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Show Rachael's Future Now Up to Court ontmued from including complications post vaccinal encephalitis But even so, the Navy argued, it could not be held liable for Rachaels illness, because it bore no resemblance to those illnesses known to be triggered by smallpox vaccinations and therefore could not have been caused by the vaccinaP-1- 0 ( smallpox-vaccin- e Barnetts were ol laboratory when with a diagconsistent nosis that she suffered from encephalitis an inflammation of the brain following a vaccination. So, in April 1978, after the Navy rejected their claim for damages at the administrative level, the Barnetts filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Baltimore Soon afterward Rachael was placed in the Hospital for Sick Children, where with chronic diseases and severe physical handicaps are cared for, because her mother had to be treated for suspected cancer. When the case began Judge Frank A Kaufman. the sole question for him to determine was what caused Rachael Barnetts illness. Two experts testifed for the Navy, both from John Hopkins University, that the results of the NIH test were inconclusive, and that the post-vaccin- For four years after the illness set in, the Barnetts kept Rachael at home with her brother Aaron, now 6, while doctors tried to pinpoint the cause of her illness. There were signs that Rachaels central nervous system was deteriorating. Sometimes she got worse, she was sometimes better a on stormy always neurological course," as one doctor put it. My God," Rebecca Barnett said, "1 saw a million doctors, and every lime you turned around they're sayget rid ing, Put her away. ol her, shes a social outcast, 1 said. shes defective . ... Hell, no. Shes not responsible for what happened to her Shes my kid. What am going to say? Youre not up to snuff? Then, in December 1977, a test conducted at the National Institutes of Health 1 showed Rachaels finding, coupled with Rachaels physical condition, was tion. . virus The told that the antibodies in blood serum and spinal fluid that may have been directed against the chii-dre- he-fo- re slow progression of inconRachaels disease was sistent with the rapid onset usually associated with postAn vaccinal encephalitis. NIH doctor subpoenaed by the Barnett's testifed that while there were smallpox antibodies detected in the 1977 test, they were not found See Page L.A Cmdr. Erie Barnett, son Aaron, wife Rebecca, with. Lt. Times Photo photo of daughter Rachael. 3, still battle government. P-1- 2 Ohe Swiss Colony FREE SAMPLES of Delicious CHEESES, Sausages and PASTRIES During OUR GRAND OPENING Sneddons Stores Inc. Celebrate the Opening of Our Third Location in Utah! TRY OUR SAMPLE OF THE GIANT CHEDDAR 10 OFF ON ALL FOOD GIFTS OFFER EXFIRES OCT 31st The Salt Lake FREE iw w nv ,4 T'rjmT' rv.c axsnMm 3 oz. CHEESEBALL with any store purchase Good while supple 15. OheStuissCotomj , 191 |
