YES! UK: Sunday Herald (Scot) MMR storm: Wakefield welcomes probe

[Guest guest]

" Wakefield told the Sunday Herald last night: “There has been talk of an

inquiry. I would welcome this. I have absolutely nothing to hide. An

independent inquiry would be particularly welcome.” "

" Wakefield stood by his research. “The clinical and pathological findings

in these children stand as reported. My colleagues and I have acted at all

times in the best medical interests of these children and will continue to

do so.”

: " Last night, opposition politicians and autism campaigners joined the call

for a public inquiry into the safety of the MMR vaccine. In a statement,

the Autism Research Campaign for Health, a group of parents pressing for

more research, said: “It is vital that there is a public inquiry into the

safety of MMR, and that it examines the growing number of studies showing

the presence of measles RNA in the blood, gut and spinal fluid of autistic

children.”

http://www.sundayherald.com/40169

MMR storm: Wakefield welcomes probe

..EXCLUSIVE.

Health Secretary demands inquiry after doctor who linked triple jab with

autism accused of conflict of interest

By Liam McDougall

THE scientist at the centre of new claims that his research linking the MMR

vaccine with autism was “entirely flawed” has welcomed government demands

for an investigation into his controversial work.

Dr Wakefield told the Sunday Herald that an independent inquiry

“would be particularly welcome” after health secretary Reid yesterday

urged a probe by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Wakefield’s research was branded “invalid” by the editor of The Lancet, Dr

Horton, who claimed that at the time of publication in 1998

Wakefield was also carrying out studies for the Legal Aid Board on behalf

of parents who believed the vaccine had harmed their children. Horton said

that was a serious conflict of interest.

Wakefield told the Sunday Herald last night: “There has been talk of an

inquiry. I would welcome this. I have absolutely nothing to hide. An

independent inquiry would be particularly welcome.”

Concern over Wakefield’s controversial findings in 1998 led to a drop in

the number of parents willing to allow their children to be given the

triple measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. But on Thursday The Lancet

revealed that Wakefield had also been working on the legal claims – funded

by the Legal Aid Board – at the time he was doing his research at London’s

Royal Free Hospital.

Horton said Wakefield had breached The Lancet’s rules on potential

conflicts of interest by failing to declare his work for the Legal Aid Board.

“That put him in a dual role, which was an impossible conflict of interest

for him which he should have declared. My belief is that that aspect of his

work is entirely flawed .”

Later he added: “If we knew then what we know now, we certainly would not

have published the part of the paper that related to MMR, although I do

believe there was, and remains, validity to the connection between bowel

disease and autism – which does need further investigation, but I believe

the MMR element of that is invalid.”

Wakefield stood by his research. “The clinical and pathological findings in

these children stand as reported. My colleagues and I have acted at all

times in the best medical interests of these children and will continue to

do so.”

Last night, opposition politicians and autism campaigners joined the call

for a public inquiry into the safety of the MMR vaccine. In a statement,

the Autism Research Campaign for Health, a group of parents pressing for

more research, said: “It is vital that there is a public inquiry into the

safety of MMR, and that it examines the growing number of studies showing

the presence of measles RNA in the blood, gut and spinal fluid of autistic

children.”

It added: “The government insists MMR is safe. But they will only publish

epidemiological research and ignore clinical findings. A public inquiry

would address all sides of the debate.”

Reid yesterday resisted demands to hold a public inquiry on the issue,

calling only for the GMC to investigate the matter. However, the Liberal

Democ rats said that a GMC investigation would be insufficient.

22 February 2004

--------------------------------------------------------

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Classical Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

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