Vaccine-autism link doctor faces misconduct inquiry

blutoski

Penultimate Amazing
blutoski
Joined
Jan 10, 2006
Messages
12,454
Excerpt:

Andrew Wakefield, who published a paper in 1998 purporting to show a link between MMR vaccine and autism, is accused of publishing
"inadequately founded" research, failing to obtain ethical committee
approval, obtaining cash "improperly" and subjecting children to
"unnecessary investigations".
Click to expand...

Link:
Vaccine-autism link doctor faces misconduct inquiry

Editorial by blutoski:
This is an unusual move by the GMC, because they usually require a complainant. They are actually presenting the charges "in the public interest."

Prediction #1: If he's struck off the register, it will impact the MMR/Autism people the same way that peeing in a wasp's nest upsets the drones.

Prediction #2: It will strengthen support for him, as it would be the symbolic fulfilment of his messiah complex.
 
Prediction #3. The whole case will get the antivaccine lobby, the woos and Melanie Philips frothing at the mouth, with the result that they will produce extra antivax propaganda for consumption by the gullible public.

Prediction #4. If not struck off the register, Wakefield &co will claim a major moral victory, the papers will be full of more antivax woo, and more kids will get sick and die.
 
Obviously it won’t undo much of the damage already but it may act as deterrent to others.

I haven’t been able to access the article so could you let me know exactly for what he is being investigated.
 
Darat said:
Obviously it won’t undo much of the damage already but it may act as deterrent to others.

I haven’t been able to access the article so could you let me know exactly for what he is being investigated.
Click to expand...
According to The Times back in September -
The GMC’s inquiry, expected to conclude at a public hearing next June, is understood to be investigating Wakefield’s work with lawyers who were trying to sue MMR manufacturers while he was apparently acting as an independent researcher.
Click to expand...
 
Prediction #5. A few new parents who were not sure about vaccination will see this and decide that getting the MMR is a good idea.

I still cling to hope for humanity. Between the frothing at the mouth antivaccine lobby and ornery skeptics, there are a lot of people who don’t think about this very much. These are the people who need to be reached. This is something that could push people off the fence to the side of reason. Every small victory helps.

We now return to your regularly scheduled cynicism.
 
The number of measles cases has risen from 4,204 in 2003 to 56,390 in 2005.
Click to expand...
increase in mumps cases from 94 people in 1996 to 43,322 in 2005.
Click to expand...
Are the overall trends this alarming? Two points per curve isn't much to go by. (I'm afraid the answer will be "yes, this is representative" :-S)
 
richardm said:
Wakefield should not just be struck off but should be hung from a lamppost by his dangly bits and prodded repeatedly with a bamboo lancet.
Click to expand...
How on Earth is that remark supposed to further the cause of scientific investigation?

He may have failed to declare vested interests, there may be aspects that need to be investigated but to turn this into an ad hominem villification of the man is as anti-science as anything I've ever heard from the anti-scientists.

In fact more so because we're supposed to be the rational ones.

Yuri
 
Yuri Nalyssus said:
How on Earth is that remark supposed to further the cause of scientific investigation?

He may have failed to declare vested interests, there may be aspects that need to be investigated but to turn this into an ad hominem villification of the man is as anti-science as anything I've ever heard from the anti-scientists.

In fact more so because we're supposed to be the rational ones.

Yuri
Click to expand...

Your right!

We should allow the investigation to be completed.

Then hang him by his dangly bits...
 
Yuri Nalyssus said:
How on Earth is that remark supposed to further the cause of scientific investigation?

He may have failed to declare vested interests, there may be aspects that need to be investigated but to turn this into an ad hominem villification of the man is as anti-science as anything I've ever heard from the anti-scientists.

In fact more so because we're supposed to be the rational ones.

Yuri
Click to expand...

Yeah, I in particular was influenced by the rabid antivaccination stance found here: http://www.mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=47

Go ahead, sign on and enjoy. Wakefield is a hero, and the mainstream is just stabbing him in the back for revealing the "truth".

Just like they are saying at the above forums:

What England has been doing with Wakefield's character is similar to what we do with the kids in order to steer them away from negative situations . . . distraction.
Click to expand...
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=467200


Evidence is never good enough...

http://briandeer.com/wakefield-deer.htm
 
Last edited:
Yuri Nalyssus said:
How on Earth is that remark supposed to further the cause of scientific investigation?
Click to expand...

It's not. It's supposed to convey my contempt for the man. I leave the cause of scientific investigation to people who are qualified to investigate.

Speaking of lack of qualification, I realise now that there are many members of the public who may not recognise a lancet, so I propose also providing a sign offering helpful instruction.
 
It's a good thing.

Of course, it won't change the minds of some. After all, you can't use logic to get yourself OUT of a situation you never used logic to get yourself into in the first place.

But it may convince some fencesitters, which is a good thing.

I hope the fine is enough to pay all the medical bills from sick kids whose parents listened to his claptrap.
 
I volunteer to be the one using the sharp bamboo on his dangly bits.



Boo
 
He's such a sucker for punishment he might actually like it.

I propose injecting him with live mumps, measles and rubella virus, then offering him homeopathic remedies as a cure. Live on TV.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom