Medical journal formally retracts 1998 paper linking vaccine and autism

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PARIS (AFP) – Medical journal The Lancet Tuesday withdrew a 1998 study linking autism with inoculation against three childhood illnesses, a paper that caused an uproar and an enduring backlash against vaccination.

The British journal said it was acting in the light of an ethics judgement last week by Britain's General Medical Council against Andrew Wakefield, the study's lead researcher.

"We fully retract this paper from the published record," The Lancet's editors said in a statement published online.

The 1998 paper suggested there might be a connection between autism and a triple vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).

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In last Thursday's ruling, the General Medical Council attacked Wakefield for "unethical" research methods.

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Wakefield was also accused of acting in a misleading, dishonest and irresponsible way in the manner in which he presented the research.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100202/ts_af...ccinationautism

[LaL 418]

interesting!

[Peikko 1,575]

Good, that's a step forward. Hard to counteract all the public 'feelings' of fear, but this should be a start.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I hear that CO2 causes autism.

[Peikko 1,575]

Reading your posts causes narcolepsy.

[Calypso 464]

Reading your posts causes narcolepsy.

What else is there to retract? RD says drinking a glass of red wine each night is good for the heart. Other sources claim it's harmful. British people say the G-spot doesn't exist while French GYNs stand firm that it's there.

[Peikko 1,575]

The almost complete eradication of the three childhood illnesses targeted by this vaccine has single handedly reduced child mortality rates to virtually zero, a spin off effect of which has been the reduction in birth rate where these vaccines are readily available. This misguided man is responsible for the illnesses beginning to make a comeback because of the irrational fears of autism being a side effect. These are all documented facts, not 'opinions'.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Reading your posts causes narcolepsy.