NY Times: ABC Drama Takes on Science and Parents

[edhopper]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/arts/television/23ston.html?ref=television

I am so tired of these shows that treat you like a moron if you are rationally minded, scientifically literate and have the least bit of skepticism about all things "spiritual".

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Linking vaccines with autism isn't "spiritual"--it's just junk science

The current issue of Scientific American Body points out that part of the so-called autism "epidemic" is new diagnostic standards. A generation ago, most of the kids now classified as "autistic" would have simply been labeled "retarded " or "emotionally disturbed."

Furthermore, countries that stopped using mercury years ago or never used it are reporting the same rise.

If there is an environmental factor at work, we won't know without rigorous epidemiological studies looking at every aspect of these children's lives: prenatal environment, how they were fed, what pollution sources they live near, what sorts of sensory stimuli they received in infancy, everything.

[edhopper]

2. Absolutely right.

And my little rant was about this show and it's type in general, and not the faux-autism story that the article refers to.
The show is about "bad" lawyer who sees visions accompanied by George Michael's "Faith", and then decides to do good, like suing his former client, the vaccine maker. (no conflict of interest there, I guess?)
So I wasn't clearer in my OP.