Fact Check: In March, a U.S. District Court judge in North Carolina dismissed the case, concluding: 'Simply put, no scientist could reasonably conclude there is a causal association between POTS and Gardasil, based on the evidence presented in court.'

Fact Check: "In March, a U.S. District Court judge in North Carolina dismissed the case, concluding: 'Simply put, no scientist could reasonably conclude there is a causal association between POTS and Gardasil, based on the evidence presented in court.'"

What We Know

In March 2025, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell ruled in favor of Merck & Co. in a multidistrict litigation concerning claims that the Gardasil vaccine was linked to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). The judge's ruling emphasized that the evidence presented did not support a causal relationship between Gardasil and these conditions. Specifically, Judge Bell stated, "no scientist could reasonably conclude there is a causal association between POTS and Gardasil, based on the evidence presented in court" (source-3). The court evaluated various reports and scientific literature, concluding that the claims lacked substantial epidemiological evidence (source-2).

Analysis

The court's decision was based on a thorough review of the evidence provided by the plaintiffs. The judge noted that the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) had only a limited number of reports linking Gardasil to POTS, which were insufficient to establish causation given the millions of doses administered (source-2). Furthermore, the court dismissed a case report cited by the plaintiffs, stating that temporal association alone does not demonstrate a causal link (source-4).

The ruling also highlighted the importance of federal law in regulating vaccine warnings, indicating that without substantial evidence, additional warnings cannot be mandated post-FDA review (source-1). This reinforces the notion that over-warning could detract from the efficacy of medical products (source-2).

The sources used in this analysis are credible, including legal documents and reports from established news organizations. However, it is important to note that some sources may have inherent biases, particularly those advocating for or against vaccine safety. For example, Children's Health Defense has been known to take a critical stance on vaccines, which may affect the framing of their reporting.

Conclusion

The claim that a U.S. District Court judge in North Carolina dismissed the case with the conclusion that "no scientist could reasonably conclude there is a causal association between POTS and Gardasil" is True. The court's ruling was based on a lack of substantial evidence supporting the plaintiffs' claims, and the judge's statement accurately reflects the findings of the court.

Sources

1. Merck prevails in US safety litigation over Gardasil HPV vaccine
2. Vaccine Producer Wins Summary Judgment Argument Due to Implied Preemption
3. Merck triumphs in Gardasil safety litigation covering 200+ lawsuits nationwide
4. MDL Judge Dismisses Gardasil Lawsuits, Finding Failure to Prove Causation
5. Federal judge rules in favor of drugmaker in HPV vaccine case
6. Gardasil HPV Vaccine Lawsuit | April 2025 Update
7. Federal Judge Hands Merck Win in Key Gardasil HPV Vaccine Case
8. 'Paucity' Of Proof Thwarts NC State Law Claims In Gardasil MDL