Vaccine and Autism Study Doctor Found Guilty
Dr Andrew Wakefield outside the GMC hearing ©Daily Mail
In 1998, Andrew Wakefield, released a study that showed a link between between the MMR vaccination and autism. Wikepedia: Wakefield was the lead author of the study, published in The Lancet, which reported bowel symptoms in twelve children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and linked them to the MMR vaccine.[1] In a press conference held in conjunction with the publication, Wakefield recommended separating the components of the injections by at least a year. The interpretation section of the 1998 paper was subsequently retracted by ten of the paper’s thirteen authors.[4] An investigation by the Sunday Times raised allegations of unreported conflict of interest and scientific misconduct against Wakefield, leading the editor of The Lancet to state that the 1998 paper would not have been published had he known about the “fatal” conflicts of interest.[5]
As a result of the study, there was a 11% drop in children being vaccinated in Britain for the MMR between 1998 and 2003. The measles have reappeared in Britain and reached a 13-year high in 2008. The MMR vaccine continues to be controversial in the U.S. though as other research carried out in 1998 by University of Michigan researchers show a correlation between the MMR and brain injury. Science Daily has also recently written, “Children in families with problematic reactions to chickenpox virus may be at risk for developing autism if they get that live-virus immunization too close to other live-virus vaccines.” Meanwhile, research by the MIND Institute, Cure Autism Now and others seems to suggest that autism may actually break down into subgroups (phenotypes) with different etiologies (causes). It also seems to be the case that a significant sub-group of autistic individuals do have weaker immune systems, gastrointestinal problems, food intolerances and bowel issues. Is it possible that this sub-group is more sensitive than most to live-virus vaccines? Could GI problems actually lead to autism? Or are the autism and the GI issues both symptoms of some other unknown disorder?
The issue will continue to be debated, but Wakefield’s medical misconduct will not. Wakefield was found guilty last Thursday of a series of misconduct charges related to his “unethical” research. As reported by The London Times, the General Medical Council (GMC) ruled that he abused his position of trust as he researched a possible link between the MMR vaccine, bowel disease and autism in children. The GMC ruled that Wakefield, who was working at the Royal Free Hospital in London as a gastroenterologist at the time, did not have the ethical approval or qualifications to oversee the study, which involved children undergoing colonoscopies, lumbar punctures, barium meals and brain scans. He was also found to have brought the medical profession into disrepute after taking blood samples from youngsters at his son’s birthday party in return for payments of £5 and failing to disclose vital conflicts of interest. He received £50,000 to carry out the research on behalf of solicitors acting for parents who believed that their children had been harmed by MMR, but could not account for how at least half this money had been spent.
The case was the longest medical misconduct in the history of the General Medical Council.
Related Posts:
- Park Slope Doctor in drug ring (March 9th, 2010)
- Study about SIDS finds some new information (February 28th, 2010)
- Should Your Child or Pregnant Women Get The H1N1 Vaccine? (October 14th, 2009)
- Special Needs Sites (October 22nd, 2008)
- Study on Caffeine and Miscarriages and What Else Not To Eat! (January 22nd, 2008)
Vaccine controversy is the least of our worries. We need to have more investigative journalists cover the epidemic of frauds infiltrating the autism community. As in Amanda Baggs, the woman who took a copious amount of LSD, fried her brain, then, in a pervasive delusional state, went on the internet with her buddy and studied autistic people until she became a skilled character actress. Then there’s Ari Ne’eman, who is a man diagnosed with Aspergers at 20 yrs of age, then suddenly shoots to fame as the self appointed autism spokesperson. Not to forget the ever articulate and so autistic lady, katie miller, oh yea, now there’s a rain chick If we ever saw one. Go Kate. Before Kate, of course, there is the artsy autie, Donna Williams, a multiple personality disorder who has one personality that is autistic. Quite interesting, indeed. And the list goes on. You have Horse Boy, who was ADHD, not autistic. You have Son Rise, who was perhaps not autistic. You have McCarthy’s boy who was definately not autistic and then there’s kids swimming with dolphins, taking B=12, DMG and wa la, they are now non autistic. Oh wait. We forgot the Defying Autism author who says her child was possessed with demons and after “deliverance” he is now a happy boy. Oh boy, it just never ends. And ya know why? Because not enough investigative journalists have taken the time to look at this. They have not connected the dots. They have failed to see the frauds and the hype. You know the ole’s saying: if a lie goes unexposed the people think it’s okay to keep lying. It’s basic behaviorism 101, NOT enough people are challenging the frauds of autism so they keep growing in numbers, fooling the media. Lying. Posing as autistics to the detriment of those who are dealing with real autism. .