Medical Journal Retracts Autism Paper 12 Years On

[Dythan Dabrave]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/35197885

Medical Journal Retracts Autism Paper 12 Years On

The Lancet medical journal formally retracted a paper on Tuesday that caused a 12-year international battle over links between the three-in-one childhood MMR vaccine and autism.

The paper, published in 1998 and written by British doctor Andrew Wakefield, suggested the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot might be linked to autism and bowel disease.

His assertion, since widely discredited, caused one of the biggest medical rows in a generation and led to a steep drop in the number of vaccinations in the United States, Britain and other parts of Europe, prompting a rise in cases of measles.

"It has become clear that several elements of the 1998 paper by Wakefield ... are incorrect," the internationally renowned scientific journal said in a statement.

A disciplinary panel of Britain's General Medical Council (GMC) ruled last week that Wakefield had presented his research in an "irresponsible and dishonest" way and shown a "callous disregard" for the suffering of the children he studied.

It also ruled he had brought the medical profession "into disrepute."

Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at Bristol University, welcomed the Lancet's move but said it had been too long coming.

"This is not before time. Let's hope this will do something to re-establish the good reputation of this excellent vaccine," he said in a statement to reporters.

A rise in parents' refusal to have their children vaccinated because of fears of links to autism has caused a rise in measles cases in the United States and parts of Europe in recent years.

Data released last February for England and Wales showed a rise in measles cases of more than 70 percent in 2008 from the previous year, mostly due to unvaccinated children.


The Lancet said that following the GMC ruling, it was now clear that certain parts of Wakefield's paper were wrong. It highlighted claims in the original paper that children investigated for the study "consecutively referred" and that investigations were "approved" by the local ethics committee, and said these had now been "proven to be false."

"Therefore we fully retract this paper from the published record," it said in a statement.

Wakefield, who now lives and works in the United States, has always defended his work and accused those who argued against him of making "unfounded and unjust" allegations.

The GMC is now considering whether Wakefield is guilty of serious professional misconduct, which could lead to him being struck off Britain's medical register.

Copyright 2010 Reuters. Click for restrictions.

[Massif]

Well, I guess we now know that there was a never a point that this was anything but junk science.

I can't believe this guy took blood samples from the kids at his son's birthday party for 8 pounds a pop.

I wonder how many children have died because of this fool.

[Lenardo]

never hurts to be careful with your kids vaccines.

did my kids have the mmr?

nope. i had them give them all separately- mostly due to the limited knowledge on the subject and i KNEW that mmr was in the controversy so i elected to have my kids get the shots separately from nonmercury preserved vaccines.

[Massif]

I completely agree - being careful about/with your kids totally makes sense, and you had a hard and emotional decision to make there with seriously imperfect information.

Wakefield (the Lancet doctor) profited from your decision as I understand it. I know of several deaths in children due to their parents choosing not to get their kids vaccinated.

[ryum]

umm people who don't get their kids vaccinated were probably not persuaded that way due to that paper.
MMR is the 3 in 1 vaccine right? So what was the reasoning for not just vaccinating with the 1 in 1 vaccines?

I am possibly just missing something here.

[Massif]

Originally Posted by ryum

umm people who don't get their kids vaccinated were probably not persuaded that way due to that paper.

Maybe not, but their doctors might have been.

[ryum]

That's probably the issue then, I can't really comprehend your child's health solely based on what one doctor says. As in what happens during a check up, being a parent and NOT knowing about vaccines and when they need the shots and what shots they are scheduled to get. Basically harm from the doctor by lack of action when no immediate action is required, if that makes sense.

[Lenardo]

at the time i asked about it my kids doc was adamant that the mmr was safe and that the autism link was incorrect (he had done a paper on it in fact) but i went, don't want to take a chance, give them the single versions please with a nonmercury based preservative, he went, i understand, i have a newborn as well, not a problem.

really nice guy.