The Hall of Shame: Autism is Not Caused by Vaccinations!

British Medical Journal, Lancet—Welcome to the Hall of Shame!

The foundation of medical knowledge is based on publications which are “peer-reviewed.” This is supposed to mean that several other experts in the field have read the scientific paper and then judged the information to be worthy of dissemination in a medical journal, allegedly for the greater good.

More than a decade ago, Lancet published a paper linking autism to MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccines. The vaccination rate plummeted in Great Britain (and elsewhere), despite evidence to the contrary. This led to an increase in other serious childhood illnesses (most of which had been all but eradicated), and some of which resulted in death or serious injury. Dr. Wakefield, the researcher and author, who had been riding high on journalistic sensationalism at the time of publication, has now been found to have acted dishonestly and to have acted callously toward the children he treated. He may be stripped of his medical license.

The Lancet is as prestigious in GB as is our New England Journal of Medicine. So people take what they print very seriously. But the Lancet did not take their responsibilities very seriously. They did not retract the article despite overwhelming evidence that the author’s findings were bogus. They did not retract the article even though by 2004 scientific papers published elsewhere soundly debunked this theory and his work was in question.

Just this week, Lancet finally retracted the article. Removed it from their body of published literature. Much too little, much too late. How many children have been hurt? This reminds me of cutting through the down pillowcase and spreading all of the feathers and then asking someone to pick them up and make the pillow whole (yes, that famous Jewish tale that so adeptly describes the effects of Lashon Harah—evil speech/gossip).

The press is partly to blame for the spread of small pieces of the picture surrounding many medical and non-medical conditions. The sensationalist predictions about global climate change, also from GB, have come under scrutiny as another scientist seeks his 15 minutes of fame. And just in the last few weeks, the scientist who predicted that the Himalayan glaciers will recede by 2035 has admitted his data was not based on sound science but on a magazine article he read.

But back to autism, a subject obviously on my mind this week. West Hollywood, in Los Angeles county, California, has the highest rate of autism in the country. Your child is four times as likely to be affected if born there than anywhere else in the US. No longer can we say that autism is evenly spread geographically. Support for environmental factors is growing.

Will there be a mad rush to leave what may be a tainted environment? Or will the California sunshine prevail?

We don’t yet know the cause(s) of autism. And like so many other diseases and conditions, it is likely that many theories will be put forth and later found to be wrong or only partly true. That is the nature of scientific investigation when scientific inquiry is conducted properly and the dissemination of results done with great care.

The Lancet has failed us. All of us, not just the scientific/medical community. Not just the patients and their parents. Not just the society and the world. I hope that those who treasure freedom of the press also embrace the awesome responsibility of their trade. They must realize that they are here to serve us the truth, and not a slanted, sensational, sexy story which sells. Beware of what you read. Be wary of what you believe.