Wakefield, Andrew
Wakefield, Andrew
A British-born, Canadian-trained physician best known for a controversial paper he published in 1998, which linked the bowel symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders to the MMR vaccine. Wakefield’s report, and the resulting media coverage, led to a steep decline in vaccination rates in the UK. On later examination of the paper, the data was weak, the statistics underpowered, the science inconsistent, major conflicts of interest undeclared and the study unethical.He was brought before the GMC, which ruled that he had failed in his duties as a responsible consultant, acted against the interests of his patients, and acted dishonestly and irresponsibly in his controversial research. He was striken from the GMC register in 2010.