Correspondence on “Developmental Regression and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in a Child with Autism”

The Ethics Writings of Roger A. Brumback, MD

“…18 In a 2008 letter published in the Journal of Child Neurology , Dr Poling agreed with Dr Brumback on that point by writing “In hindsight, I agree that I should have declared my daughter’s identity in a separate letter to JCN. I apologize for that omission.” 19(p1089) The second transgression was, in Dr Brumback’s words, “appalling.” 9 As indicated above, in 2002 Dr Poling and his wife had filed on behalf of their daughter under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. 19 While Dr Poling needed to have disclosed that information to Dr Brumback, one could make the case that a paper published in 2006 should have had no impact on the case’s filing—but the Government’s wheels turn slowly.…”

“…I apologize for that omission.” 19(p1089) The second transgression was, in Dr Brumback’s words, “appalling.” 9 As indicated above, in 2002 Dr Poling and his wife had filed on behalf of their daughter under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. 19 While Dr Poling needed to have disclosed that information to Dr Brumback, one could make the case that a paper published in 2006 should have had no impact on the case’s filing—but the Government’s wheels turn slowly. In 2007, the Government’s concession excluded Dr Poling’s daughter’s epilepsy from compensation.…”

The Appalling Poling Saga

“…Whether the manuscript would have been accepted for publication if the authors had disclosed earlier the conflict of interest is now a moot point, but this does not excuse the behavior of the authors in not disclosing the conflict of interest at the time, despite their current apologizies. 3,4…”