Showing posts with label Poul Thorsen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poul Thorsen. Show all posts

April 17, 2011

Thorsen's NANEA, the Enron of Research Facilities?

This article from Information.dk is a rough translation, but you can get the gist of it. Poul Thorsen managed his North Atlantic Neuro-Epidemiology Alliances in the vein of The Smartest Guys in the Room and pulled an Inside Job.

"One trait separates Nanea from the rest of the university, and it springs to mind immediately. In the first year employees live in a world of glitz and pampering. "We are running in a huge Mercedes!" Is the watchword, and it is true. Every time a scientist travels into the country to collect data, place the trip on business class, "says Anja. Lisa says that the Danes are visiting Atlanta, where they duperes when a limousine rolls up in front of the hotel door to take them to meetings with the CDC . Delicious dinners, liquor with expensive labels and staying at luxurious get-aways as Denmark's castles are on the program when the traffic goes the other way and the money men from the USA visiting Denmark.

While keeping the group together in a rare degree. Nanea celebrations. Summer festivals, winter festivals, Christmas celebrations, there is always a reason, otherwise there seminars. Anja call them energy meetings. Toke and Lisa remembers their formal name, off-site. Here take employees away a few days. They go in groups and make presentations where they share their work with each other. But first and foremost share the vision of Nanea."

Remember, this is all money that is supposed to be serving the needs of our children. While you were awake with your child until 4 in the morning while he writhed in pain, Thorsen, his team and CDC employees were living the high life on your tax dollars. You got robbed twice.

I have already heard vaccine injury denialists claiming that this was just a money problem, but that the research that has come out of this was solid. We knew it was junk when it came out. But let's pretend we had not already read it and knew that it was junk. Where in the world have you ever seen this kind of fraud going on, and the product or service that said criminals were selling NOT be junk. You have seen The Smartest Guys in the Room and Inside Job, right? Would this not be the first time in history that massive financial fraud was taking place and the products being sold were actually serving the population that was supposed to be being served?

Do you, for one minute, knowing that Thorsen was all about the money and glory, and knowing that he cared so little about integrity or ethics, think that he would even consider producing a study that implicated vaccines in autism? He would never hear from CDC again and the money train would stop running.

The vaccine program is so damn corrupt... the corruption is busing out everywhere and it is astonishing to me that CDC et. al. have had so many chances to save face and pull a, "well in light of recent events we need to re-evaluate the relationship between vaccines and autism...." and back out of this cascading disaster... but no. They still trudge on. Destroying the faith between doctors and patients, between government and citizens, between pharma and customers, between us and them... When will it end? How bad will they let things get?

How many children have to be injured and killed to serve their egos and their bottom lines?

This crap with Thorsen goes back a DECADE! Are we supposed to deal with another decade of this?

Will DOJ actually investigate this and unravel this whole mess or will it do as little as possible and sweep the rest under the rug?

There has to be an earnest man out there somewhere who will stop this madness. Someone who will say, "Enough. It is time to clean up the mess and start over."

Where is our Eliot Ness?

As the agitators came to the University
Research Nanea should have been the world best. Today, the slogans died, the group is dissolved, and the head of it all stung by the U.S. dogged by suspicions of fraud for millions. And funkisvillaen that housed the dream, stands empty and deserted


Abandoned. A little clutter in an abandoned villa in Aarhus West is the last physical remnants that remain of what was to be the world's best research Photo: Sigrid Nygaard

By: SANNE MAJA FUNCH
12. March 2010 | Information.dk

"I am ready to kill to get there."


Enlarge
The phrase strikes a nerve in Anja when she hears his boss tell about the ambition that drives his career. For probably he speaks in jest, but jest and earnest is known complementary, and Anja have seen and heard it all before. For many months she has worked in the research Nanea at Aarhus University. During that time she has seen his boss when he explains that he would sacrifice a friendship for a position and that he also does not care whether there are better candidates if he comes first. Anja has seen what happens when a new article ready for publication, and the researchers noted on the order of names in the article byline.

Gradually, by Anja also that she did not thrive in that game and that her career should have a new twist. However she does not know that even the whole Nanea heading for doom.

The adventure begins long before the year 2000. Here are launching a lecturer, a research project with a range that matches any vision for the new millennium. For several years, researchers in North Atlantic Neuro-Epidemiology Alliances explore data in large files and thousands of kids to discover relationships between pregnant women's lifestyle and children's abilities in later life. The data is probably the world's largest, and several other innovative projects are underway around the first. The same format has the projects create. Poul Thorsen's him with the high laughter. This is him with millions of United States that make research possible and life at a luxury travel for employees. That's him with the plans and panels that describe how Nanea take world domination and it is he who causes the unit to dance to his tune, even when they feel that something is wrong.

Poul Thorsen is also the contractor. A few months after the interview with Anja, he directs the University of Aarhus into what looks like a historical scandal fraud investigation for more than 10 million dollars, which he himself takes the lead role as the academic response to business Stein Bagger or Tvind cult Amdi.

On the border for spring 2009 are growing suspicions in the upper layers of the administration at the university: Something is wrong with the unit at the Department of Public Health. Nanea do not have the funds available as the project manager creates the impression. Poul Thorsen raised. The year before he went to Atlanta, where he manages the research. But in March, exactly a year since release exile assistant finally caught on his device. While university digs into the murky circumstances surrounding discovery no, he says his position up. In May, University of Aarhus lodges a notification to the police, but only in February this year jumps scandal in the Danish media: missing millions in the box at the university, and it looks like a case of fraud. Someone has been forged signatures on statements on the funding for a research unit at the university. Maybe there is money that has disappeared, and the unit's star has received double pay as full-time employee at both AU and a university in Atlanta.

Poul Thorsen has not yet been charged with the false signatures and black holes. But the suspicion clings to the man who was Nanea father, leader and self-willed ruler. In the center of Århus East Jutland Police prepare a criminal case. And while police gather material and interrogating witnesses, a similar soul-searching process started elsewhere in the city:

"We started in Nanea. On this promising research. And now there is something called Nanea more. It is one man's profit that came something really good research and stand. But it is also with him, the house of cards falls, because he has the burst, as he has. Why do we not react? "

It's Lisa, who ponders. Like Anja, she was on the trip from greatness to decline. Along with another employee, Toke, they agreed to tell their version of the shipwreck at the university and the way thither. They will be available, because the story of Nanea like other good parables beyond themselves and the funkisvilla at Paludan Müllersvej in from north of town where the enclave lived. It is also the story of an academic world where competition for money, prestige and the right to investigate strengthened year by year.

The golden child
Anja remembers his first day at Nanea. High and low, from secretaries to senior scientist, the group lined up in a row, sharing hugs out to the new girl when she starts a few years into the project life. Lisa also remembers the mood. With jelly at the knees she stands up in front of his boss to point out a few poorly thought-out details. But all nervousness will be proved wrong, because his arms are just as open when it comes to new ideas and new employees.

"We should see opportunities! It was Paul Thorsen's slogan, and I can see that he created an alternative research. It built on the principle that everyone was equal worth and had something to offer here, "she says.

One thing is certain, Nanea is unique from the start. This is due to two factors that both enable a device status, most academic environments only dream about. Firstly Nanea gilt. The project's name is on an appropriation of nearly eight million dollars. Guldåren is the U.S. healthcare institution, the CDC from Atlanta, and in years to come, float another eight million dollars to Nanea. The second factor is the scale. Denmark is a register-country. We sit on a knowledge not found in money men over there, and the knowledge, Poul Thorsen access. Based on the databases are full of records of the pregnant woman's lifestyle, work Nanea researchers to map how even tiny amounts of alcohol affect children's intelligence later in life. They examine the reasons for including autism and cerebral palsy in the light of the figures in other registers. The total material is so extensive that several Nanea projects is the most thorough in the world of their kind.

