MMR vaccine-autism link'unethical'

[Miaow]

Rubella vaccine-autism link'unethical'



From correspondents in London
From: AFP
January 29, 2010 1:02PM




A BRITISH doctor who stirred up controversy by suggesting a vaccination against childhood illnesses was linked to autism acted unethically in carrying out his research, a medical regulator ruled.

Dr Andrew Wakefield's 1998 study, published in the Lancet medical journal, said there might be a connection between the measles, mumps and rubella injection and autism.
The suggestion horrified parents and led to a slump in the number of youngsters getting the jab, as well as triggering heated debate in medical circles.
The take-up of injections is yet to recover a decade on from the controversy.
In a ruling yesterday, the General Medical Council attacked Dr Wakefield for "unethical'' research methods and for showing a "callous disregard'' for the youngsters as he carried out tests.
This included taking blood samples from children at his son's birthday party for £5 ($9) payments.
The council further criticised him for acting in a misleading, dishonest and irresponsible way in the manner he described his 1998 study on children.
"Despite your explanation that you did not consider it unethical to obtain blood in this way, the panel found that it was unethical and that you did not have ethical approval for such an undertaking,'' Doctor Surendra Kumar, chairman of the council's disciplinary panel, said.
"It also found that you caused blood to be taken in an inappropriate social setting and you showed a callous disregard for the distress and pain you knew or ought to have known the children involved might suffer.
"You abused your position of trust as a medical practitioner.''
Dr Wakefield - who was working in London at the time of the research but is now based in the United States - said he was "extremely disappointed'' by the ruling and added the accusations against him were "unfounded and unjust''.

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/rubella-vaccine-autism-link-unethical/story-e6frfku0-1225824675019


Fall of Andrew Wakefield, ‘dishonest’ doctor who started MMR scare

David Rose, Health Correspondent

The doctor who sparked a worldwide panic over the MMR vaccine could be struck off after being found guilty yesterday of a series of misconduct charges related to his “unethical” research.
Andrew Wakefield, who in 1998 claimed an unfounded link between the vaccination and autism, “showed a callous disregard” for the suffering of children, subjecting them to unnecessary, invasive tests, a hearing found.
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.
It found that Wakefield and two colleagues acted dishonestly and irresponsibly in carrying out research on children against their best interests and without official permission.
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.
He also did not declare any conflict of interest to The Lancet medical journal, which published the research.
The GMC found the charges against Wakefield, and the professors John Walker-Smith and Simon Murch were “sufficient to amount to serious professional misconduct”.
But as he delivered the verdicts, Dr Surendra Kumar, the panel’s chairman, was repeatedly heckled by distraught parents who support Wakefield and his former colleagues. One woman shouted: "These doctors have not failed our children. You are outrageous." She called the panel of experts "b******s" and accused the GMC of being a "kangaroo court". All three doctors deny any wrongdoing.
The study prompted a massive drop in the number of children being vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella. Uptake of the MMR vaccine was 91 per cent before 1998, but by 2003 this had fallen to 79 per cent. In 2008 there were nearly 1,400 confirmed cases of measles in England and Wales — compared with 57 in 1997 — and nearly a dozen deaths had been officially linked to the illness.
Subsequent studies involving millions of children found no evidence of a link between MMR and autism.
The hearing sat for 148 days over a two-and-a-half year period, at a cost to the GMC, funded by doctors, of more than £1 million. It is the longest running medical misconduct case in the Council’s 147 year history.
Before yesterday’s hearing, 12 organisations, including the Medical Research Council, the British Medical Association and Faculty of Public Health, released a joint statement reaffirming their confidence in the jab.
“The undersigned believe that the MMR triple vaccine protects the health of children,” they said. “A large body of scientific evidence shows no link between the vaccine and autism.”
Wakefield was not present to hear the verdicts being read out but appeared to make a statement later, saying he was dismayed at the panel’s decision.
“I am extremely disappointed by the outcome of today’s proceedings,” he said.
“The allegations against me and my colleagues are unfounded and unjust and I invite anyone to examine the contents of these proceedings and come to their own conclusions.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article7006525.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084


Also a timeline of the MMR Scandal - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article7006306.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084

There are more articles on the timesonline.co.uk site on this matter also

[Hootenanny]

That study has been discredited for a while now, doesn't mean it's safe and it has not been proven to be safe.

