The Debate Rages On Thus Vaccines Cause Autism
In the medical world, the question of whether or not vaccines cause autism is a highly contentious issue. There are two polar opposites standpoints. Medical professionals are convinced that this is not the case. However, many parents who have been dealing with autistic children are battling to settle for this and have been fighting the battle relentlessly. Yet, this debate is not just between the parents and the world of medicine. Even amongst the parents themselves, the battle continues to rage. Because this is such a sensitive topic, and directly concerns the lives of the people involved, those who are fighting the battle are reluctant to step down. It thus becomes truly difficult to decipher what the truth is, as both sides of the argument are very passionate. Whether or not vaccines cause autism will undoubtedly remain inconclusive for many parents, regardless of the information they receive from the professionals they are supposed to trust.
So why do many mothers and fathers hold this often unwavering opinion? From a parent's perspective, personal observation of their children's behavior and well-being can often stand above expert opinion. Instinctually, they feel the right to attribute witnessed symptoms to causes that make sense to them. In terms of this specific debate, many parents felt a distinct change in their child's behavior after vaccination took place. It is hard to argue with an impassioned mother! If they believe they can pinpoint the exact time and place that a behavioral shift took place, the amount of knowledge they have of their own child might necessitate taking their opinion into account. After all, they do spend more time with the “patient” than any medical expert.
Parents are now more empowered than ever when it comes to having knowledge about medical matters. The amount of literature available online has made experts of anyone who with a will to inquire. For many parents, finding out which vaccines are controversial is now just a click away. Taking this knowledge and assimilating it with the knowledge they have of their child's specific behavior can lead to them forming opinions which they may otherwise not felt empowered enough to express. There are also many online support groups and forums for debate that look at whether or not vaccines cause autism. These become a public space for debate, where mothers and fathers can share their specific stories, and why they hold their beliefs. Many of these will bare testament to the fact that they observed a marked alteration of the way in which their children interacted with the people around them after vaccinations were administered. Symptoms such as a reluctance to smile and make eye contact, or even respond to their own names, were reported.
Taking a standpoint that is totally against vaccination of any sort can be quite dangerous, as many parents agree. In the modern world, however, with all the information available to us, parents can empower themselves about the choices they make when it comes to their children's health. The debate about whether or not vaccines cause autism will continue to rage on, as neither side will be willing to back down.
