I was happy when I learned  that the research of Andrew Wakefield, the British gastroenterologist who was the first to suggest the link between the MMR vaccine, autism and bowel disorders in children, was formally discredited by Britain’s General Medical Council.

As an autism writer and advocate, I speak to groups of parents on a regular basis. So many are convinced that the MMR and other vaccines are the to blame for their child’s autism. They don’t listen when I tell them that since 1998, the year that Wakefield’s study was reported in the Lancet, measles has made a comeback among British children. In 1998, there were just 56 cases of the disease in England and Wales; by 2008 there were 1,370.

Unfortunately, Dr. Wakefield has is still supported by countless fans that have been taken in by his ability to explain himself and his theories without pause. I met him at an event a few years ago and was struck by how quickly he responded to my questions about vaccines, chelation, treatment, diagnosis, the weather. He’s tall, nice looking and persuasive. He is a man who enjoys attention.

As an autism writer and advocate, I speak to groups of parents on a regular basis. Many are still convinced that the MMR and other vaccines are to blame for their child’s autism. They don’t listen when I tell them that since 1998, the year that Wakefield’s study was reported in the Lancet, measles has made a comeback among British children. In 1998, there were just 56 cases of the disease in England and Wales; by 2008 there were 1,370. They don’t understand that measles is a devastating disease.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad_zjxsFUec

It would be great if Andrew Wakefield apologized to his followers for misleading them and encouraged them to focus on current research and treatment for autism.

Wakefield, after all, was widely quoted as saying the he welcomed and even encouraged the GMC investigation. Then when it was underway, it suddenly became a witch hunt.

So I am not holding my breath.

Laura Shumaker

www.laurashumaker.com

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/lshumaker/detail?blogid=171&entry_id=56341#ixzz0ePzPCrIk