An English doctor who
linked childhood vaccines to autism,
"changed and misreported results
in his research," reports the
London Times.
In 1998, a group led by
researcher Andrew Wakefield reported
in The Lancet medical
journal that eight children out of a
dozen who received
Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccinations
developed autism symptoms days
afterward.
However, investigative
reporter Brian Deer says that medical
records of the children shows all but
one had such symptoms before the
shots, and that journal reports of
inflammatory bowel disease linked to
the shots were untrue.
Measles inoculation
rates dropped nationwide in the
United Kingdom following the report;
two children there last year died of
the disease. All of the researchers
involved in the study deny
misconduct, says the Times.
"Through his lawyers, Wakefield
this weekend denied the issues raised
by our investigation, but declined to
comment further."
By Dan Vergano
