Difference between revisions of "Andrew Wakefield"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | Dr [[Andrew Wakefield]] was a researcher who | + | Dr [[Andrew Wakefield]] was a researcher who suggested that the measles, mumps and rubella ([[MMR]]) combined vaccine might be linked to an increased risk of autism and bowel disorders. In 1998 Wakefield and eleven others published a peer reviewed paper in the Lancet which consisted of a case review of 12 children sequentially referred to London's Royal Free Hospital, where Wakefield was a reader in experimental gastroenterology. The paper said that the children, who all had some inflammatory bowel problems, had in the main developed regressive autism.<ref>Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. A J Wakefield, S H Murch, A Anthony, J Linnell, D M Casson, M Malik, M Berelowitz, A P Dhillon, M A Thomson, P Harvey, A Valentine, S E Davies, J A Walker-Smith. The Lancet, Volume 351, Number 9103 28 February 1998</ref> |
Wakefield commented that the children's behaviour changed drastically shortly after they received the MMR jab. He said: "This is a genuinely new syndrome and urgent further research is needed to determine whether MMR may give rise to this complication in a small number of people."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1808956.stm MMR research timeline], BBC News Online, 4 Feb 08, acc 26 May 2010</ref> | Wakefield commented that the children's behaviour changed drastically shortly after they received the MMR jab. He said: "This is a genuinely new syndrome and urgent further research is needed to determine whether MMR may give rise to this complication in a small number of people."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1808956.stm MMR research timeline], BBC News Online, 4 Feb 08, acc 26 May 2010</ref> | ||
Revision as of 20:36, 26 May 2010
Dr Andrew Wakefield was a researcher who suggested that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) combined vaccine might be linked to an increased risk of autism and bowel disorders. In 1998 Wakefield and eleven others published a peer reviewed paper in the Lancet which consisted of a case review of 12 children sequentially referred to London's Royal Free Hospital, where Wakefield was a reader in experimental gastroenterology. The paper said that the children, who all had some inflammatory bowel problems, had in the main developed regressive autism.[1]
Wakefield commented that the children's behaviour changed drastically shortly after they received the MMR jab. He said: "This is a genuinely new syndrome and urgent further research is needed to determine whether MMR may give rise to this complication in a small number of people."[2]
Wakefield theorised that the combination of the three virus strains contained in MMR may overload the body's immune system and cause the bowel disorder to develop.[3]
The publicity following the paper's publication resulted in a dramatic fall in public uptake of the MMR vaccine.[4]
GMC hearing
In January 2010, the results of a three-year investigation by the General Medical Council into the fitness to practice of Wakefield and two other doctors from the MMR research team, Professor Simon Murch and Professor John Walker-Smith, were announced: they had been found guilty of professional misconduct. Wakefield himself was found guilty of over 30 charges[5] and was struck off the doctors' list.[6]
Conflicts of interest
Dr Surendra Kumar chaired the GMC fitness to practice hearing into the three Royal Free doctors. He read out the verdict of the General Medical Council (GMC) panel, which condemned the doctors as “dishonest”, “irresponsible”, and as acting “contrary to the clinical interests of this child”.[7]
In 2003 Kumar disclosed a shareholding in GlaxoSmithKline.[8] GSK was a defendant in litigation brought by parents of alleged MMR-damaged children under the legal aid scheme, litigation in which the parents employed Wakefield as an expert witness.[9]
See also:
Notes
- ↑ Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. A J Wakefield, S H Murch, A Anthony, J Linnell, D M Casson, M Malik, M Berelowitz, A P Dhillon, M A Thomson, P Harvey, A Valentine, S E Davies, J A Walker-Smith. The Lancet, Volume 351, Number 9103 28 February 1998
- ↑ MMR research timeline, BBC News Online, 4 Feb 08, acc 26 May 2010
- ↑ MMR research timeline, BBC News Online, 4 Feb 08, acc 26 May 2010
- ↑ Nick Allen, MMR-autism link doctor Andrew Wakefield defends conduct at GMC hearing, The Telegraph, 27 Mar 08, acc 26 May 2010
- ↑ Brian Deer, ‘Callous, unethical and dishonest’: Dr Andrew Wakefield, Sunday Times, 31 Jan 2010, acc 26 May 2010
- ↑ Danny Buckland, Rebel medic who sparked a national panic over MMR jab is struck off, The Mirror, 25/5/10, acc 26 May 2010
- ↑ Brian Deer, ‘Callous, unethical and dishonest’: Dr Andrew Wakefield, Sunday Times, 31 Jan 2010, acc 26 May 2010
- ↑ INDEPENDENT REVIEW PANEL FOR ADVERTISING Declaration of Interests, Medicines Act 1968 Annual Reports 2003, MHRA website, acc 26 May 2010
- ↑ Danny Buckland, Rebel medic who sparked a national panic over MMR jab is struck off, The Mirror, 25/5/10, acc 26 May 2010