[Miaow]

Still it's sad that it lead to an increase on these diseases coming back also :/


The study prompted a massive drop in the number of children being vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella. Uptake of the MMR vaccine was 91 per cent before 1998, but by 2003 this had fallen to 79 per cent. In 2008 there were nearly 1,400 confirmed cases of measles in England and Wales — compared with 57 in 1997 — and nearly a dozen deaths had been officially linked to the illness.

[Pax]

Still it's sad that it lead to an increase on these diseases coming back also :/


I just dont think it makes sense to try to prevent a disease with a poison :no:

scares the crapola out of me

[Hootenanny]

I agree it is always sad when there is an increase in disease but it's not always so straight forward, vax doesn't guarantee immunity and with the exception of measles the diseases that vax covers are fairly mild in young children. Mumps is a fairly mild disease in prepubescent children as is rubella. The main concern with rubella is pregnant women and I think rather than immunising babies we shoud be immunising women.
I think you will find that many people who don't want to vax with mmr would consider a measles only vax, but to cut costs and ease of administration the powers that be have a multidose and take the choice away from parents.

[Hollywood]

I prefer to believe the study involving MILLIONS of children, which showed no link to autism. I can't believe that so many people would believe that shonky doctor who took blood samples at his child's party!

[RoarsomeMum]

The Dr Nor the study played a part in our delaying vax. It was the people experiencing it.

Push the vax to 2yrs or 3yrs or 5yrs to prove the claims that the overwhelming amount of symptoms and diagnosis reported within 3 months of vax are not related to the immunisation. (instead of the convienient fall back of, "well, this is the age symptoms present".) That would be lovely.

There have been and will continue to be offensive dodgy studies done on all kinds of things, Depression, mental illness as a whole, Birth trauma, breastfeeding.. the whole gauntlet.. A crappy study does not necessarily = a bogus claim.

[Fuchsia!]

I prefer to believe the study involving MILLIONS of children, which showed no link to autism. I can't believe that so many people would believe that shonky doctor who took blood samples at his child's party!
What study is that? Can you please link me?

[TurnedBatty]

I prefer to believe the study involving MILLIONS of children, which showed no link to autism. I can't believe that so many people would believe that shonky doctor who took blood samples at his child's party!

Agreed! :yes: Makes me wonder how he suggested taking the blood to the parents. "Oh yes please come in. Now I need three drops of blood before your child can enter. And here is nine dolars for your tears." lol

I like the fact that he was struck off (or whatever it said) His research was bodgy. Good riddance to a bad doctor

[Hollywood]

What study is that? Can you please link me?

yes:


A Danish study of more than half a million children showed no link between measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination and autism.
In a commentary accompanying the study, which was published in the , Dr Edward Campion, senior deputy editor, wrote, “This careful and convincing study shows that there is no association between autism and MMR vaccination.”
....read article (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1124634/)

and

A Japanese research study has provided the strongest proof yet that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination does not cause autism, by showing that rates of autism in Japan continued to rise even after the triple vaccine was withdrawn.
....read article (http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/330/7491/558-a)

and also

There is no link between the MMR jab and autism, according to the largest published study on the issue.
Fears over a link in the Nineties led to a massive drop in the number of children having the jab for mumps, measles and rubella. Research on 12 children published in 1998 suggested a link between the vaccine, autism and bowel disease. Its lead author, Dr Andrew Wakefield, is now facing charges relating to the claims before the General Medical Council.
Today's research, published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, involved almost 250 children aged between 10 and 12, from the south Thames area.
...read article (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23435818-mmr-jab-not-linked-to-child-autism-study-finds.do)

I haven't got time to link anymore but there were more in my search. Thank god for modern medicine, we can prevent some horrible diseases.

[Hootenanny]

I think out of those studies the one in Japan is the most interesting because it does show that Autism rates continued ti rise even without MMR. I would like to know what other vaxes they continued to use and what was in them. Just because you remove that particular vax doesn't mean there isn't a link with vaxes, I think it is worth exploring if they still used other vaxes with heavy metals, formaldyhede etc.