The size also makes the group grows beyond the scope of the parent department of Epidemiology at University Park in Aarhus. It will have its own headquarters in a large square and a small villa kilometers away. From headquarters at Paludan Müllersvej continues device to distance itself from the rest of the academic environment.

Family
One trait separates Nanea from the rest of the university, and it springs to mind immediately. In the first year employees live in a world of glitz and pampering. "We are running in a huge Mercedes!" Is the watchword, and it is true. Every time a scientist travels into the country to collect data, place the trip on business class, "says Anja. Lisa says that the Danes are visiting Atlanta, where they duperes when a limousine rolls up in front of the hotel door to take them to meetings with the CDC . Delicious dinners, liquor with expensive labels and staying at luxurious get-aways as Denmark's castles are on the program when the traffic goes the other way and the money men from the USA visiting Denmark.

While keeping the group together in a rare degree. Nanea celebrations. Summer festivals, winter festivals, Christmas celebrations, there is always a reason, otherwise there seminars. Anja call them energy meetings. Toke and Lisa remembers their formal name, off-site. Here take employees away a few days. They go in groups and make presentations where they share their work with each other. But first and foremost share the vision of Nanea.

Anja'm still the head of it. The white canvas is stretched out behind him. Models and strategies are drawn with Nanea colors and logo in the powerpoint slides, he clicks through. Poul Thorsen speaks. He talks about the future that belongs Nanea. He talks about being the world's top research institution, the brightest in his field. And he talks about how Nanea reach the goal together.

"We should be Committed. It was Paul Thorsen's words, and it seemed a long way down the road. I engaged myself in it, "says Lise.

"We should always define who we were. We were naneanere. There stood Nanea on the mailbox to our house. We had our own logo and our own little things. When a PhD was finished, she got a Nanea-belt with a buckle Nanea-and small-Nanea things we could have on the blouse, "remembers Anja.

Nanea is a family. That they call themselves, and the family has a chronicle. Because even though the group has grown out of the Department of Epidemiology, the two now quite different. They are jealous of our resources while we are special because we have them. They are bureaucrats, while we're loose and large. In the midst of the chronicle is Nanea father. Poul Thorsen has created the family, and his charisma Kitter group together.

"He did it all and he could certainly do well for people. He cried and laughed out loud so we could hear him all over. There was a little hop around after him when he was in the house. Poul Thorsen - it is him, we like to dance with, "says Anja.

The entrepreneurial university
A new time has come to the Danish universities and Nanea the example at the time.

In the old days the researchers sat bent over their microscopes or stacks of thick books. Solid walls shielded them against the world's hubbub, while the overall puzzle of nature's mysteries. Often no one knew what the new knowledge would be used. Jens Christian Skou won the latest Nobel Prize in Denmark in 1997, but physiologist published the first knowledge of his discoveries in 1957.

Today, the ivory tower toppled in ruins. Claus Emmeche director of the Centre for Philosophy of Nature and Science Studies at the Niels Bohr Institute. He is also among the forerunners in the debate about how Denmark's intellectual strongholds controlled. Claus Emmeche not know what occurred in the environment around Nanea. In return, he knows what it takes to succeed in a new academic landscape, and running managers as Poul Thorsen quickly from researchers as Jens Christian Skou.

In December, an international expert panel's evaluation of the new University from 2003 and mergers in 2007, making the debate on universities topical. The very last of the two events mark the result Claus Emmeche a milestone in terms of research in Denmark. This year breaks the politicians with the classical division between research types. Until then, research industry for its own money and to earn more. Sector research gets its functions and its funding from the ministries. Only universities are free to do research for research's sake, outside the box slammed in. For 2007, not only year in which Aarhus School of Business and Aarhus University becomes one. Concomitant down universities and a number of sector research institutions.

"Now they have also taken over the government research institutions challenge. They should ensure that ministries will continue to think they bother to fund their research. This means that they spend a large part of working to justify themselves by creating ever new contracts with purchasers of research, "explains Claus Emmeche.

'The entrepreneurial university', he calls a new era when the skillful researcher not only is he there with laborious diligence peel layer upon layer of human ignorance. Here, "winner of the researcher who is good to appear dynamic and good for networking. It is he who can brand themselves and their research and eager to be entrepreneurial and scrape funds to themselves, "says associate professor.

For society will see the benefits of injection and more every year. And while the basic funds for the faltering basic shrink by two percent each time the year changes, increases the risk that competition culture negative side effects really hits out at Denmark's academic community.

Tax evasion
The device Nanea start due to ravage. One day, Anja a letter by mail. It is from SKAT and says that SKAT has received an anonymous tip, among other concerns Anja. She is one of several employees who receive public money, which she is not entitled.

Anja is employed in a wage subsidy scheme. More precisely, given Anja salary and an amount Poul Thorsen down on top of each month, so she ends up at the right salary for his full-time work. It is not legal. In return it is a condition of her employment. The letters are causing concern. There are several who have to pay money back. They confront Poul Thorsen with it.

"It's really hard for you", says the head and sticks Anja a letter, dated back to her employment begins. It says that she will recover expenses for travel and equipment, and it is intended that Anja give the letter to the Tax and get rid of his bill.

Tax case demonstrates two things. One is that the economy is lagging so much in Nanea that several employees are paid illegally. The second is that it is hopeless to talk to the boss about the problem. Poul Thorsen become 'wool in the mouth "when he demanded an answer that explains Toke. All notes that there are firewalls between the man on the floor and Nanea economy. Scientists can not get to know whether it is millions from CDC or funds from other investors who pay their wages. Nobody can get to know where the money is from and whether there is enough to make each project completed.

In return, states Head not swath of the forecast.

"You can say much but he was good to get ideas, and there came more and more," said Anja, who also explains that the rhetoric down a carefully spin to deflect attention from the wool of Poul Thorsen's response and motivates all to keep going.

Poul Thorsen says his unit for talented new colleagues, who can start tomorrow if just naneanerne addresses and helps to raise funds home. He draws in air and on his slides and talk about blood spots and other projects in which research can be upgraded when the tide turns.

'I must put in the pot to the common good. So we draw twice as much next year, "encourages Poul Thorsen, and Lisa finds that Nanea live as Head directs.

"That one does in a family. Mon stretches for each other '.

But power is not in Nanea. In 2008 Poul Thorsen packs his bags and move to Atlanta. Toke perceive it as if he runs away. The head of it all leaves researchers in the big house and in an economic quagmire that only he is responsible. After the New Year says Poul Thorsen her job. Nanea door with his father, while the scandal gathered around him.

Seduced
At Frederiksberg with Danish Magisterforening to. There are a lot of university research scientists organized, and Jens Braa-Jensen is a consultant for a number of them. Fudge Riet at Aarhus University comes as no surprise to him. Economic antics such as Anja creative compensation packages are usually stopped by the local union representatives at the universities before DM ever hears about them. Yet Jens Braa-Jensen faced 10 questions on illegal wage subsidy schemes in recent years and the reason is clear, according to him. It is "reasonably unique on the Danish labor market, employees in the university must come to work with their own salaries in the backpack - and that they go out if the maneuver fails. Last year, said the Natural Sciences in Copenhagen goodbye to 70 employees due to cuts. Layoffs gives a hint with a pole on the properties that characterize the skilled staff at the Danish universities:

"The layoffs affected only those who were funded by permanent appropriations and generally should be the safest employment, while those on the external projects went free. So begins some researchers to look for ways they can improve their economies, "says Jens Braa-Jensen.

The analysis resonate at the Center for Philosophy of Nature and Science Studies. Here striker Claus Emmeche the university system that celebrates fundraiser and entrepreneur rather than the careful fagnørd. The sun shines on it, once you have proven that he can raise large funds and which keeps alive the flame of hope that there will be more. He is allowed to be in peace, and this time the enterprising university 'certain Stein Bagger-types to commit fraud and scams.

Nanea is dead. But the projects will be finalized within a new framework, and another work wriggling in the old unit. Ex-naneanerne struggling to understand what really happened. For Toke matter is clear: He worked under a great manager with an equally incredible morale, but the head was allowed to stretch out in a world that gave way to his inclinations.

