Court Rejects Link Between Autism, Thimerosal-Containing Nasal Spray

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge in California has excluded the testimony of several experts who claimed that a child's autism was caused by his exposure to thimerosal-containing nasal spray. Redfoot v. B.F. Ascher & Co., No. 05-2045 (N.D. Calif.).

In a June 1 decision, Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California determined that the opinions of plaintiff's causation expert and other non-retained experts cannot be used to establish causation because they fail to address the issue of whether thimerosal in nasal spray can cause autism.

Judge Hamilton further opined that …