IN THE NEWS: The Lancet retracts 1998 work by Wakefield, et al. linking MMR to GI disturbance and autism

On February 2, 2010, the prestigious UK medical journal The Lancet published a formal retraction of the 1998 paper authored by Dr. Andrew Wakefield and 12 co-authors asserting that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) was linked to gastrointestinal disturbance and pervasive developmental disorders. Such a retraction constitutes a repudiation of the findings and a removal from the scientific record; in essence as if the article was never originally published.

RETRACTION:
Retraction—Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children
The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 2 February 2010
doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60175-7
(This article made available free by The Lancet with registration as a service to readers. )

removing from the scientific record,
Wakefield, A.J., Murch, S.H., Anthony, A., Linnell, J., Casson, D.M., Malik,M., et al. (1998). Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. The Lancet, 351(9103), 637-641.

This retraction comes just days after the January 28, 2010 ruling by the UK's General Medical Council in a 2 1/2 year investigation of allegations that Wakefield and two co-authors, John Walker-Smith and Simon Murch were guilty of serious breaches of research ethics, and engaged in unethical practice and non-adherence to the terms of ethics committee approval for the research described in the 1998 article. Wakefield in particular was reprimanded for dishonesty and irresponsibility in the conducting of the research for the 1998 article. Previous to this hearing, 10 of the 13 original authors of the study retracted their names from the article.

Wakefield, Walker-Smith and Murch will return before the GMC in early April, at which time it will be determined whether there was guilt of serious professional misconduct. In the event of such a determination, sanctions up to loss of license to practice medicine could be applied.

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References and for further reading

Murch, S.H., Anthony, A., Casson, D.H., Malik, M., Berelowitz, M., Dhillon, A.P., Valentine, A., Davies, S.E., & Walker-Smith, J.A. (2004). Retraction of an interpretation. The Lancet, 363(9411), 750.
This article is stated by The Lancet to be available free of charge with registration.

Summary of the background and specific inquiries made by the GMC

Media reports
Report linking autism to vaccines is retracted by medical journal
By Thomas H. Maugh II
February 2, 2010 | 9:34 a.m.
Los Angeles Times

Lancet Renounces Study Linking Autism And Vaccines
Scott Hensley
National Public Radio(NPR)12:25 pm
February 2, 2010

Lancet accepts MMR study 'false'
By Nick Triggle
Health reporter, BBC News
Page last updated at 14:22 GMT, Tuesday, 2 February 2010

U.K. General Medical Council Rules Wakefield & Co. "Dishonest," "Irresponsible"
2010-01-28 15:25
The Neurodiversity Weblog

From the Lancet to the GMC: how Dr Andrew Wakefield fell from grace
Sarah Boseley, health editor
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 28 January 2010 15.37 GMT

MMR scare doctor 'acted unethically', panel finds
last updated at 17:35 GMT, Thursday, 28 January 2010
By Nick Triggle
Health reporter, BBC News

Andrew Wakefield found 'irresponsible' by GMC over MMR vaccine scare
Sarah Boseley, health editor
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 28 January 2010 20.34 GMT

Doctor in disgrace
January 29, 2010
TimesOnline (UK)

© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
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