"We have created a highly competitive system where large sums spent on individuals with major research groups, under him, and it favors in a way such people. If you can sell yourself, you fling yourself in this system. If you are downright unscrupulous and no clouds criminal acts, can you at least for a time frisk you, then I do not think it is the latter case, we see '.

Poul Thorsen was the new age man. "He wants his gesture," and he "cursing and swearing always all over the bureaucracy," says Lise. But the ideas were good, and therefore Meaning she is not that old tub was rotten before it sank. The surprise will Lise like to save others.

"For me it is a seduction story. An agitator things. The university celebrates Mon meticulous in the research. We should do everything exactly alike, and we had to meet the most stringent research criteria. There is a long time before you think that someone playing on a completely different way. "

PS
The story of Nanea based on conversations with Toke, Lise and Anja on what they have each experienced their time in Nanea. Østjyllands Police, Aarhus University and Research and Innovation has helped with background knowledge. Toke, Lise and Anja are fictitious names. Information knows their real identity.

Information has contacted Poul Thorsen through his Danish lawyer, Jan Schneider. Poul Thorsen did not want to participate in the article, but Jan Schneider maintains that his client is innocent.

Nanea Rise and Fall
2000 Nanea created with a grant of 7.8 million dollars from the U.S. healthcare institutions Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ). The appropriation is administered by the Research and Innovation under the direction of Poul Thorsen.

2007 project is extended for a further grant from the CDC at 8.2 million dollars.

2008 Poul Thorsen moving to Atlanta, but is still scientific and administrative head of Nanea.

Winter 2008-2009 AU discovers that there are funds available for research which Nanea have used. Poul Thorsen insures that there is money coming from the U.S. and provides affirmations of funds as evidence.

March 2009 Poul Thorsen terminates his duties at the University of Aarhus. Nanea disbanded, but projects continue under the new administration.

Spring 2009 AU discovers that three letters on grants from the CDC apparently forged, like the CDC does not recognize even one letter on an outstanding amount of Nanea first appropriation. In all, the false signatures, an amount of nearly two million dollars.

May 2009 Science and Innovation Council lodges a police report. Notification is not directed at any named person.

Fall 2009 University of Aarhus discovering that Poul Thorsen has maintained a dual appointment as a lecturer in Denmark and professor at Emory University in Atlanta and AU have not approved.

January 2010 University of Aarhus director Jorgen Jorgensen, Poul Thorsen denouncing in a message to Nanea projects partners. The message also mentions fraud case.

February 2010 Aarhus Times takes up the case and the country's other media will follow.

March 2010 Østjyllands Police investigators continue to raise a charge against the key person.

PS
The story of Nanea based on conversations with Toke, Lise and Anja on what they have each experienced their time in Nanea. Østjyllands Police, Aarhus University and Research and Innovation has helped with background knowledge. Toke, Lise and Anja are fictitious names. Information knows their real identity.

Information has contacted Poul Thorsen through his Danish lawyer, Jan Schneider. Poul Thorsen did not want to participate in the article, but Jan Schneider maintains that his client is innocent.

Nanea Rise and Fall
2000: Nanea created with a grant of 7.8 million dollars from the U.S. healthcare institutions Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ). The appropriation is administered by the Research and Innovation under the direction of Poul Thorsen.

2007: Project extended for a further grant from the CDC at 8.2 million dollars.

2008: Poul Thorsen moving to Atlanta, but is still scientific and administrative head of Nanea.

Winter 2008-2009: Aarhus University discovers that there are funds available for research which Nanea have used. Poul Thorsen insures that there is money coming from the U.S. and provides affirmations of funds as evidence.

March 2009: Poul Thorsen terminates his duties at the University of Aarhus. Nanea disbanded, but projects continue under the new administration.

Spring 2009: Aarhus University discovers that three letters on grants from the CDC apparently forged, like the CDC does not recognize even one letter on an outstanding amount of Nanea first appropriation. In all, the false signatures, an amount of nearly two million dollars.

May 2009: Research and Innovation lodge a police report. Notification is not directed at any named person.

Fall 2009: Aarhus University discovers that Poul Thorsen has maintained a dual appointment as a lecturer in Denmark and professor at Emory University in Atlanta and AU have not approved.

January 2010: Aarhus University Director Jorgen Jorgensen, Poul Thorsen denouncing in a message to Nanea projects partners. The message also mentions fraud case.

February 2010: Aarhus Times takes up the case and the country's other media will follow.

March 2010: East Jutland Police investigators continue to raise a charge against the key person.

April 16, 2011

Autism Speaks is Scrubbing Their Ties to Poul Thorsen From Their Web Site

In 2008, Autism Speaks reported on their epidemiology grants on their web site. They let supporters know that they were funding a one million dollar international autism registry with CDC and several international researchers including:

"Poul Thorsen, MD, PhD, University of Aarhus, Denmark and Emory University, USA"

You can find that information on the AS web site here.

or rather you used to be able to find it there. That sentence is now missing from the page.

But that is what the page said on October 21, 2009. Check it out in the Wayback Machine.

Before:


After:


So AS, why are you hiding your affiliation with Thorsen?

And why didn't you do it for the Thorsen research that was funded under NAAR, before the AS merger?

Thorsen (2003)

Exposure to pharmaceuticals in pregnancy and development of autistic disorder ($118,454)

Retrospective analysis of medical records to determine prenatal factors such as exposure to different pharmaceuticals and relationship to autism. While no reports have been published that links different pharmaceuticals to autism, Dr. Thorsen was able to report that different prenatal environmental events, including breech presentation, low APGAR score and gestational age at birth were associated with elevated risk of autism. Other factors, including season of birth, and number of antenatal visits did not elevate risk of autism. Dr. Thorsen is a participant in the Autism Epidemiology Network.

The Poul Thorsen Indictment is Out


AUTISM RESEARCHER INDICTED FOR STEALING GRANT MONEY

You can read them here, here and here.

Vaccine injury denialists have been trying to paint this as a 'one bad egg' scenario, but it looks like Thorsen had help.  Will his partners in crime be made public?  As always, I remain cynical that real justice will follow (I am shocked it has gotten this far) because discrediting the research facility that Thorsen reigned over kills their own case against the families of children with vaccine induced autism.

"Beginning on a date unknown, but at least by in or about February 2004, and continuing until in or about February 2010, in the Northern District of Georgia and elsewhere the defendant, POUL THORSEN aided and abetted by others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, did knowingly devise and intend to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud, and to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudul ent pretenses, representations, and promises, and by omission of material facts, well knowing and having, reason to know that said pretenses, representations, and promises were and weould be false and fraudulent when made and caused to be made and that said omissions were and would be material."

Some commentary on the indictment from an attorney who is currently reviewing the documents.

"If the fraud involved more than $1million Thorsen faces a sentence under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines of as little as 37 months if pleads guilty. This minimum is advisory only and there is no mandatory minimum sentence for the crimes charged. If he provides substantial assistance to the government ("cooperates") or other circumstances apply he could receive a sentence of probation. The maximum is 20 years on most of the counts but such extreme sentences are rarely imposed, unless severe aggravating circumstances exist (like "scientific" fraud affecting the safey of vaccines and global vaccine policy).

The indictment does refer to Thorsen's having been "aided and abetted by others known and unknown to the Grand Jury" in a scheme to defraud. This language is boilerplate although it is likely that others assisted Thorsen in some way. The indictment reveals little about this except to outline in a summary way the grant process that led to the original CDC grants given to Thorsen. The theft and fraudulent invoices are identified as beginning in 2004.

