Thimerosal-autism link rejected by Maryland court.(Litigation)(Brief article)(Case overview)

Wyeth announced Jan. 14 that the Circuit Court for Baltimore has granted the company's motion to preclude plaintiffs' expert witnesses in an alleged vaccine injury case from testifying that exposure to thimerosal-containing vaccines can cause autism. The court's decision, in the case of Blackwell, et al. v. Sigma Aldrich, Inc., et al., followed a 10-day evidentiary hearing held last August.

Judge Stuart Berger found that "thimerosal in vaccines does not cause or contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism," noting that "it is generally accepted in the…