This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/6289166.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| MMR scare doctor 'paid children' | MMR scare doctor 'paid children' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The doctor who first suggested a link between MMR and autism paid children £5 for their blood samples at his son's birthday party, a hearing was told. | |
| Dr Andrew Wakefield and two colleagues face professional misconduct charges over their controversial research into the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. | Dr Andrew Wakefield and two colleagues face professional misconduct charges over their controversial research into the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. |
| The General Medical Council alleges the trio acted unethically and dishonestly towards the Lancet medical journal. | The General Medical Council alleges the trio acted unethically and dishonestly towards the Lancet medical journal. |
| They all deny the allegations in the case which could last several months. | They all deny the allegations in the case which could last several months. |
| Immunisation rates | Immunisation rates |
| The case centres on research carried out by Dr Wakefield, and colleagues Professor John Walker-Smith, and Professor Simon Murch, which raised doubts about the safety of the triple vaccine. | The case centres on research carried out by Dr Wakefield, and colleagues Professor John Walker-Smith, and Professor Simon Murch, which raised doubts about the safety of the triple vaccine. |
| The suggestion of the 1998 research paper - published in the Lancet - was that MMR was linked not only to autism, but also to the bowel disorder Crohn's disease. | The suggestion of the 1998 research paper - published in the Lancet - was that MMR was linked not only to autism, but also to the bowel disorder Crohn's disease. |
| It led to falling numbers of parents immunising their children and a row over whether the then prime minister, Tony Blair, had vaccinated his son, Leo. | It led to falling numbers of parents immunising their children and a row over whether the then prime minister, Tony Blair, had vaccinated his son, Leo. |
| But the medical establishment has repeatedly argued that the triple vaccine is perfectly safe. | But the medical establishment has repeatedly argued that the triple vaccine is perfectly safe. |
| And a host of major studies has since failed to find any evidence of a link between MMR and autism. | And a host of major studies has since failed to find any evidence of a link between MMR and autism. |
| MMR COVERAGE Target level of coverage for any of the childhood vaccinations is 95%MMR introduced in October 1988 and reached a high of 92% coverage in 1992-93 in EnglandUp until 1998 coverage hovered at 91%-92%In 1998-99, the year Wakefield published, coverage dropped to 88%By 2003-04 coverage had fallen to 80%Coverage has started to creep up again, and in 2005-06 it had risen to 84% | MMR COVERAGE Target level of coverage for any of the childhood vaccinations is 95%MMR introduced in October 1988 and reached a high of 92% coverage in 1992-93 in EnglandUp until 1998 coverage hovered at 91%-92%In 1998-99, the year Wakefield published, coverage dropped to 88%By 2003-04 coverage had fallen to 80%Coverage has started to creep up again, and in 2005-06 it had risen to 84% |
| The allegations against the doctors relate to investigations for their study on 12 youngsters with bowel disorders carried out between 1996 and 1998. | The allegations against the doctors relate to investigations for their study on 12 youngsters with bowel disorders carried out between 1996 and 1998. |
| At the time, all three doctors were employed at the Royal Free Hospital's medical school in London, with honorary clinical contracts at the Royal Free Hospital. | At the time, all three doctors were employed at the Royal Free Hospital's medical school in London, with honorary clinical contracts at the Royal Free Hospital. |
| They are accused of performing colonoscopies to look inside the bowel and lumbar punctures - also known as a spinal tap - on children without proper approval and "contrary" to the children's clinical interests. | They are accused of performing colonoscopies to look inside the bowel and lumbar punctures - also known as a spinal tap - on children without proper approval and "contrary" to the children's clinical interests. |
| Dr Wakefield and Prof Walker-Smith are also accused of acting "dishonestly and irresponsibly" in failing to disclose in the Lancet paper the method by which they recruited patients for inclusion in the study. | Dr Wakefield and Prof Walker-Smith are also accused of acting "dishonestly and irresponsibly" in failing to disclose in the Lancet paper the method by which they recruited patients for inclusion in the study. |
| It is also alleged that a drug was administered to one child for experimental reasons. | It is also alleged that a drug was administered to one child for experimental reasons. |
| One of the key allegations against Dr Wakefield is that he was being paid at the time for advising solicitors on legal action by parents who believed their children had been harmed by MMR. | One of the key allegations against Dr Wakefield is that he was being paid at the time for advising solicitors on legal action by parents who believed their children had been harmed by MMR. |
| Deny | Deny |
| Another charge is that he ordered investigations "without the requisite paediatric qualifications". | Another charge is that he ordered investigations "without the requisite paediatric qualifications". |
| All three doctors are accused of conducting the study on a basis which was not approved by the hospital's ethics committee. | All three doctors are accused of conducting the study on a basis which was not approved by the hospital's ethics committee. |
| One example is that some of the children may not have qualified for the study on the basis of their behavioural symptoms. | One example is that some of the children may not have qualified for the study on the basis of their behavioural symptoms. |
| In a statement ahead of the hearing Dr Wakefield's solicitor said: "Dr Wakefield continues to vigorously deny any allegation of wrongdoing." | In a statement ahead of the hearing Dr Wakefield's solicitor said: "Dr Wakefield continues to vigorously deny any allegation of wrongdoing." |
| The Lancet has disowned Dr Wakefield's 1998 paper, the editor admitting he would not have published it if he had known about what he called a "fatal conflict of interest". | The Lancet has disowned Dr Wakefield's 1998 paper, the editor admitting he would not have published it if he had known about what he called a "fatal conflict of interest". |
| The campaign group, Jabs, which believes MMR has damaged children, has been demonstrating in support of Dr Wakefield outside the GMC. | The campaign group, Jabs, which believes MMR has damaged children, has been demonstrating in support of Dr Wakefield outside the GMC. |