A healthcare backlash against Jim Carrey? I didn’t stop watching Tom Cruise movies because of his bizarre behavior and Scientology background. I didn’t stop listening to the Dixie Chicks after their 9/11 comments. But every time I see an ad for Mr. Popper’s Penguins I can’t get Jim Carrey’s ludicrous vaccine perspectives out of my head. And that cuts down on the chances I’ll take my kids to see the movie, too.
Unfortunately, opinions about medical research and science don’t have the show-stopping clout that religion or politics have. But maybe that time is changing. Carrey’s comments – teamed with those of Jenny McCarthy and other vaccine denialists – did more damage than the Dixie Chicks or Tom Cruise. Vaccinations dropped, exposure to mumps and other preventable diseases have increased in recent years.
Maybe that’s why it’s hard to get the Carrey-Popper-autism connection out of my head. This is a kids movie. Carrey’s vaccine statements did real damage to children.
Plus, the timing for Carrey couldn’t be worse. Bill Gates and the UK have just announced they’ll spend $2.3 billion to proliferate vaccinations worldwide.
Medicare: No one knows what they really want. This is a real sentence from the latest poll about Medicare reform: “While 53 percent say the program needs fundamental changes, 58 percent say it should continue the way it is set up now.”
Perkin Elmer acquires Delexa.The deal expands Perkin Elmer’s imaging portfolio into areas including surgery, dental CT, cardiology and mammography.
The new acquisition landscape. What does the following mean for healthcare investing?
While acquisition activity among medium-sized companies is returning to near-normal levels, today’s transaction landscape has undergone epic changes. The dynamics have shifted as buyers aggressively hunt strategic acquisitions; they’re making more unsolicited offers, looking to close deals quickly, and scoping out attractive companies that can be acquired without a competitive process.
More da Vinci backlash. Questions from the public over the need for robotic surgery continues to grow. But is it really time to blame the marketers? “Either a technology works or it doesn’t, and I believe the data eventually will show the robot is good. The marketing has taken away from that,” said Dr. Khurshid Guru, director of robotic surgery at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Hospital donations up. Non-profit health systems increased donations by 8 percent last year compared to 2009. However, they still didn’t catch up to 2008 or 2007, according to the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy.

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Tom Cruise has been virtually blackballed in Hollywood because of his crazy beliefs.
Comment by mbm — June 13, 2011 @ 9:31 am
What an amazing report. No false balance, just sticking to the science. What is so special about Australia that we can’t see this kind of journalism on American TV?
Comment by AutismNewsBeat — June 13, 2011 @ 10:16 am
As an owner of a gluten and dairy free bakery, I deal with many parents of autistic children. As someone that has researched this subjust, and talked to many people in the same position as Jenny and Jim, I have to agree. People are only listening to PART of what they are saying. They are not saying don’t use any vaccines, just research the necessity of them. As a country, we are too willing to do what we are told without doing any research. I can guarantee that if people knew the same ingredients were in food that are in vaccines, they wouldn’t feed them to thier children, let alone shoot it into their bloodstream!
Comment by April — June 13, 2011 @ 10:20 am
There is no question that a national Vaccine Injury Court exists. There is no question that vaccines can injure people, especially children, just read the warning lables that come with the shots. Autism is neither here nor there, but it is a fact that the former head of the CDC told Sanjae Gupta in 2008 that vaccines *can* trigger autism in kids with a mitochondrial pre-disposition; you are a smirking, morally bankrupt liar and shill. Jim Carrey and others brave enough to speak out despite what dogmatic morons like you might say is to be commended.
Comment by SG — June 13, 2011 @ 12:40 pm
Yes, I feel the same way. Carey has screwed himself, big time with his wacky vaccine views.
As for Tom Cruise, I quit going to his movies A LONG TIME AGO……
Comment by Floral Tinge — June 13, 2011 @ 6:01 pm
Right on the vaccine packaging for the DTaP vaccine it clearly states now that after receiving this vaccine the child could get SIDS or autism, and that is from the manufacturer, yet most doctors say it s not the cause, give me a break!
Comment by vjoejoe — June 13, 2011 @ 9:30 pm
You know, I had a scathing retort in mind, but then I read SG’s comments……all I have to say now is “well said SG”!
I will add, however, that Tom, the Dixie Chicks and Jenny and Jim tell the truth…..you don’t.
Comment by Steve — June 13, 2011 @ 10:10 pm
Scientology is anti-vaccine
Dr Jay Gordon Jim and Jenny’s Anti-vaccine guru is on the board of supervisors of Kirstie Alleys Organic Liaison. diet program
the Travolta’s claim Dr Gordon as their pediatrician and have written a forward in one of his books..
Must have been hard for John to his son Jett had Autism
since Scientology claims Autism dosen’t exist.
Scientology also backed Dr Andrew Wakefield…Wakedfield was disbarred and can no longer practice medicine.
Scientology is as an Organization that supports the whole anti-vaccine quackery through it nutty CCHR fear mongering front group..spends money promoting quackery like this
Jim Carey was connected to Scientology briefly in the early 90..
Comment by tomtom — June 14, 2011 @ 2:55 am
Nope, but Tom Cruises scientology and John Travolta’s denial of Jett’s Autism did keep me out of the the theatre. Jim’s awesome support of our community makes me MORE likely to attend! I<3 Jim!!!
Thanks Jim for everything, it will never be forgotten!!!
Comment by Shannon Primer — June 14, 2011 @ 7:36 pm
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