Orac is the nom de blog of a (not so) humble pseudonymous surgeon/scientist with an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his miscellaneous verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few will. (Continued 
Here's a video in which Andrew Wakefield, who, now that he's facing charges for research improprieties and failure to disclose conflicts of interest, now claims that he's fighting "for the children," shows his concern for the children whose blood he drew:
Yes, while recounting how at a party he drew blood from children for £5 each, Wakefield is joking about how children fainted and threw up. Yes, the audience and Wakefield are laughing.
Disgusting.
Hat tip: Black Triangle.
Here's a bit more background:
LONDON -- The Austin doctor behind a controversial study linking a common children's vaccine to the developmental disorder autism on Monday went before an investigative panel looking into misconduct allegations, including whether he took blood samples from children at a birthday party.Britain's General Medical Council is examining claims that Dr. Andrew Wakefield failed to disclose his links to autism litigators and conducted the study without proper ethical approval. Wakefield denies any misconduct...
Wakefield stands accused of performing operations on children -- including colonoscopies and lumbar punctures -- that were arguably unnecessary, of coordinating his research with lawyers for autism patients and of taking blood from a group of children at his son's birthday party, paying them 5 pounds each for their contributions and later joking about it.
Remember the above video the next time you hear Wakefield piously pontificating about how he's "doing it for the children."
Comments
Hmmm.. performing medical experients on minors without permission, hanging onto deranged theories with no evidence, claiming persecution by those ignorant fools..
All he needs now is a castle in Translvannia and a servant called Igor. Shall I put in a bulk pitchfork and burning torch order..?
Well, it would be funny apart from the making-money-out-of-other-peoples-desparation bit.
Posted by: Andrew Dodds | July 18, 2007 4:04 AM
Is there a longer clip? That's so outrageous I'm like to know what was either side of it. I hope it was said in a context where it was just in poor taste.
Bob
Posted by: Bob O'H | July 18, 2007 4:11 AM
Here is a description of that video:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article2087463.ece
I'm so horrified I have not dared watch it.
Posted by: HCN | July 18, 2007 4:21 AM
In today's Guardian Ben Goldacre takes apart the shameful MMR story that the Observer (the Sunday version of the Guardian) ran last week, and which was subsequently covered by many other newspapers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2128807,00.html
What's good about this is that it appears in the comment section of the newspaper, not buried in the science section, so it will hopefully reach a wider readership. Of course Professor Baron-Cohen has already responded with a letter to the observer
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,,2126633,00.html
Unfortunately the Observer won't admit to the extent of it's mistakes, and by all appearances didn't even bother to check it's facts with the scientists involved in the study before publishing such a potentially dangerous article.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2126631,00.html
Perhaps Prof. Baron-Cohen and his colleagues should take the observer to court over this, or would that just give the anti-vaccine nuts more publicity?
Posted by: Paul Browne | July 18, 2007 6:23 AM
I'm not going to watch it because the description of it makes me feel sick.
Posted by: AnnR | July 18, 2007 7:36 AM
Speaking as a regular Observer reader, I hope they do sue for defamation (given UK libel laws I can;t see how they would fail), and I hope the editor responsable gets sacked.
Posted by: Andrew Dodds | July 18, 2007 8:35 AM
There's a statement / press release from Professor Baron-Cohen at http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2007071305
Posted by: Bob Dowling | July 18, 2007 9:09 AM
The Ahole is right when it comes to pushing snake oil;
"Andrew people won't come back." to which he replies, "Yes they will, we live in a market economy the'll come back for ten pounds." with which the crowd begins laughing again.
Who was his audience? Enron executives.
Again, nothing like having a target market composed of people that are desparate for anything.
Hope they do a thorough investigation.
Posted by: Uncle Dave | July 18, 2007 10:38 AM
You know, for kids!
Thanks Andy for showing your true colors. It's time to get back to work and continue making up data to justify performing experimentation on innocent children.
Posted by: Autistic Hudsucker | July 18, 2007 12:31 PM
"Who was his audience?"
I'm suspecting that at least 5 among the audience are the MIND Institute's "Founding Fathers".
Posted by: dyslexic_angeleno | July 18, 2007 1:03 PM
I want to punch this man in the chest until I can see daylight coming through the other side.
Posted by: Laser Potato | December 28, 2007 10:49 AM