Even though this is the case (initial grants preceding the 2004 scheme to defraud charged in the indictment), according to accounts from Denmark (not in the indictment - speculation here) the high-flying fiefdom that Thorsen created began earlier when he obtained the first grants from the CDC. In my mind it would be likely that the 2004 and later conduct is connected to the pre-2004 conduct. If I were a prosecutor looking for all the dead bodies I would investigate the origins of the original CDC grant and all transactions and conduct surrounding the grants. The indictment suggests that Thorsen promoted himself to obtain the CDC grants but this does not seem realistic to me, given all the background information we have, including the CDC-WHO-Brighton_GAVI emails and other documents showing how aggressively vaccine authorities were seeking epidemiology to exonerate vaccines of any role in causing NDD's or autism. It seems more likely that individuals at the CDC recruited Thorsen who they knew from his work at Birth Defects (under Cordero?), especially because the coveted data contained in the Danish birth registry was a ready made source to construct the studies they needed to achieve their program and policy goals.

There is a warrant for Thorsen's arrest but bringing him to the US from Denmark may take some time. Denmark and the US does have an extradition treaty."

Stay tuned folks.

April 14, 2011

U.S Attorney General Issues Press Release on Poul Thorsen

Gotta admit... I truly never thought I would see Thorsen held responsible for this.

So here is the next question... the DOJ lawyers used Thorsen's research in the Autism Omnibus hearings as evidence that vaccines don't cause autism. Now the DOJ is prosecuting him for fraud. Conflict of interest?

Can-O-Worms.

Here is the DOJ's statement:

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

AUTISM RESEARCHER INDICTED FOR STEALING GRANT MONEY

Thorsen Allegedly Absconded With Over $1 Million

ATLANTA, GA - POUL THORSEN, 49, of Denmark, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of wire fraud and money laundering based on a scheme to steal grant money the CDC had awarded to governmental agencies in Denmark for autism research.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “Grant money for disease research is a precious commodity. When grant funds are stolen, we lose not only the money, but also the opportunity to better understand and cure debilitating diseases. This defendant is alleged to have orchestrated a scheme to steal over $1 million in CDC grant money earmarked for autism research. We will now seek the defendant’s extradition for him to face federal charges in the United States.”

“Stealing research grant money to line his pockets, as Poul Thorsen stands accused of here today, cheats U.S. taxpayers and will simply not be tolerated,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Region for the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health & Human Services. “HHS/OIG will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to bring these criminals to justice.”

Reginael D. McDaniel, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Region for Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation said, “Today’s global economy demands a high-level coordinated approach by multiple agencies and authorities in the investigation of financial crimes. While schemes often become more sophisticated over time, fortunately, so do our investigative techniques. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to have shared its hallmark expertise in following the money trail in the scheme alleged in this indictment.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: In the 1990s, THORSEN worked as a visiting scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, when the CDC was soliciting grant applications for research related to infant disabilities. THORSEN successfully promoted the idea of awarding the grant to Denmark and provided input and guidance for the research to be conducted. From 2000 to 2009, the CDC awarded over $11 million to two governmental agencies in Denmark to study the relationship between autism and exposure to vaccines, between cerebral palsy and infection during pregnancy, and between childhood development and fetal alcohol exposure. In 2002, THORSEN moved to Denmark and became the principal investigator for the grant, responsible for administering the research money awarded by the CDC.

Once in Denmark, THORSEN allegedly began stealing the grant money by submitting fraudulent documents to have expenses supposedly related to the Danish studies be paid with the grant money. He provided the documents to the Danish government, and to Aarhus University and Odense University Hospital, where scientists performed research under the grant. From February 2004 through June 2008, THORSEN allegedly submitted over a dozen fraudulent invoices, purportedly signed by a laboratory section chief at the CDC, for reimbursement of expenses that THORSEN claimed were incurred in connection with the CDC grant. The invoices falsely claimed that a CDC laboratory had performed work and was owed grant money. Based on these invoices, Aarhus University, where THORSEN also held a faculty position, transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to bank accounts held at the CDC Federal Credit Union in Atlanta, accounts which Aarhus University believed belonged to the CDC. In truth, the CDC Federal Credit Union accounts were personal accounts held by THORSEN. After the money was transferred, THORSEN allegedly withdrew it for his own personal use, buying a home in Atlanta, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and Audi and Honda vehicles, and obtaining numerous cashier’s checks, from the fraud proceeds. THORSEN allegedly absconded with over $1 million from the scheme.

The indictment charges THORSEN with 13 counts of wire fraud and 9 counts of money laundering. The wire fraud counts each carry a maximum of 20 years in prison, and the money laundering counts each carry a maximum of 10 years in prison, with a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. The indictment also contains a forfeiture provision seeking forfeiture of all property derived from the offenses, including an Atlanta residence, two cars, and a Harley Davidson motorcycle. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health & Human Services and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division.

Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen H. McClain and Michael J. Brown are prosecuting the case.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

April 13, 2011

Poul Thorsen Indicted on 13 Counts of Fraud and 9 Counts of Money Laundering

From the Atlanta Business Chronicle:

Atlanta Business Chronicle
Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2011, 3:42pm EDT

Dane indicted for defrauding CDC | Atlanta Business Chronicle

A Danish man was indicted Wednesday on charges of wire fraud and money laundering for allegedly concocting a scheme to steal more than $1 million in autism research money from the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The indictment charges Poul Thorsen, 49, with 13 counts of wire fraud and nine counts of money laundering. The wire fraud counts each carry a maximum of 20 years in prison and the money laundering counts each carry a maximum of 10 years in prison, with a fine of up to $250,000 for each count.

The federal government also seeks forfeiture of all property derived from the alleged offenses, including an Atlanta residence, two cars and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

According to U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates, the charges and other information presented in court, Thorsen worked in the 1990s as a visiting scientist at the CDC Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, when the CDC was soliciting grant applications for research related to infant disabilities.

Thorsen promoted the idea of awarding the grant to Denmark and provided input and guidance for the research. From 2000 to 2009, the CDC awarded more than $11 million to two governmental agencies in Denmark to study the relationship between autism and exposure to vaccines, between cerebral palsy and infection during pregnancy and between childhood development and fetal alcohol exposure.

In 2002, Thorsen moved to Denmark and became the principal investigator for the grant, responsible for administering the research money awarded by the CDC.

Once in Denmark, Thorsen allegedly began stealing the grant money by submitting fraudulent documents to have expenses supposedly related to the Danish studies be paid with the grant money. He provided the documents to the Danish government, Aarhus University and Odense University Hospital, where scientists performed research under the grant.

From February 2004 through June 2008, Thorsen allegedly submitted more than a dozen fraudulent invoices, purportedly signed by a laboratory section chief at the CDC, for reimbursement of expenses that Thorsen claimed were incurred in connection with the CDC grant. The invoices falsely claimed that a CDC laboratory had performed work and was owed grant money.

Based on these invoices, Aarhus University, where Thorsen also held a faculty position, transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to bank accounts held at the CDC Federal Credit Union in Atlanta -- accounts that Aarhus University believed belonged to the CDC. The CDC Federal Credit Union accounts were instead personal accounts held by Thorsen, the federal government said.

After the money was transferred, Thorsen allegedly withdrew the fraud proceeds for his own personal use to buy a home in Atlanta, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and Audi and Honda vehicles, and to get numerous cashier’s checks.

Thorsen allegedly pocketed more than $1 million from the scheme.

My prediction? Another attack will be launched on Wakefield. ;)

March 18, 2010

Thorsen Leaves The DSM V Team, Still Has Not Been "Found"

On Tuesday, Poul Thorsen "requested leave" from the DSM V committee that he was working on to redefine autism for the next iteration of the diagnostic bible of the psychology world.

"Home / Meet Us / Thorsen, Poul, M.D., Ph.D.
Thorsen, Poul, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Thorsen has requested work group leave of absence effective 3-16-10. For biosketch and disclosure information, please click here.
"

He resigned as an unpaid adjunct professor (just there to be an advisor to one student on his thesis) at Drexel last week. He resigned from Emory last month. He resigned from Aarhaus last year. Thorsen now has no professional ties that we know of.

