Andrew Wakefield

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Introduction
This paper seeks to understand the MMR vaccine, the nature of autism, the character and research of Andrew Wakefield. Through understanding his initial publication in The Lancet titled "Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children", as well as it’s repercussions and eventual retraction, a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship (or lack there-of) between the MMR vaccine and autism shall be explored.
In order to explore this thesis, it is important to first understand what exactly the MMR vaccine is, as well as the nature of autism. According to the United States National Library of Medicine’s Institute of Health, “The measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine …show more content…

Nearly two decades ago, Andrew Wakefield, British former surgeon and medical researcher, published a paper in The Lancet titled "Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children" (Wakefield, 1998). This paper asserted that there was indeed a link between the MMR vaccination and the appearance of autism and bowel disease (Wakefield, 1998). More specifically, Wakefield claimed that the MMR vaccine causes a series of events that “include intestinal inflammation, loss of intestinal barrier function, entrance into the bloodstream of encephalopathic proteins, and consequent development of autism” (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014). In support of his hypothesis, Wakefield studied 12 children described as having neurodevelopmental delay, diagnosing 8 with autism. His findings were perceived as substantial in that all of these children had gastrointestinal complaints and allegedly developed autism within a month of receiving the MMR vaccination (Wakefield, …show more content…

For specific example, while 90% of children in England were receiving the MMR vaccination when the paper was produced, it is of no surprise that children with autism would have received an MMR vaccination. Therefore, it is a logical expectation that some children with autism recently received the MMR vaccination; this does not transfer to the claim that the MMR vaccination causes autism, however (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014). Further flaws of the paper shall be explored in the analysis, but it is of note that The Lancet claimed in 2010 that:
“it has become clear that several elements of the 1998 paper by Wakefield et al are incorrect, contrary to the findings of an earlier investigation. In particular, the claims in the original paper that children were “consecutively referred” and that investigations were “approved” by the local ethics committee have been proven to be false. Therefore we fully retract this paper from the published record” (The Lancet,

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