Vaccine-autism researcher should be prosecuted

[laconicsax]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/01/14/berezow.autism.vaccine.link/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

(CNN) -- Finally, after 13 years of needless controversy, the British Medical Journal determined that Andrew Wakefield's vaccine-autism link constituted an "elaborate fraud."

Having already lost his medical license in the UK for unethical professional conduct, it is now time for him to be prosecuted.

...

In 1998, Wakefield conducted a small study with 12 children in which he reported finding a link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and autism. However, it was recently http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/05/autism.vaccines/index.html">revealed that Wakefield manufactured the vaccine-autism link by falsifying patient histories. Despite the British journal's accusations, Wakefield maintains he did not commit fraud.

Scientific fraud is a very serious matter. From a fiscal standpoint, it is essentially stealing money. Whether the funding comes from taxpayers, charities or private sources, there is an expectation that the recipients of such largesse act in good faith and honesty. Any knowledge produced from this funding then enters the public domain via scientific journals. Thus, when a scientist fabricates data, he is not only squandering limited financial resources but is also violating the public's trust.

Much longer piece at the link.

[xchrom]

1. indeed. nt

[littlewolf]

2. K & R

I wonder how many kids got sick and infected other kids
because they were not vaccinated...

[laconicsax]

3. According to the CDC, the overwhelming majority of measles cases in 2008...

resulted from transmission between unvaccinated individuals, mostly children.

I don't know about the numbers in the UK where Wakefield had a greater impact.

[mhatrw]

6. serves them right for not getting their shots

[jeff47]

7. Not all those children had the option of getting their shots

Many were too young. They used to be protected by herd immunity. If anti-vaxxers were just risking their own kids, I'd be fine with the consequences. But they're not. They're risking other people's kids.

[HuckleB]

4. K & R.

[mhatrw]

5. Yes, he should.

This needs to go to court so that all parties can air their sides of the story for the record.