Support from the International Medical Council on Vaccination

Today, the International Medical Council on Vaccination (IMCV) sent a letter to Australian media outlets in support of the AVN's right to speak and write freely about the vaccination issue. They represent doctors and health professionals from many countries around the world and their strong support of the AVN is very much appreciated. Let's see what response the media of Australia will have in the days to come to this letter and the evidence that a growing body of doctors and other practitioners strongly support free and informed medical choice.

July 23rd, 2010

To: Australian government agencies and media outlets The International Medical Council on Vaccination and its affiliated doctors, scientists and concerned organizations would like to convey our strong support for the work of the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN) and condemn the attempts an Australian government body is making to censor and suppress their work. The AVN seems to be the target of Australia's New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC). Our understanding is the HCCC has asserted that "AVN provides information that is solely anti-vaccination, " that "AVN's website contains information that is incorrect and misleading," and that "AVN quotes selectively from research to suggest that vaccination is dangerous."

We further understand that the HCCC has ordered the AVN to place a disclaimer on its website stating that information provided by the AVN should not be read as medical advice and that a parent's decision about whether or not to vaccinate should be made in consultation with a health care provider.

International Medical Council on Vaccination, having knowledge of the AVN, strongly defends the AVN against the HCCC's claims. It is absurd that the HCCC would suggest that the AVN has any obligation to convey information whatsoever to "balance" AVN's own research and activities. Organizations operating in free societies must never be held to forced expectations such as these. IMCV condemns any censoring of information - or even opinion - AVN wishes to convey whatsoever.

International Medical Council on Vaccination implores the HCCC and the Australian media to support free and open information and desist bullying of those organizations and individuals who provide it. This situation is of keen international interest. Our intent is to bring wide publicity to this censorship if not immediately corrected. We are confident HCCC will do the right thing.

Thank you for your consideration on this matter.

BOARD MEMBER SIGNATORIES

Harold Buttram, MD Suzanne Humphries, MD Alexander Kotok, MD, PhD Juan Manuel Martínez Méndez, MD Sherri Tenpenny, DO

SIGNATORIES

Françoise Berthoud, MD Robert Davidson, MD, PhD Carolyn F. A. Dean, MD, ND Todd Elsner, DC James Jackson, PhD, MT Sue McIntosh, MD Dave Mihalovic, ND Gabriele Milani, CRNA, RN Pat Rattigan, ND Andrew Saul, PhD Penelope Shar, MD Christopher Shaw, PhD Mark Starr, MD KP Stoller, MD, FACHM Rene Tocco, DC

ORGANIZATION SIGNATORIES

Autism Today Online Israel Vaccine Information Center Moms Against Mercury People Advocating Vaccine Education 21st Century Pain and Sports Medicine Vaccine Information Coalition VacTruth

ADDITIONAL SIGNATORIES

Evelyn Pringle, journalist Catherine J Frompovich, published health researcher Mary Tocco, independent vaccine researcher Judy Wilyman, PhD Candidate, Murdoch University Nicholas Haas, IMCV President International Medical Council on Vaccination Medical Voices Vaccine Information Center Nicholas Haas, President