But we know he has had contact with that world, if only to resign, since the story broke in Denmark more than a month ago.

The question is now, since yes, Thorsen is clearly running from facing the charges against him, is anyone chasing him?

He is being investigated in Denmark, and reportedly the police want to talk to him, but it does not seem that the police here are pursuing him. Has Denmark asked for our help in finding him and extraditing him? Have charges been filed against him in Denmark? It has been a full years since he left, and I am sure there investigation must have enough info to make an arrest at this point, or they would not be making allegations in the news papers.

So... Will anyone ACTUALLY pursue Thorsen, arrest him and put him on trial? CDC has got to hate that idea with the white hot heat of a thousand suns. Because all sorts of ugly things spill out in trials (gosh, I wonder what would come out of SCOTUS says we can sue Pharma for vaccine injury and DISCLOSURE starts opening long locked closets and basements).

Or will the US government have as much trouble putting their hands on Thorsen as they do the cause of autism, "We keep looking, and looking, and looking, and we really cannot turn up any information" - Julie Gerberding on the vaccine/autism connection.

We can find Saddam in a spider hole in the desert, but we can't find a professor who owns two homes, was attached to two universities and the DSM V panel?

My prediction? Thorsen will continue to be 'missing' and live his life, unpursued on a beach a beach somewhere with the two million dollars he procured. I will be shocked if he is ever held accountable in any measure.

Because really, to be blunt, he has CDC by the balls. He carried out a big hit for them, and if they don't cover his tracks, they go down with him.

Which proves that the old adage works in business as it does in love...

...If they will cheat with ya, then they will cheat on ya.

Lesson to Offit, Gorski, ECBT, AAP, Gerberding, Singer, Fombonne, Wiznitzer et. al. and all potential whistle blowers at Government and Pharma everywhere Feel free to rob CDC and affiliated institutions BLIND. They can't fight back, they can't send you to jail, they can't even Wakefield you.

Update: Got an email that he had been “sighted” in London on Feb 21-22.

March 12, 2010

The VICP Autism Omnibus: How The Government is Killing the Vaccine Program

... and their credibility right along with it.

Today, yet again, the Kangaroo Court Vaccine Injury Compensation Program found that, surprise, surprise, vaccines don't cause autism. Exactly what we expected that their propaganda finding would be. (See the statements by the Coalition for Vaccine Safety, TACA, SafeMinds and the National Autism Association at the end of this post).

A few weeks back, after I posted my chart of the 20 billion dollar vaccine industry and their Wakefield Witch Hunt, Steve Kette, an autism dad, sent me a flow chart that he had done illustrating just how the public/private partnership (Government/Pharma/MSM entity here to for referred to as "The Empire") that is the US vaccine machine program is running itself into the ground.

We have had story after story illustrating the revolving doors between CDC and Pharma/vaccine industry, painful experiences on just how biased the media is, and now an admission straight from the horses mouth that the Secretary of Health, Kathleen Sebelius, is asking for the media for favorable coverage on the vaccine issue. The role of the MSM is to do critical analysis of the government, not hold Kathleen's purse.

And another thing that MSM outlets are supposed to do is compete with one another, right? Not so if you are all a part of one giant conglomco like the Tribune Company Corporation Incorporated. Here is an email exchange that took place today between the two notorious "reporters" Trine Tsouderos from the Chicago Tribune who has spent the last few months trashing our community, and Thomas Maugh from the LA Times who has spend the last few years trashing our community, (and who once responded to an earnest inquiry from me with the oh so respectful, "Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!") collaborating on VCIP Ruling story today:

From: Tsouderos, Trine
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 12:39 PM
To: Dennis, Tami
Subject: Vaccine court story

Hi Tami,

Kaarin said you guys were going to write the vaccine court story – she said to let you know if you need anything, I’m happy to help. My autism sources have been contacting me all day wanting to talk about it, so it would be easy to get quotes.

Anyway, let me know! Best wishes,

Trine

Trine Tsouderos
Chicago Tribune
Science and Medical Reporter
312 222 5648 (w)
312 927 7986 (cell)
ttsouderos@tribune.com



From: Dennis, Tami
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 12:43 PM
To: Maugh, Thomas
Subject: FW: Vaccine court story

They did good stuff. Don’t hesitate to use them if you need comment.



From: Maugh, Thomas
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 2:47 PM
To: Tsouderos, Trine
Subject: FW: Vaccine court story

Please. Anything you can send me would be helpful. I'm gong to be listening in to the Every Child by 2 Press conference.

Thomas H. Maugh II
Science/Medical Writer
Los Angeles Times
202 West First Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
310 649-1300



From: Tsouderos, Trine
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 1:02 PM
To: Maugh, Thomas
Subject: RE: Vaccine court story

Do you want me to get JB Handley at Generation Rescue? I have his email.



From: Maugh, Thomas
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 3:02 PM
To: Tsouderos, Trine
Subject: RE: Vaccine court story

Whoever you think would give a good, rational quote. Some of the responses on the PR newswire seem rather irrational.

Thomas H. Maugh II
Science/Medical Writer
Los Angeles Times
202 West First Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
310 649-1300

FYI... For the "irrational" response on the newswire... see below. He means the responses from our community. So sweet how Trine and Maugh are there for each other in their battle against the forces of darkness vaccine injured children.

The whole circle is corrupt. Because there is no way to sue Pharma or the Government for vaccine damage, and certainly no way to sue biased media sources, the public is penned in and once vaccine injury takes place... well... to bad... you're screwed. You are also evil and want children to die from polio because you said out loud that a vaccine injured your child. You are also anti-vaccine, even if you continue to vaccinate your other children. (Did I mention desperate and scientifically illiterate? Also you probably have mental health issues. Oh... and Thomas Maugh thinks you are irrational.)

And the public is starting to get that this whole thing is bullshit. There has been speculation today as to why these VICP rulings were dropped on a Friday afternoon, burial ground for media pieces. Is it that the government gets that people think they are full of crappola and don't want these rulings to feed another cycle of vaccine program bashing? That is my guess. (Or are they trying to prevent more stories on Thorsen?)

Because, as Mr. Kette has illustrated below, the Government/Pharma/MSM shenanigans like the rulings today only serve to discredit themselves in the public's eyes, and add fresh, stinky fertilizer to the growing suspicion and distrust of the vaccine program.


The Life Cycle of a Failed Public Vaccination Program
(click to enlarge as pdf)



Kette is quite insightful in placing "Empire Paternalism" at the head of this death spiral, because it begins when the public forgets the profound axiom that "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely". The warm feeling of security that comes from allowing yourself to believe that governments and billion dollar multinational corporations are earnest, righteous and working in your personal best interest is seductive. But Big Brother does not love you... he doesn't even know you. History ONLY illustrates the cycle of powerful governmental/corporate entities falling into corruption and either destroying society OR eventually being held accountable by the people either by the vote or by pitchfork. Powerful entities like these are only held in check when people turn their brains on, stop pretending that the government, or the corporation can fix our problems and heal the world.

Be clear, the corporation exists to make money, the government is not doing its job to hold the corporation accountable, and the media is not doing its job of holding them both accountable. They are all becoming very powerful and very rich by working together. The ONLY accountability for vaccine damage will come directly from the public saying "NO MORE!".

In vaccination, the government is not your friend.

Ronald Reagan's words were never truer than in the case of the story of American Vaccine Injury:

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'We're from the government and we're here to help.'"


UPDATE:

I, along with most of the people who have been writing about the VICP decisions, have been corrected by one of my readers who makes a good poing:

"...Anyone looking closely at the accumulative decision(s) of MEAD, KING and DWYER (plus, 595 Pages) will be hard pressed to find the Special Master(s) (Patricia Campbell-Smith, George L. Hastings, Jr., and Denise K. Vowell) saying, Thimerosal Does Not Cause Autism,  It's Official: Vaccines Don't Cause Autism or Vaccines Could Not Have Caused Autism, U.S. Court Says, and yet, incredibly, that's exactly what being broadcast and reported across the nation by the media.

