MMR research scientists retract link with autism

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 3-4-04 | Celia Hall

[TomB]

Ten scientists who worked on the research that triggered the MMR scare now say that there is no association between the triple jab and autism in children.

Thirteen co-authors wrote the paper published in The Lancet in 1998, led by Andrew Wakefield, who has been at the heart of the controversy ever since.

One of the scientists could not be traced and one other, Peter Harvey, together with Dr Wakefield, did not sign the researchers' retraction.

The 10, working for or attached to the Royal Free Hospital, London, or its medical school at the time, said in a statement yesterday: "We wish to make it clear that in this paper no causal link was established between the MMR vaccine and autism as the data were insufficient. However the possibility of a link was raised and consequent events have had major implications for public health.

"We consider now is the appropriate time that we should together formally retract the interpretation placed upon these findings in the paper."

The controversy over the vaccine caused a collapse in parents' confidence in the MMR programme. Vaccination rates fell to 60 per cent in some areas with demands for the vaccine to be given in a single injection.

The Government has refused to license single vaccines and insists that the MMR jab is safe. Meanwhile, thousands of parents have paid to have their children given a single injection privately.

The scientists say that the main part of the paper that presented findings of a new type of bowel disease in autistic children remains valid and that further evidence has been found to support this.

"We believe it important that such work continues as autistic children can potentially be helped by recognition and treatment of gastrointestinal problems," they say.

Richard Horton, the editor of The Lancet, calls on the Government to put £12.5 million into autism research and for a council of research integrity to be set up to investigate "serious allegations of research misconduct".

Last month allegations were made that the part of the research relating to MMR and autism had been flawed by a conflict of interest.

Dr Horton said he accepted that there had been a conflict of interest because of work Dr Wakefield was conducting for the Legal Aid Board.

[TomB]

More bad news for Wakefield.

[TomB]

ping

[TomB]

ping

[GrandMoM]

BUMP

[Sabertooth]

MMR research scientists retract link with autism

Perhaps, but the link between MMR and anecdotalism persists,
as the next 100 or more posts will show.

[hellinahandcart]

I just had to look. I knew you'd be here. LOL.

I almost pinged you to a thread about mattress fumes and crib death, but thought better of it...

[RightWhale]

The plural of anecdote is not data.

-Reformatted from original by another FReeper.

[Bella_Bru]

Well, somethings gotta be causing the increase. A very dear friend of mine has been a special ed teacher for 20+ years.

She said about 10 years ago, in her usual class of 10, only 2 would be autistic. She said the percentage has been on the rise though.

This year all 11 of her students have autism. Some are high functioning, others not.

I personally am not sold on a link between vaccines and autism, but there has to be something. Something that is causing the increased amount of children with autism.

[TomB]

I almost pinged you to a thread about mattress fumes and crib death, but thought better of it...

God bless you. ;-)

[TomB]

Perhaps, but the link between MMR and anecdotalism persists, as the next 100 or more posts will show.

Some things never change....

[TomB]

The plural of anecdote is not data.

One of my favorites.

Unfortunatley, it is completely lost on the ones it is usually aimed at.

[Born Conservative]

[Born Conservative]

mattress fumes and crib death

I sure hope you're joking about this...

[hellinahandcart]

Not joking, saw it here last night.

[TomB]

Face it, gang, you've got a group of people here who boast that they get the bulk of their news from "shortwave" broadcasts. And I DON'T mean Voice of America.

[facedown]

bump

[tracer]

Hey, a man's gotta eat and pay the rent.......

[discostu]

Obviously due to threats from the diabolical science lobby attempting to poison our children ;)

[discostu]

You hit one of the reasons right in your post. "High functioning". During the time period that autism diagnosis have increased dramatically so has autism science and our knowledge of it. Kids are being diagnosed as autistic that never would have been in the 70s and early 80s, the whole concept of high functioning autism is relatively new to the diagnosis. Just like any other illness that has moved to the front burner, as awareness increases and definitions expand so do diagnoses.

[Dan Evans]

"The study came under fierce criticism last month when the editor of the Lancet said that the lead author of the report, Dr. Andrew Wakefield had failed to reveal that he had a conflict of interest when he conducted the research. At the time, the journal editors said, Dr. Wakefield was also gathering information for lawyers representing parents who suspected their children had developed autism because of the vaccine. "

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/04/science/04AUTI.html?ex=1078981200&en=a7ad52dd4118e5b1&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

So how come this guy isn't being prosecuted for fraud?