The man responsible for one of the most significant public health threats of our time has been exposed as a fraud.
Andrew Wakefield, the discredited British scientist whose study “linked” vaccines and autism, has been accused of falsifying data.
According to investigative reporter Brian Deer, “confidential medical documents and interviews with witnesses have established 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.”
If true, the entire belief system of the anti-vaccination movement is based on a lie. But, as Orac at Respectful Insolence notes, the horse has already left the barn.
“None of this will matter to antivaccinationists,” he writes, “who view Wakefield as . . . a persecuted scientific hero . . . I’m sure that [anti-vaccine proponents] will wax ridiculous about what a great doctor and man Wakefield is and how it’s big pharma and its minions who, frightened by the implications of Wakefield’s work, are working hard to demonize him and suppress his ’science.’”
I suggest you read Orac’s complete analysis on the issue, which is, as always, spot-on.
Related posts:
- Andrew Wakefield continues to spread his autism lies
- MMR vaccine not linked to autism
- Making up drug studies, and is the pressure for results too intense for clinician-scientists?
- A pediatrician takes the anti-vaccine movement head on
- Losing the anti-vaccine fight, and what we should do next
- Both the far left and right agree not to receive the H1N1 vaccine
- The shingles vaccine: Not practice friendly
{ 4 comments }
Alas, the truth comes to light. The quote of Orac is exactly right, people will make their own choices and must live with the consequences. We all do, every day.
Dr. Wakefield was exposed long ago, why are you just catching up with this? C’mon, keep up. This man has caused so much damage he is now being investigated with a view to being struck off.
What Anon 7:03 said (he/she beat me to it).
Orac rules.
“The man responsible for one of the most significant public health threats of our time has been exposed as a fraud.
Andrew Wakefield, the discredited British scientist whose study “linked” vaccines and autism, has been accused of falsifying data.”
Being accused of committing a fraudulent act and committing a fraudulent act are not necessarily the same. The accusation may not be proved correct at the end of the day.
Comments on this entry are closed.