wakefield summary

Small study conducted to test possible connection between mumps-measles-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Such a study produced results that raised questioning by other scientist because such a long period of time, but the results could not be duplicated in another lab. Making the research unreliable. Since the 1998 study by Wakefield has been conducted, research has been done to break any connection between the MMR vaccine and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In the 1998 study, incorrect scientific techniques were used by Wakefield to generate the results that seemed to link autism and GI disorder. Not only was Wakefield stirring up the scientific community by creating false positive results for his Autism Omnibus testimony, but he was poking at the ethical side of research by irresponsibility going about his scientific fraud. Little known, Wakefield was hired by high-end lawyers that were dealing with alleged vaccine injury cases. Sixteen years after the original paper, almost every bit of his argument can be refuted and the diagnoses of his flaws almost seem unnecessary.

The Lancet iPad app: Articles in a new light. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2014.