[elleandsam]

I prefer to believe the study involving MILLIONS of children, which showed no link to autism. I can't believe that so many people would believe that shonky doctor who took blood samples at his child's party!

Amen to that! Think of the number of lives that have been saved by the polio vax!

And for those that are upset about the vax not being tested enough, in the military they give you experimental vaccines and do not tell you what they are or what they're for. They give you a list of possible side effects and that is it. I have NO idea what i was jabbed with while I was a serving member. At least I'm grateful to know what my daughter is and isn't getting.

[c38]

I think out of those studies the one in Japan is the most interesting because it does show that Autism rates continued ti rise even without MMR. I would like to know what other vaxes they continued to use and what was in them. Just because you remove that particular vax doesn't mean there isn't a link with vaxes, I think it is worth exploring if they still used other vaxes with heavy metals, formaldyhede etc.

There has and continues to be extensive studies on vaccines. What about other influences that may have an effect on neural/cognitive developement such as dietry habbits, transfats, radiation from electronic equipment, industrial polution, use of pesticides, use of antibiotics and other additives into meat stocks, treatment of water, use of bottled water, additives in foods, dyes used in textiles. What about looking at diagnostic tools and services (maybe the rate of autism has always been there, just that now we are better at screening/recognising it)... The whole question as to whether you are born with autism or does it suddenly develope..

There are thousands of changes in lifestyle that have occured that need to be looked at

I'm not saying I totally absolve immunisations, but I think they are well researched and so far there is no convincing evidence that they are responsible for autism and find it a shame that so many are still hanging on to this one Doctors dodgy findings. The evidence and findings coming out from this are demonstrate just how immoral this man acted. Sounds like not only did he misappropriate funds, but traumatised children not to mention has caused unfounded fear among millions of people world wide and put millions of children/adults and fetuses at risk of preventable disease.

I freely admit I am biased by the fact I work in the health profession and have seen children suffer and die from vaccine preventable illness. I am also am responsible for injecting infants and children with vaccines. And I am a mother. I take these responsibilities very seriously. I have questioned and read and researched..not just internet searches, and not just information handed to me from Pharmacutical companies. And I still believe the risk of my child (or anyones) having autism is not related to him being vaccinated, and the risk of him dying or suffering from vaccine preventable illness is far greater.

[Princess Drama]

Ive read that study from Japan and it seemed pretty conclusive. I didnt know the dr that ran this study was funded by parents who believed the vaccine gave their kids autism. Bias much?

[Hootenanny]

There has and continues to be extensive studies on vaccines. What about other influences that may have an effect on neural/cognitive developement such as dietry habbits, transfats, radiation from electronic equipment, industrial polution, use of pesticides, use of antibiotics and other additives into meat stocks, treatment of water, use of bottled water, additives in foods, dyes used in textiles. What about looking at diagnostic tools and services (maybe the rate of autism has always been there, just that now we are better at screening/recognising it)... The whole question as to whether yuou are born with autism or does it suddenly develope..

There are thousands of changes in lifestyle that have occured that need to be looked at

I'm not saying I totally absolve immunisations, but I think they are well researched and so far there is no convincing evidence that they are responsible for autism



They are all valid points, there are many ways we expose ourselves to dangerous substances on a regular basis and all of those things should be limited and more studies conducted. I am not against all immunisations for all people, they have their place, but for me personally it is not just about mmr and autism, it is about the fact that are there are many things they are not sure about, it is about the fact that they tend to 'rush' vaxes out with minimal testing and little long term concerns. Then if problems arise they recall them and move to something else. It is about the fact that it is driven by drug companies who are driven by profits and the lack of transparency in their dealings.
It is that they are increasing the amount of vaxes for babies to cover things which may or may not be relevant for that child, such as rubella to cover pregnant women. I also consider HepB to be a very low risk for my circumstances, I immunised my first child (minus MMR) and with my 2nd was shocked to find they administered Hep B at birth so did more research and decided not to immunise. Before signing my CO form my DR made me talk to the immunisation nurse, she aknowledged all of my concerns were valid. There have been countless changes to vaccines in the interests of safety, I am sure there will be more.
I also think they should provide more flexibility for parents to choose, if you don't want MMR you should be able to easily access just the measles component etc. If they listened to parents concerns (and industry concerns) and acted upon them they would have higher rates of immunisation.

