The regional college of pediatricians in Castilla-La Mancha has demanded that authorities cancel a congress scheduled for this weekend in Ciudad Real, which allegedly baselessly links vaccinations to autism. According to Spanish media, the event's speaker list reportedly includes doctors who have been suspended from practicing medicine. Despite protests from the medical community and warnings from local authorities against spreading misinformation, organizers claim the conference will proceed as planned, albeit under increased scrutiny.
Medical Community Protest
The College of Pediatricians of the Castilla-La Mancha region has issued a formal appeal to the local authorities of Ciudad Real to cancel the congress. Physicians emphasize that the event, by citing an alleged link between vaccines and autism, spreads dangerous and scientifically debunked theses, threatening public health.
Controversial Speakers
Spanish media report that among the congress speakers are to be doctors who have been banned from practicing medicine due to disseminating false information about vaccines. Their participation raises additional concerns about the credibility and goals of the conference.
Event Proceeds Despite Protests
Despite official protests and calls for cancellation, the congress organizers have announced that the event will proceed as planned. However, local authorities have warned against the spread of misinformation and announced increased oversight of the conference's proceedings.
Fighting Misinformation
The case of the congress in Ciudad Real has become a local example of the broader phenomenon of combating anti-vaccine movements. Spanish medical and municipal authorities emphasize the need to counteract pseudoscientific theories that can lead to a decline in vaccination rates.
Spanish pediatricians from the Castilla-La Mancha region have urgently demanded the cancellation of a congress scheduled for this upcoming weekend in the city of Ciudad Real. The event, according to media reports, aims to promote the false claim of a link between vaccines and the occurrence of autism, which the medical community describes as spreading harmful misinformation. In an official statement, the college of physicians emphasized that the theses to be presented at the congress are scientifically debunked and pose a threat to public health, potentially discouraging parents from vaccinating their children. Spanish media, including LaSexta, revealed details about the speakers. Among the invited speakers are reportedly doctors who have had their medical licenses suspended precisely for disseminating false information about vaccines. prawda: In Spain, as in many other countries, doctors can be penalized with suspension or revocation of their license to practice for spreading practices or theories contrary to current medical knowledge and posing a danger to patients. (Spanish medical colleges) The participation of such individuals as experts at the conference strengthens criticism of the entire undertaking and undermines its alleged scientific nature. „identifies a „false” link between vaccines and autism” (congress organizers) — The phrasing suggests that there is some „true” link that has been identified, whereas no such link exists in light of modern science. This is a subtle manipulation intended to lend an appearance of credibility to pseudoscientific theses. Despite strong opposition from the medical community and warnings issued by local municipal authorities, the congress organizers have announced that the event will proceed as planned. However, the authorities of Ciudad Real have warned that they will monitor the conference for potential violations of the law, particularly in the context of disseminating health-threatening misinformation. Anti-vaccine movements, based in part on fabricated studies from the late 1990s that have long been discredited and retracted, pose a global challenge to public health. Their activities have already led to resurgences of infectious diseases, such as measles, in regions with previously high vaccination rates. The case of the congress in Ciudad Real illustrates the ongoing struggle of public institutions and scientific communities against pseudoscientific theories which, thanks to new communication channels, are gaining strength despite a complete lack of evidential basis.