SafeMinds
Encyclopedia
The Coalition for SafeMinds (Sensible Action For Ending Mercury-Induced Neurological Disorders) is a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating the risks of exposure to mercury
from medical products. SafeMinds was founded in 2000 and is led by the parents of autistic
children.
The organization contends that mercury in vaccine
s, in the form of thiomersal
, is related to the development of autism. Medical research has refuted any causative link between thiomersal and autism
. This research has not been accepted by SafeMinds, which has continued to pursue the issue in the political and judicial arenas.
specializing in pediatrics and women's health care. Her son Will was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Redwood is co-author of "Autism: A Novel Form of Mercury Poisoning", and has testified before the United States House of Representatives
Government Reform Committee, where she presented Mercury in Medicine: Are We Taking Unnecessary Risks?
Sallie Bernard, is the executive director and co-founder of SafeMinds, and a co-author of research papers on the links between vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders. Her son Bill was diagnosed with autism in 1993. She was a member of the panel that issued a 2007 federally-funded study that found no link between thimerosal exposure and neurological problems, but she did not agree with the findings.
Liz Birt was a corporate, tax and health care attorney and lobbyist and a co-founder SafeMinds.
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
from medical products. SafeMinds was founded in 2000 and is led by the parents of autistic
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
children.
The organization contends that mercury in vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
s, in the form of thiomersal
Thiomersal
Thiomersal , and commonly known in the US as thimerosal, is an organomercury compound. This compound is a well established antiseptic and antifungal agent....
, is related to the development of autism. Medical research has refuted any causative link between thiomersal and autism
Thiomersal controversy
The thiomersal controversy describes claims that vaccines containing the mercury-based preservative thiomersal contribute to the development of autism and other brain development disorders...
. This research has not been accepted by SafeMinds, which has continued to pursue the issue in the political and judicial arenas.
Principals
Lyn Redwood, the president and co-founder of SafeMinds, is a nurse practitionerNurse practitioner
A Nurse Practitioner is an Advanced practice registered nurse who has completed graduate-level education . Additional APRN roles include the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist s, CNMs, and CNSs...
specializing in pediatrics and women's health care. Her son Will was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Redwood is co-author of "Autism: A Novel Form of Mercury Poisoning", and has testified before the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Government Reform Committee, where she presented Mercury in Medicine: Are We Taking Unnecessary Risks?
Sallie Bernard, is the executive director and co-founder of SafeMinds, and a co-author of research papers on the links between vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders. Her son Bill was diagnosed with autism in 1993. She was a member of the panel that issued a 2007 federally-funded study that found no link between thimerosal exposure and neurological problems, but she did not agree with the findings.
Liz Birt was a corporate, tax and health care attorney and lobbyist and a co-founder SafeMinds.
Evidence of Harm
Several members of SafeMinds are discussed in the book Evidence of Harm (2004), by David Kirby.External links
- SafeMinds.org - The Coalition for SafeMinds homepage