Introduction : when quackery kills -- Toxic childhood -- Age of autism -- Angry parents -- Unorthodox biomedics -- Genes or toxins? -- MMR : ten years on -- Mercury and beyond -- From diet to detox -- Treatment issues -- Conclusion : being appropriately critical
Summary
Biomedical theories of autism can offer a plausible explanation of the supposed 'autism epidemic' and are increasingly accepted by parents and activists but do they work and are they safe? Dr Fitzpatrick, himself the father of an autistic boy, investigates the scientific evidence around a number of theories
