ABC drama to add disclaimer about autism/vaccine link

The New York Times reported Jan. 29 that the ABC show, "Eli Stone," will go on as planned, despite a call for cancelling the debut episode from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which is concerned because the Jan. 31 episode depicts a link between childhood vaccines and autism. The AAP said the link has been scientifically disproved and it believes the show is irresponsible in pursuing a story line that might cause some parents to forgo vaccines for their children.

ABC says it will show the debut episode as planned on Jan. 31, but will put a disclaimer in written and voice-over form at the beginning of the show that says, "'The following story is fictional and does not portray any actual persons, companies, products or events.' A second card will direct viewers to the Center for Disease Control’s autism Web site, www.cdc.gov/autism," according to the NY Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/business/media/29abc.html