[elleandsam]

I prefer to believe the study involving MILLIONS of children, which showed no link to autism. I can't believe that so many people would believe that shonky doctor who took blood samples at his child's party!

:iagree: studies are discredited for a reason. The end cannot justify the means.

[missie_mack]

One has to wonder how it has taken 22 years for this to come to the forefront. If his behaviour was so unethical why wasn't he struck off 10 or 15 years ago when they started to question his studies- which ironically was less to do with vaccines and more to do with bowel issues in autistic people.

And why if the health of society was at a premium and people were refusing the MMR vaccine at such alarming rates were parents not given the alternative of seperating the vaccines.

I believe the courts in this case are just as guilty of chanting 'Out, damn spot! Out I say' as Dr Wakefield

[Miaow]

Missy Mack, The study was released in 1998 which makes it only 12 years in Feb since it came out - from reading the articles this court case has been going on for 2 and a 1/2 years - still a long time though for them to act on it really though.

The timeline link i posted in the original post - is interesting as it seems in at least 2004 that the conflict of interest was being questioned and it took them until 2007 to start proceedings against him.

[missie_mack]

This is an interesting article to be added to this subject



The suggestion that there is a link between MMR and autism has been one of the biggest health controversies of recent years. But just who is the doctor behind the headlines?
Dr Andrew Wakefield was the lead author of the controversial study, which suggested there may be a link between MMR and autism and bowel disease.
The study, which was published in 1998, saw Dr Wakefield leave his NHS job and become a pariah of the medical profession.
Andrew Wakefield was born into a family of doctors in 1957. His mother was a GP and his father was a neurologist.
He studied medicine and spent the early years of his professional career in Canada, qualifying in 1981.
He specialised in surgery and became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1985.
More research
Dr Wakefield worked as a transplant surgeon before heading back to the UK in the late 1980s, where he decided to devote more of his time to research.
In the early 1990s, he was working as a senior lecturer at the Royal Free Medical School in north London.
He had published a number of studies which he suggested showed a link between measles and Crohn's disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease.
By the mid-1990s, Dr Wakefield had started to consider whether there was a link between the three-in-one MMR vaccine and autism and bowel disease.
His study focused on tests carried out on 12 children who had been referred to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead for gastrointestinal problems.
At the same time, Dr Wakefield was paid to carry out another study to find out if parents who claim their children were damaged by the MMR vaccine had a case. Some children were involved in both studies.
The Lancet says it was not informed of this and that together they represent a potential conflict of interest which would have led it to reject the paper.
When the study was published, Dr Wakefield joined other colleagues who had been involved in the research at a press conference at the Royal Free Hospital.
Most agreed that further research was needed and that parents should continue to have their children vaccinated with the three-in-one jab.
However, Dr Wakefield suggested that parents should opt for single jabs against mumps, measles and rubella instead.
His comments and the subsequent media furore led to a sharp drop in the number of children vaccinated against these diseases.
Resignation
In 2001, Dr Wakefield resigned from his £50,000 a year NHS post, after 14 years in the job.
It came just one month after he was made a fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in recognition of his research work.
Speaking at the time, he said: "I have been asked to go because my research results are unpopular."
Dr Wakefield has since worked for the International Child Development Resource Center.
The centre, based in Florida, is associated with the Good News Doctor Foundation, a Christian ministry.
He has also continued to see patients at the Thoughtful House, a centre for autistic children in Texas, where he is currently the executive director.
Dr Wakefield remains adamant that the scientific results of his 1998 study are still valid.
In a statement, he said: "The clinical and pathological findings in these children stand as reported."
He also welcomed the decision by the General Medical Council to examine how he carried out his research.
"I not only welcome this, I insist on it," he said.


BBC News UK (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3513365.stm)