WWJenny McCarthyD?

February 2, 2010 9:22 AM

In 1998, physician Andrew Wakefield published a study in the medical journal The Lancet claiming there was a connection between the Measles Mumps Rhubella vaccine (MMR) and the onset of autism in children. Today, Lancet has formally retracted Wakefield's MMR research. (Previously)
posted by orville sash (24 comments total)

Thank god, and this gesture was long, long past due. It's agonizing to think of all the millions of dollars that could've gone towards actual research that were wasted because of junk science.
posted by shiu mai baby at 9:28 AM on February 2, 2010

The Lancet sure gets in the news a lot for a medical journal. Do they have a cowboy reputation at all?
posted by smackfu at 9:29 AM on February 2, 2010

From the original paper: Onset of behavioural symptoms was associated, by the parents, with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination in eight of the 12 children, with measles infection in one child, and otitis media in another.

So in a sample size of 12, 8 of which had parents who already believed their autism was the result of vaccinations, they concluded that there was a link between autism and vaccinations? What? How did this get published in the first place?
posted by reformedjerk at 9:31 AM on February 2, 2010 [1 favorite]

WWJenny McCarthyD?

Ignore rational evidence and persist. Find a media outlet. Crusade. Profit. Repeat as necessary.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 9:32 AM on February 2, 2010 [4 favorites]

The damage has already been done. You can't put the toothpaste back in the tube, and those who advocate against vaccines will never apologize.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 9:34 AM on February 2, 2010 [1 favorite]

Not technically a double, but there was a previous thread on Wakefield posted just a few days ago.
posted by verstegan at 9:37 AM on February 2, 2010

It will still be a powerful end to the "but there's been a study in the Lancet" argument that often is pulled out to counter the "there's absolutely no evidence to your batshitinsane theory" response. Those that advocate children not getting safe and available vaccines are, not to put too fine a point on it, evil sociopaths.
posted by norm at 9:38 AM on February 2, 2010

Eesh...I didn't realize. With that one still open, this one should probably get nuked.

Mods?
posted by orville sash at 9:38 AM on February 2, 2010

The Lancet sure gets in the news a lot for a medical journal. Do they have a cowboy reputation at all?

It's one of the big three medical journals, along with The New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and the British Medical Journal. So it's not surprising that they would publish what the editors might consider big, exciting, and newsworthy stories. It's a shame though it took them this long to formally retract the paper, over five years after 10 of the 12 authors on the paper did the same.
posted by Endure You Are Not Alone at 9:40 AM on February 2, 2010

This is a topic MetaFilter does really, really well. How do y'all feel about SUVs and cat declawing?
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:42 AM on February 2, 2010 [1 favorite]

It's one of the big three medical journals, along with The New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and the British Medical Journal.

Doesn't that make four?
posted by rhymer at 9:48 AM on February 2, 2010 [1 favorite]

Interesting that the panel examined additional incidents from his professional career, rather than simply focusing on that one flawed paper.

This is long, long overdue. There's ample evidence in the paper itself that Wakefield's methods were questionable and of course, multiple studies have since disproven his findings. I only wish it hadn't taken them 12 years to take a stand against junk science.
posted by zarq at 9:48 AM on February 2, 2010

Now Jenny McCarthy can choose to believe that the island healed her son!
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:48 AM on February 2, 2010

Somewhat relatedly, Bill and Melinda Gates will be donating $10,000,000,000 to deliver vaccines and cures to people who can't afford them and to fund further vaccine research.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:49 AM on February 2, 2010

He ordered some youngsters to undergo unnecessary colonoscopies, lumbar punctures (spinal taps), barium meals, blood and urine tests and brain scans.

If this is true, fuck him straight to hell.
posted by gottabefunky at 9:52 AM on February 2, 2010

I believe this is commonly known as "locking the barn door after the horse bolts." So much damage has already been done that this is way overdue, but better late than never, I guess.
posted by cerebus19 at 9:54 AM on February 2, 2010

I'm pleased that the Brits are looking into rescinding his license, but I wish they'd take my suggestion and instead simply flay him and roll him in salt. I think that'd be much more in line with the harm he's caused.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:59 AM on February 2, 2010

You know what the response from the Jenny McCarthy-ites will be: "This is Big Pharma having government/media in their pocket, it's a conspiracy!!"
posted by spicynuts at 10:02 AM on February 2, 2010

This is a topic MetaFilter does really, really well. How do y'all feel about SUVs and cat declawing?


The same way I feel about circumcision and tipping at restaurants. Let's take this to Mad MeTa: Beyond HAMBURGER dome.
posted by dr_dank at 10:10 AM on February 2, 2010

Those that advocate children not getting safe and available vaccines are, not to put too fine a point on it, evil sociopaths.

Oh, come on. Maybe some are, but the vast majority of them are underinformed people reacting defensively to a perceived threat on their children that Oprah and company tells them is real.
posted by Flunkie at 10:12 AM on February 2, 2010

Pope Guilty: Somewhat relatedly, Bill and Melinda Gates will be donating $10,000,000,000 to deliver vaccines and cures to people who can't afford them and to fund further vaccine research.

And this is why--despite everything else he has stood for in the economic and technical world--I consider Bill Gates (Melinda, too) to be truly good people. Yes, it's only a portion of their fortune, but the fact that they do things like this all the time erases any other karmic stain, moreso if their money makes the difference in any verified cures.
posted by zombieflanders at 10:13 AM on February 2, 2010

With all of my heart, I hope that this retraction helps ensure more children receive the appropriate vaccines and our continued good record of minimizing childhood illness is continued. I hope fewer children suffer or die from preventable diseases, because too damn many already suffer and die from unpreventable diseases.

And I hope those who participated in this nonsense - from Wakefield, to Jenny McCarthy, to the parenting magazines and anti-vax parents who browbeat parents into feeling guilty about good vaccines and preventive care - receive appropriate treatment. In the case of Wakefield and other licensed medical professionals, I hope that includes criminal prosecution and punishment.
posted by bunnycup at 10:20 AM on February 2, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm pleased that the Brits are looking into rescinding his license, but I wish they'd take my suggestion and instead simply flay him and roll him in salt. I think that'd be much more in line with the harm he's caused.

That's going to be difficult, what with him having relocated to Texas. Enjoy!
posted by Sova at 10:20 AM on February 2, 2010

Somewhat relatedly, Bill and Melinda Gates will be donating $10,000,000,000 to deliver vaccines and cures to people who can't afford them and to fund further vaccine research.

Point of clarification: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will be donating $10 billion. From Pope Guilty's link: The foundation directs most of its attention to global health, education and agriculture in the third world and has committed more than $21 billion since it was established in 1994.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:20 AM on February 2, 2010