Thimerosal?

Question

I read that Thimerosal is just a cover-up for the cold way mothers are treating their children due to working outside the homes. Do you agree?

Answer 1

I'm not a cold mom, I'm just very protective so I got my kids vaccinated like 5 or 6 times for every vaccine out there. What's your point?

Answer 2

Your question is not very clear, but I am assuming that you are talking about children with autism, and that you are connecting 2 theories as to the cause of autism. Some people believe that thimerosal, a preservative which used to be found in some childhood vaccines, is a factor in the development of autism. While there has been no widely accepted documentation of this theory, many people believe that their child's autism is related to the child's exposure to thimerosal.

The "refrigerator mother" theory was promoted by the late Bruno Bettelheim, who suggested that autism was caused by mothers who did not want their children or wished they were dead, and therefore treated them coldly. This theory has long since gone out of favor. The book he wrote about it, "The Empty Fortress," was originally published in 1967, an era in which fewer than 1/3 of mothers of young children were employed, so I don't think that even Bettleheim blamed mothers for working outside the home.

My sister, who did not work outside the home, wanted a baby for so long, and she loved and focused all her attention on her firstborn child. By the time he was a toddler, it was clear that he had some serious developmental disabilities, and he was later diagnosed as autistic. Obviously his autism was not caused either by my sister's lack of love or outside employment, since this child was wanted and adored, and she didn't work, even before his birth.

The idea that cold working mothers cause autism in their children, and then blame thimerosal, is absurd.

Answer 3

Thimerosal is a preservative used in pharmaceuticals. I don't believe that it is administered as a treatment by itself. Are you perhaps refrering to some sort of sedative?

Answer 4

Thermisoral is just one of many environmental factors suspect in childhood disorders/deficiencies. I would agree that there exists a problem with parenting in th U.S., if not elsewhere. I do not know that thermiserol has been widely used as an excuse for childhood problems.

Answer 5

Whatever, what about the mothers who dont work? Hummm I dont know lets drink bleach and see if it makes us sick. Surely not my mother doesnt work!

Answer 6

I knew my mother was abusing me with all that work!!