What the Special Master(s) did say was the Petitioner(s) respectively failed to satisfy the burden of proof , CAUSE AND EFFECT, or by a PREPONDERANCE OF 'CAUSATION-IN-FACT" EVIDENCE under the articulated legal standards. Consequentially, all three petitioners failed to establish their clear entitlements to compensation.

In other words, it appears the full weight and burden of proof to establish a "link" between Autism and vaccines (including the preservative, Thimerosal) was entirely placed on the families of WILLIAM P. MEAD, JORDAN KING and COLIN R. DWYER.

Not an easy task for the family struggling with a sick kid at home, even the family was armed with equal resources and a league of brilliant litigators with law degrees from the Harvard School of Law.

These families faced lawyers hired by the vaccine makers with unlimited resources and truckloads of paper. No reasonable person would call that a fair fight.

There is a huge difference in saying Vaccines Could Not Have Caused Autism, and in saying, by the Preponderance of Evidence the families failed to prove a "link" to the satisfaction of the court, a story broadcasters and media unjustly prejudiced, be it out of ignorance or by intent..."
-Larry


Read the press released from:

The Coalition for Vaccine Safety:

Special Masters Protect Vaccine Program and Deny Justice to Vaccine-Injured Children

Mercury-Autism Link Not Found Because of Government Policy, not Science

Washington, DC - The Coalition for Vaccine Safety (CVS) believes that the Special Masters of the Court of Federal Claims wrongly decided that thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs) do not cause autism. The Special Masters appear to have based their decisions on the government policy to protect the vaccine program rather than to fulfill their role to do justice by vaccine-injured children. In these three 'test case' decisions in the Omnibus Autism Proceeding, petitioners William Mead, Jordan King and Colin Dwyer developed normally through the first year of life and then regressed into autism. They presented thousands of pages of scientific documentation and testimony. Their evidence showed that thimerosal, a mercury-laden vaccine preservative, more likely than not contributed to their autism.

"The deck is stacked against families in Vaccine Court. Government attorneys defend a government program, using government-funded science, before government judges. Where's the justice in that?" asked Rebecca Estepp, a CVS steering committee member and mother of a petitioner in the Omnibus Autism Proceeding.

It is universally accepted that mercury is a neurotoxin and can damage the developing brain and the immune system. All three boys' health improved through medical interventions to reduce mercury toxicity and immune dysfunction. Nonetheless, the Special Masters concluded that petitioners failed to meet their burden of proof, even though Health and Human Services (HHS), the respondent in the proceeding, offered no alternative explanation other than genetic predisposition. The Special Masters appear to be following a misguided government policy that if they acknowledge a mercury-autism link, parents will stop vaccinating their children.

The breaking story of fraud at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) involving Dr. Poul Thorsen, a leading member of a Danish research group that wrote studies supporting the CDC's claims that there is no mercury-autism link, casts further doubt on the Special Masters' decisions. The emerging evidence of Dr. Thorsen's embezzlement of $2 million, falsehoods about his employment, and serious questions about his research throw into question the validity of the science at the heart of HHS's claim of no mercury-autism link.

The Coalition for Vaccine Safety (CVS) is an alliance of organizations dedicated to vaccine safety representing over 75,000 families. In recent letters to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of House and Senate Committees charged with oversight of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Coalition called for hearings to investigate HHS, the CDC and other government agencies. Those federal agencies have failed to comply with the terms of the 1986 Vaccine Injury Compensation Act (VICA). Specifically they have failed to provide critical vaccine safety science, including from the taxpayer-funded Vaccine Safety Datalink, on thimerosal, autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities.

The Special Masters' Omnibus Autism Proceeding decisions and revelations about Dr. Thorsen's actions only strengthen the Coalition's resolve in calling for immediate Congressional action to investigate vaccine safety - an issue that potentially affects every person in the country.

"We are confident that the truth will win out. We hope that Congress will intervene in what is clearly a miscarriage of justice to vaccine-injured children," said Jim Moody, an attorney and CVS steering committee member.

For more information on the Omnibus Autism Proceeding and vaccine safety, visit www.coalitionforvaccinesafety.org.

SafeMinds:

Government's Refusal to Fund Sound Science Stacks Deck Against Vaccine-Injured Children and Casts Doubt on the Integrity of the National Immunization Program says SafeMinds.


Washington, D.C. - March 12, 2010 - Autism and mercury advocacy organization SafeMinds regrets today's ruling by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims against three families who argued that vaccines which contained the mercury based preservative thimerosal contributed to their child's autism. The denial of reasonable compensation to families was based on inadequate vaccine safety science and poorly designed and highly controversial epidemiology studies supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the defendant in vaccine injury cases and is also responsible for carrying out the very vaccine safety research that should be integral to court decisions. This conflict of interest means the deck is stacked against families when they enter "vaccine court" and is yet one more reason for parents to doubt the integrity of the National Immunization Program.

"The government has its thumb on the scales of justice," said Laura Bono, parent of a vaccine injured child whose case was dismissed. "The Vaccine Injury Compensation Act passed by Congress in 1986 gave immunity to vaccine manufacturers and diminished the incentive to create safer products. Meanwhile, the law only gives the illusion that parents will have their day in court. The process is dysfunctional and many families will not see justice done."

Two HHS agencies, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), are responsible for conducting vaccine safety research. Calling into question the scientific integrity of this research, a top CDC funded vaccine researcher, Poul Thorsen, responsible for the oversight of some of the most influential and controversial studies that have been claimed as evidence for no link between autism and thimerosal, is alleged to be under investigation when funding documents were found to be forgeries and millions of dollars were missing.

The director of the NIH institute in charge of autism studies has admitted that HHS has a conflict of interest in conducting autism-vaccine research due to the court cases. Last year, the government dominated Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee blocked critical vaccine-autism research studies from moving forward. "The government must fund an extensive vaccine safety program, including studies of the health outcomes of vaccinated and unvaccinated children," stated Lyn Redwood, Vice President of SafeMinds. "Trust in the immunization program will continue to deteriorate without adequate and unbiased safety science."

Over 5,000 petitions have been filed in the vaccine court alleging that vaccines caused a variety of damage to the developing brain, immune system, and other metabolic pathways ultimately giving rise to a diagnosis of autism. Already, the court has awarded approximately $5 million in compensation for such cases, of which the Hannah Poling case is the most well-known. Many of these cases were quietly settled by the government so the public is not aware of them. Thus the court has already decided that vaccine injury is linked to autism.

Today's ruling against families demonstrates that the process is arbitrary. The question is not whether some cases of autism have a vaccine etiology. The government has admitted that. The only remaining question is how many kids have been injured - and what must be done now to treat these kids and prevent further injury.

SafeMinds wishes to recognize the bravery and perseverance of the families who now may face a lifetime of inadequate support for their disabled children.

The Coalition for SafeMinds (Sensible Action for Ending Mercury-Induced Neurological Disorders) is a nonprofit organization founded to investigate and raise awareness of the risks to infants and children of exposure to mercury from medical products, including thimerosal in vaccines. Further information about SafeMinds and the harmful effects from mercury exposure may be found at www.safeminds.org

Talk About Curing Autism:

Second Round of Autism Omnibus Court Cases Decided

Legal update By Rebecca Estepp, TACA.

March 12, 2010

Today in Washington DC, the Special Masters of the Court of Federal Claims released their decisions in the second round of Omnibus Autism Proceeding (OAP) claims. Once again, the OAP has failed children with autism that exhibited regression after their routine childhood vaccinations. All three cases: Mead, King and Dwyer were denied compensation.

First off, what is the OAP?

The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-660) created the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) in 1988. The VICP was created to ensure there was an adequate supply of vaccines and stabilize vaccine costs. Prior to this Act, there were only a handful of drug companies that producing vaccines. These companies faced lawsuits in civil court when their vaccines caused injuries. The drug companies lobbied for liability protection and the Act was passed.

