "…the trial was predicated on a theory that mercury exposure causes autism, which is rejected by most scientists."

They're like parrots, sitting in a cage, squawking their lines, but providing zero evidence to support these empty claims.

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Jenny Thompson works with the team at Health Sciences Institute to uncover important health information and expose ridiculous health misinformation, most notably through the HSI e-Alert. Visit http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ to sign up for the free HSI e-Alert.