Dr. Andrew Wakefield & The Medical Inquisition
While news of the Wakefield inquisition makes headlines around the world, the hundreds of thousands of families with children adversely affected by MMR vaccine are beginning to comprehend the ruthlessness of a medical system that puts the ‘bottom line” ahead of the wellbeing and safety of their children. The real goal of this inquisition is to insure that no medical researcher or doctor steps out of line, or dares question the safety of MMR vaccine, or any other vaccine for that matter.
In his 1998 Lancet paper, Wakefield et al reported a novel inflammatory bowel disease in 12 children with developmental regression (autism) which parents reported had started after being injected with MMR vaccine. The paper expressly stated that “We did not prove an association between measles mumps and rubella vaccine and the syndrome described.”
Although Wakefield never claimed that his research had proven a link between the vaccine, autism and bowel disorders, the conclusion drawn by the case series was that, “Further investigations are needed to examine this syndrome and its possible relation to the vaccine.” Wakefield also recommended that until further research was done, it might be a good idea to separate the three viral components in the MMR shot into 3 single vaccines.
The study’s conclusion and call for additional research is often misunderstood as a call to discontinue immunization against measles, mumps and rubella.
The vaccine establishment took the paper as a direct attack on itself, on the triple virus MMR vaccine and on the vaccine paradigm. Vitriolic condemnation of the study, and its recommendations were unleashed with a vengeance along with a relentless persecution of Dr. Wakefield these past 12 years in an effort to destroy his credibility and his career.
This latest outpouring of loathing from monopoly medicine has also culminated in the retraction of the paper by the Lancet – a symbolic cremation of his work, tossed into the flames along with the dedicated researcher who has now been mercilessly burned at the stake .
In short order, Wakefield was pushed out of his research position at the Royal Free Hospital in London and eventually moved to the U.S. to take up a research position with Thoughtful House in Austin, Texas where his focus remains the study of severe bowel disorders in children with autism.
Since the publication of the Wakefield paper in 1998, awareness of the link between MMR vaccine and autism has steadily grown as parents of healthy children who descended into the abyss of autism after vaccination with MMR have joined the ranks of thousands of families who know that somehow, the vaccine is linked to their child’s disability.
In support of Dr. Wakefield’s original work, it is important to remember that a number of studies have, in the meantime replicated his findings. According to investigative journalist David Kirby, “there are now at least six published legal or scientific cases of children regressing into ASD following vaccination – and many more will be revealed in due time.” The most recent is Dr.A. Krigsman’s study of 143 autism spectrum/developmental disorder patients, with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. http://www.la-press.com/article.php?article_id=1816
The medical/pharmaceutical establishment has funded over a dozen studies to disprove that MMR vaccine is linked to autism or any brain disorders. Fourteen of these widely touted studies have been thoroughly analyzed by a leading autism organization, and have been found grossly flawed in their methodology and conclusions. The website, “fourteen studies” offers the public a meticulous analysis of these studies: The conclusion is that these studies in no way prove the safety of MMR vaccine.
Additional Resources and Articles
Andrew Wakefield, Scientific Censorship, and Fourteen Monkeys
Wakefield Inquisitioners Have Their Day by Dr. Sherri Tenpenny
Andrew Wakefield, Scientific Censorship, and Fourteen Monkeys
David Kirby, The Lancet retraction changes nothing: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/the-emlancetem-retraction_b_446749.html
Marin Walker, Eye witness report and history of what happened:http://www.ageofautism.com/2010/01/eye-witness-report-from-the-uk-gmc-wakefield-walkersmith-murch-hearing.html
Barbaro Loe Fisher commentary: http://www.nvic.org/NVIC-Vaccine-News/January-2010/Vaccines-Doctor-Judges-Juries-Hanging-Their-Own.aspx
Mark Blaxill, Naked Intimidation: The Wakefield Inquisition is Only the Tip of the Autism Censorship Iceberg http://www.ageofautism.com/2010/01/naked-intimidation-the-wakefield-inquisition-is-only-the-tip-of-the-autism-censorship-iceberg.html#more
“The extremity of the GMC’s verdict–all three men guilty on all counts—lays bare any pretense that the British medical establishment cares one whit about the welfare of its patients. Let’s put in perspective the actions at issue here. No children were harmed and no parent or guardian has complained about the care these three men provided. In fact, the procedures involved were routine, the resulting treatments standard and the careful attention to gastrointestinal illness in autistic children has recently been endorsed by a consensus statement published in the journal Pediatrics (no friend of the autism community). Considered in this light, the GMC hearing process stands exposed for what it is. It was not about medical standards. It was not about evidence. It was not even civilized. It was, rather, a naked exercise in intimidation, a fateful moment of moral decision in which the medical industrial complex exposed its ruthless, repressive essence. They are a frightening bunch and their conduct here raises issues well beyond autism.”
Dr. Andrew Wakefield commentary: The Devil’s in the Detail: http://www.rescuepost.com/files/autism-file-usa34-wakefield-2.pdf
Safe Minds stands behind Dr. Wakefield: http://www.ageofautism.com/2010/01/safeminds-supports-dr-andrew-wakefield.html
In the Lancet paper Wakefield et al reported a novel inflammatory bowel disease in 12 children with developmental regression (autism) and expressly stated that “We did not prove an association between measles mumps and rubella vaccine and the syndrome described.” The conclusion drawn by the case series was that, “Further investigations are needed to examine this syndrome and its possible relation to the vaccine.” The study’s conclusion and call for additional research is often incorrectly misinterpreted as a call to discontinue immunization against measles, mumps and rubella.
Generation Rescue Supports Dr. Wakefield: http://www.ageofautism.com/2010/01/generation-rescue-supports-dr-andrew-wakefield.html :
The recent decision by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom against Andy Wakefield shouldn’t surprise anyone who understands the stakes, profits, and reputations at risk in the debate over vaccines and autism.
The sole purpose of the GMC’s ruling this week is to try and quell the growing concern of parents that the expanding vaccine schedule and the remarkable rise in autism are correlated. The GMC will no doubt be helped by a press that barely understands the debate and has never read any of the dozens of studies published by Dr. Wakefield in many different respected medical journals.
Pledge of Support from the Autism Collaboration:
“Today’s verdict by the General Medical Council epitomized their negligence in respecting all of the sound scientific studies worldwide replicating the findings of Dr. Andrew Wakefield. In the United States we will continue to fund studies replicating Wakefield’s work. We will focus more heavily on helping to educate the British public about the dangers of the MMR. We will look with renewed vigor into possible misconduct by the GMC. And, most importantly, we will continue to recover children from autism thanks, in large measure, to Dr. Wakefield’s pioneering work. We have witnessed and applaud the sustained courage and dignity of Dr. Andrew Wakefield. He has stood by the children, and we will stand by him.
Groups Comprising the Autism Collaboration:
Autism One
Autism Research Institute
Generation Rescue
National Autism Association
SafeMinds
Schafer Autism Report
Talk About Curing Autism
Unlocking Autism
This article discusses the First Amendment complaint by US & British vaccine & autism safety advocacy groups looks very interesting: http://www.ageofautism.com/2010/01/-false-testimony-denies-lancet-doctors-a-fair-hearing.html