A responsibility of the VICP was to establish and maintain an accessible and timely venue for individuals found to be injured by vaccines. The VICP was developed to be a no-fault alternative to the traditional tort system for resolving vaccine injury claims that provides compensation to people found to be injured by certain vaccines. The U. S. Court of Federal Claims that decides these claims in court is commonly referred to as vaccine court. Damages are paid to individuals from a government-maintained fund. Drug companies can no longer be sued in a civil court of law until the claim has gone through the VICP. For more information go to: HRSA Vaccine Compensation.

The VICP was set up for individuals who suffered an “on-the-table” vaccine injury. That is an injury that happened within minutes or hours after receiving a vaccine.

In 2001, parents of children with autism started filing claims with VICP. These claims were considered “off-the-table,” meaning the vaccine injury did not occur “on-the-table” or at the time of injection. In July of 2002, the Special Masters (the term used for “judges” in vaccine court) established the procedure for addressing these claims and the Omnibus Autism Proceeding (OAP) was born. It was at that time that parents started flooding OAP with claims. More than 5500 claims have been filed in the program to date.
For more information on the Omnibus cases & decision click HERE.

Who are the Mead, King and Dwyer families?

The Mead, King and Dwyer are families with many similarities. All three families have boys with autism. All of the boys in these cases are the same age, 12 years old. Each family reported that their sons developed typically during the first year of their lives and then suffered a regression after their routine pediatric vaccines were administered. William Mead and Jordan King are both from Portland, Oregon while Colin Dwyer is from Queens, New York. Interestingly, William Mead was developing so typically that he was a model for Pottery Barn.

TACA would like to take this time to recognize the extraordinary efforts of the Mead, King and Dwyer families along with their attorneys. These brave families put their children on the line for more than 5500 children in the OAP. Their attorneys fought a brilliant battle in a very rigid court. These courageous families and their attorneys are truly our heroes.

When were these cases heard? What was the causation theory behind these cases?

These cases were heard in May and July of 2008. These three families were chosen as test cases number four, five and six in the OAP under the causation theory number two. Theory number two states that the thimerosal contained in the vaccines these boys were administered was the sole reason for their injuries.

Weren’t there decisions in the OAP last year? What was the causation theory in those OAP Cases?

Last February the same court denied compensation to the first three OAP cases (Cedillo, Hazlehurst and Snyder) which had a different theory of causation. Those cases theorized that the first three children had suffered an injury due to the combination of thimerosal containing vaccines and damage done from the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Read more information on the first OAP cases at TACA HERE.

Analysis of all OAP decisions

Hindsight is always 20/20. The analysis I wrote for the first round of OAP decisions was far too optimistic. I mistakenly theorized that the reason the first verdicts took 19 months to conclude was due to a close call the Special Masters must have had when coming to their decisions. I no longer hold that opinion.

While I recognize that the Special Masters had the herculean task of sifting through thousands upon thousands of pages of evidence, I believe it took over a year for the Special Masters to carefully choose the language in their verdicts to send the message that the OAP will not award compensation to children with autism. The Vaccine Court seems to be more concerned about protecting the perception of safety in the current vaccine schedule than compensating the children who were harmed in the immunization program.

This opinion change was confirmed today when the Special Masters concluded that Mead, King and Dwyer families did not meet their burden of proof. I’d like to point out that the government did not offer any other explanation for these boys’ regressions, other than to claim that it was a vague, nonspecific genetic cause for which there was not a shred of evidence.

I attended the OAP hearings in 2007 and 2008. I was full of hope this was the venue that would finally lead to justice for vaccine-injured children. I was optimistic as I watched the parents testify and watched their dedicated attorneys fight for their clients. Unfortunately, I now view the OAP as a program where government attorneys defend a government program using government-funded science before government judges. This is hardly fair and I am afraid we never had a chance for justice for these children.

Is there any hope?

I know this all sounds very bleak. However, there are many reasons why there is still hope for children with autism who suffered vaccine reactions.

1. These three decisions will be appealed. The appeal process begins immediately in the OAP.

2. Bruesewitz v. Wyeth—On March 8, the Supreme Court voted in favor of hearing this vaccine injury case. The issue in this case is not whether or not the child was harmed by a vaccine, rather the Supreme Court will decide on whether or not parents have the right to sue a drug company outside of the VICP. Mary Holland, Esq. and Jim Moody, Esq. wrote a wonderful article on this upcoming case for the Age of Autism. Read more HERE.

3. Theresa Cedillo and Michael Cedillo v. Secretary of Health and Human Services—This amicus curae brief was filed in February backed by twenty-three autism organizations in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Read more HERE.

4. The above legal cases will take many months to move forward which allows more time for science to develop. This could possibly help our side of the argument.

5. The Dr. Poul Thorsen situation is still evolving. Dr. Thorsen was a lead scientist in the Danish studies conducted in 2003 that showed that vaccines and autism were unrelated. Dr. Thorsen is now missing with $2 million of Danish Universities’ money. Read more of this explosive story HERE.

6. The Hannah Poling and Bailey Banks cases. These two children with autism were awarded compensation for damage done to them during their routine childhood vaccinations. The difference for these two children was their cases were heard outside of the OAP and were compensated for conditions like seizure disorder and encephalopathy. Read more about Hannah Poling and Bailey Banks: Poling HERE and Bailey-Banks HERE.

7. One in four parents now believes in the autism/vaccination connection! And no wonder. There is substantial evidence that a susceptible set of children have reacted to their vaccines. The number of children with autism has been skyrocketing for years and there is still no explanation from the government or the medical establishment for the increase. Read more at CBS News HERE.

8. The newly formed Coalition for Vaccine Safety is spear heading many new vaccine safety initiatives including the call for Congressional Hearings on this topic. For more information on this coalition click HERE.

I ended last year’s decision analysis with “this fight is not over.” I feel even more devoted to that statement this year. While I do think the OAP is broken, needs reform and provides very little chance that any child will receive compensation from it, I don’t think the vaccine and autism connection issue is dead. This fight is far from over.

Rebecca Estepp is Media Relations Director for TACA.


NAA:


Justice Once Again Denied to Vaccine Injured Children

The National Autism Association is disappointed but not surprised by the decisions made public March 12, 2010 in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in three thimerosal test cases. These decisions reflect the corruption of a broken system that is rooted in protecting the country’s vaccine program at all costs, and not in compensating children who have been injured by vaccines.

Ironically, it is the government’s negligence in maintaining proper oversight of vaccine safety issues, and then refusing to compensate those injured by vaccines, that is eroding public confidence in the vaccine program. Our government health agencies continue to demonstrate complete loyalty to a vaccine program known to have caused autism and other serious injuries to children.

Because these latest decisions in vaccine court are the end result of a corrupt legal process and a blatant disregard for vaccine safety, we are asking Congress to investigate the Department of Health and Human Services and its subordinate agencies for their role in overseeing vaccine safety issues. These agencies are charged by both federal law and ethical responsibility to ensure that vaccines are as safe as possible. To become a part of this crucial effort to hold federal health agencies accountable for vaccine safety, please visit NAA's Autism Action Center at http://naa.kintera.org/actioncenter.

March 4, 2010

Ten Million Kroner, and Head of Denmark Autism Studies, Missing

THIS JUST IN....

Correction... turns out that this is not Madsen, it is Thorsen. So swap the names out in your head. Denmark research still remains crappy so no changes needed there.

AoA will be posting on it shortly.

Initial post:

Almost two million dollars is missing from Aarhus University, along with the lead researcher of the Denmark Autism studies on which the CDC has based their "no evidence of harm" opinion.

His name has not been used in the articles, but the head of the program that they seem to be referring to is Kreesten M. Madsen, MD.

Madsen was the lead author on the much disparaged "Denmark Studies", that our own pediatrician referenced when my husband asked, "are these vaccines safe?" to reassure that vaccines didn't cause autism. (Although he never mentioned autism, just asked if they were safe.)

