Court says thimerosal did not cause autism

(AP) -- A federal court has ruled that the vaccine additive thimerosal does not cause autism.

The court expressed sympathy for parents coping with their autistic children, but concluded Friday that they had not proved the children's illness was a result of the mercury-containing preservative in the vaccine.

Last year, the same court rejected claims that the autism was caused by a combination of vaccines with thimerosal and other vaccines.

That decision has now been appealed to the Supreme Court.