An investigation by the Sunday Times (UK) indicates that the doctor who reported information suggesting a link between MMR vaccine and autism may have "misreproted results in his research." The investigation purpots to show that ...
...Andrew Wakefield manipulated patients' data, which triggered fears that the MMR triple vaccine to protect against measles, mumps and rubella was linked to the condition.The research [originally] claimed that the families of eight out of 12 children attending a routine clinic at the hospital had blamed MMR for their autism, and said that problems came on within days of the [vaccinatoi]. The team also claimed to have discovered a new inflammatory bowel disease underlying the children's conditions.
However, our investigation, confirmed by evidence presented to the General Medical Council (GMC), reveals that: In most of the 12 cases, the children's ailments as described in The Lancet were different from their hospital and GP records. Although the research paper claimed that problems came on within days of the jab, in only one case did medical records suggest this was true, and in many of the cases medical concerns had been raised before the children were vaccinated. Hospital pathologists, looking for inflammatory bowel disease, reported in the majority of cases that the gut was normal. This was then reviewed and the Lancet paper showed them as abnormal.
(Emphasis added)
The story is here.
See also:
A Quick Note to Huffington Post
Did the founder of the antivax movement fake autism-vaccine link?
Anti-vax study a case of scientific fraud?
The anti-vaccination movement---rotten to the core
Medicine & Health
Comments
I've done another round-up post -- who is saying what about the Deer articles on Wakefield in the London Times. I've included this post.
11 years on, Wakefield Manufactured Data showing MMR-Autism Link?
Posted by: Liz Ditz | February 9, 2009 10:16 AM
It turns out journalist Brian Deer made it up:-
"Sunday Times Journalist Made Up Wakefield MMR Data Fixing Allegation":
http://tinyurl.com/djbtzq
And he was helping the US Justice Dept sink 4500 US kids claims for vaccine damage compensation - what kind of normal journalist does that? Ans: none.
"US Federal Court, US Justice Dept & The Sunday Times - More Questions Than Answers"
http://tinyurl.com/ac5xkt
Posted by: Clifford G Miller | February 20, 2009 4:20 AM
Hi Greg
Thanks for covering this.
We thought you and your commenters might be interested in the following reaction to the claim that "Sunday Times Journalist Made up Wakefield MMR Data Fixing Allegation":
http://briandeer.com/mmr/mli-information.htm
And we'd be interested in your opinion to our coverage -- specifically, why has this thing dragged on for over 10 years?
Cheers,
The Science Police
Posted by: The Science Police | March 9, 2009 12:18 PM
And it looks like Sunday Times journalist Brian Deer could not make his story stand up. See:
"Sunday Times Ordered ‘Remove Wakefield MMR “Data Fixing” Story’"
http://childhealthsafety.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/briandeerdowninflames/
Posted by: Clifford G. Miller | July 3, 2009 2:59 PM