Thimerosal and the occurrence of autism. Negative ecological evidence from Danish registry-data
Madsen KM, Lauritsen MB, Pedersen CB, Thorsen P, Plesner AM, Andersen PH, Mortensen PB.
Ugeskr Laeger. 2004 Sep 13;166(38):3291-3. Danish.

MMR vaccination and autism : what is the evidence for a causal association?
Madsen KM, Vestergaard M.
Drug Saf. 2004;27(12):831-40.

Thimerosal and the occurrence of autism: negative ecological evidence from Danish population-based data.
Madsen KM, Lauritsen MB, Pedersen CB, Thorsen P, Plesner AM, Andersen PH, Mortensen PB.
Pediatrics. 2003 Sep;112(3 Pt 1):604-6.PMID: 12949291

MMR vaccination and autism--a population-based follow-up study
Madsen KM, Hviid A, Vestergaard M, Schendel D, Wohlfahrt J, Thorsen P, Olsen J, Melbye M.Ugeskr Laeger. 2002 Dec 2;164(49):5741-4. Danish. PMID: 12523209 [

A population-based study of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination and autism.
Madsen KM, Hviid A, Vestergaard M, Schendel D, Wohlfahrt J, Thorsen P, Olsen J, Melbye M. N Engl J Med. 2002 Nov 7;347(19):1477-82.PMID: 12421889

Try as Madsen might... he just couldn't find a link between autism and vaccines. But then again, there's no money in finding a link between autism and vaccines... not when CDC is paying for your research. And it looks like Madsen may be just fine with placing money above ethics... and even the law.

And Madsen (if indeed, it is Madsen) apparently lied about his employment at a conference in Italy last year, claiming that he was still at Aarhus when he was not.

I have commented in the past on what a piece of junk the Madsen thimerosal study was, you remember, the one that docs use to say that autism rates shot up as mercury was removed from vaccines, so it actually might protect kids from autism?!? It is useless, as the second to last paragraph of the study tells the reader that the database used changed its inclusion criteria at the time thimerosal was removed and autism rates went up, then ignores that in the very next paragraph, the conclusion, that states that removing thimerosal was followed by an "increase in autism" (not an increase in the autism database, which had been changed from only tracking inpatient cases, to all cases in the country). This of course invalidates the whole study. And despite that fact, and that it was done with researchers that actually work for the country's only vaccine maker, Pediatrics published it, CDC extolled it, and my pediatrician used it guide Chandler's vaccinations.

The articles are from mid February, and I have not found any updated stories on this. Danish papers report that he is in the US, and and employed at (CDC stronghold) Emory University in Atlanta (apparently he has been for some time, while still at Aarhus, unbeknown to Aarhus, which is a no no), but his Linked In profile says that he is employed at Nycomed Pharmaceuticals in Zurich, Switzerland.

So will Aarhus confirm that this is Madsen? And where is Madsen? And where is the money? And why isn't the GMC up in arms about this dishonest researcher? And what does CDC think about all this? And what moron actually believes that giving children a neurotoxin at 25,000 times the concentration allowed in drinking water will protect the child from brain injury?

If anyone has any updates, or friends in Denmark that can help answer these questions... help us out with this one.

Update from a reader:

The CDC recruiting Madsen in 2001, email:

Dr. Simpson (CDC): "Did they [autism rates] increase after 1993??"

Dr. Madsen: "Yes but not very dramatically and there could be more reasons for that. First of all we had a change from ICD8 to ICD10 in 1994 and furthermore our outpatient clinics were registered in our surveillance from 1995."

On the irrelevance of Madsen's conclusions, if indeed they were valid in the first place:

"Because the pediatric vaccination practices of Denmark differed greatly from those of the U.S. during the study period, Madsen's conclusions, even if relevant to Denmark, were certainly not applicable to the U.S."

- Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons Volume 9 Number 3 Fall 2004

Two reports from the Danish media:

SWINDLE FOR MILLIONS AT AARHUS UNIVERSITY
Aarhus Stiftstidende
By Maja Nielsen and Morten Ravn, translated by Ulla Danielson
Wednesday February 10, 2010

A big research project has resulted in a deficit of 10 million crowns in the budget of Aarhus university.

Police are investigating the case as fraud while the university has cut its links to the chief-investigator from Aarhus, writes Danish Daily Aarhus Stiftstidende.

The Aarhus-based scientist left his job at the medical health faculty in March last year. After a short period, the university began to suspect something was radically wrong. The suspicion increased.

Accordingly the university in collaboration with Board of Science and Innovation reported the case to the police of Eastern Jylland.

Among other things the now disputed research project maps out the cause of autism. Since 2002, the project has received more than 80 millions crowns from the American board of health,the CDC.

The University of Aarhus is in the process of issuing a declaration to a lot of institutions about the tangled case.

In this communication the director of the university, Joergen Joergensen, underlines that the aarhus-scientist no longer is connected with the university.


Researcher employed in more than one place


“At the same time it has become clear that the resigned leader of the research project has been employed doubly.

Without the university’s knowledge, he has been a payed employee at the University of Emory in the USA while he was still employed in aarhus.

"Of course that is not acceptable,” says head of press for the rector at the university, Anders Corell, to Aarhus Stiftstidende.

He does not want to say anything about the amount of money the University is missing. Neither will Anders Corell comment on the information provided to the newspaper talking about a fraud involving 10 million crowns.

Police inspector Boerge Frandsen from Eastern Jylland’s police confirms, that there is a report. The police has started to investigate the case.

”Yes, it is about fraud”, the police inspector says to Aarhus Stiftstidende.

He is not able to confirm or deny size of the amount of money or the consequences.

But so far the disputed chief investigator has not been charged.


On the move in the USA


The newspaper has learned that the investigations are hampered because it has been very difficult to find the key figure in the case.

Aarhus Stiftstidende has also unsuccessfully tried to get a comment from the aarhus-based scientist, who has his private address in hoejbjerg (outside Aarhus).

After he left the medical health faculty in Aarhus he participated, among other things, at a conference in Italy.

On that event his papers erroneously said that he was employed by the University of Aarhus.

Aarhus Stiftstidende has spoken to several sources, who say that the scientist, who has a PhD, is at the moment is on the move in USA. They describe him as a Stein Bagger type (a Danish financial fraud) who is eminently clever at raising money from funds.

“He can open the doors to the great money tanks. But all projects all the time had to grow bigger and bigger. He succeeded in raising a huge amount of dollars. Rules however was something that existed for the sake of others – not for him,” it has been said, sounding characteristic.


mani@stiften.dk, mora@stiften.dk


Researcher accused of cheating Uni out of millions
The Copenhagen Post
February 11, 2010

A former lead research suspected of fraud now living in US and has not been questioned by police.

Aarhus University has confirmed that a former head of research at its North Atlantic Neuro-Epidemiology Alliances department has committed possible fraud amounting to 10 million kroner against several of the school’s research partners, reports Århus Stiftstidende newspaper.

Until last March, the man was head of an 80 million crown joint research project between the US government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the University of Southern Denmark and Aarhus University.

Jørgen Jørgensen, Aarhus University’s rector, confirmed police charges have been filed against the former researcher and that it concerns a sum of around 10 million crowns.

Numerous applications for funding for the research were apparently signed with forged signatures.

The scientist – who is reportedly living and working in Atlanta in the US – resigned from his post last March. But he allegedly continued to pass himself off as the head of the international project, which dealt primarily with research into the possible causes of autism.

Aarhus University also claims that the researcher took another permanent position at Emory University in the US while still heading the Danish-based project.

Danish police said they were still investigating the case but had not yet sought cooperation from US authorities in the matter. They also have yet to question the man in connection with the case.

‘When we’ve gone through everything then we’ll decide whether there are sufficient grounds to charge the researcher or any others for forgery or fraud,’ said Børge Frandsen of East Jutland Police.