Andrew Wakefield: A Case Study

The Case of MMR In 1998, The Lancet published a paper by Andrew Wakefield. The paper claimed to show links between the triple measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism and colitis disorders (Wakefield, Murch et al. 1998). The claims that the vaccine was not safe slowly grew in momentum, gaining mass coverage on the media and resulting in a drop in the number of MMR vaccinations. However an investigation by the journalist Brian Deer found that Wakefield had conflicts of interest (Thesundaytimes.co.uk 2004) and had distorted evidence. Since the 1998 publication there have been many studies that have found no evidence linking autism with the MMR vaccine and the 1998 paper was completely retracted by The Lancet in 2010. The British
It revealed some of the parents were litigants against the MMR vaccine and that Wakefield received £55,000 from the Legal Aid Board to collate a case against the vaccine. He failed to inform The Lancelet of the money he had received this was a clear breach of The Lancet’s declaration of interests which requires any finances that could influence their work, to be declared (Thelancet.com 2014). He also failed to inform his the other members of his research group of this, and, when the report was published he denied receiving the money personally. It is believed that in total £435,643 was paid to Andrew Wakefield to discredit the safety of the MMR vaccine (Thetimesonline.co.uk 2006). This is a serious breach of scientific ethics as Wakefield’s personal interest of receiving money to produce evidence against the vaccine was clearly contravening his professional obligation to remain impartial to the results of the
He applied for the patent in 1998, raising more questions that his is scientific work was geared toward his commercial ambition. The blatant manipulation that Andrew Wakefield is believed to have perpetrated, clearly shows his study was not intended as a robust piece of scientific research. A further report in the BMJ by Brian Deer, claims that Wakefield had planned to capitalise on the health scare with new medical tests and was in partnership with one of the test children’s father (Bmj.com