Dr. Wakefield exonerated of false charges.

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=395903 & in_page_id=1770MMR row doctor who defied Government 'in the clear'By SUE CORRIGAN and SALLY BECK, The Mail on Sunday22:00pm 15th July 2006The doctor at the heart of the MMR vaccine controversy may not face chargesof misconduct despite a 20-month investigation which has devastated hisprofessional reputation.The General Medical Council has indicated that it will not proceed withcharges against Dr Andrew Wakefield, who first suggested a link between thetriple jab and autism.Dr Wakefield has been strongly backed by the parents of autistic childrenallegedly damaged by the vaccine, who refused to condemn his actions wheninterviewed as part of the

inquiry.Last night the families claimed the investigation had been used to discredithis work and prevent further study into the risks of the vaccine.Dr Wakefield first suggested a link between the triple vaccine for measles,mumps and rubella and autism and bowel disease in 1998, after carrying outtests on 12 children admitted to the Royal Free Hospital in London withserious bowel disorders. He proposed that parents be offered three singleinjections.The Government denied there was a problem with the vaccine and it became apolitically sensitive issue after senior Labour figures, including TonyBlair, refused to disclose if their children had received the jab. DrWakefield was ostracised by the medical establishment and has since moved toAmerica.In late 2004 the GMC announced it was launching an inquiry into allegationsof serious professional misconduct against Dr Wakefield and two formercolleagues. It

centred on claims that autistic children admitted to thehospital with serious bowel problems were subjected to "unnecessary andinvasive", tests.smear campaignHowever, the children's parents are understood to have staunchly defendedthe doctors', actions, praising them as the first to take their concernsseriously.It was also claimed Dr Wakefield's research had not been valid because hefailed to disclose a £50,000 grant from the lawyers of parents attempting tosue MMR's manufacturers for their children's disorders. Dr Wakefield hasconsistently argued that the grant was for separate research.Nearly two years later the GMC has not drawn up any formal charges againstDr Wakefield and no date has been set for a public hearing, at whichscientific arguments for a link between MMR and autism would have beenaired. GMC spokeswoman Jo Wren said there is now "no guarantee", there willever be a

hearing.New figures released last week revealed that more than one in 100 childrenin the UK suffer from autism - far higher than previously thought.Last night Rosemary Kessick, the mother of an autistic boy whose treatmentis part of the investigation, accused the GMC of allowing itself to be usedas part of a deliberate Government campaign to smear Dr Wakefield and propup public confidence in MMR."Hundreds of autistic children with the serious bowel disease firstidentified by Dr Wakefield have been unable to get any treatment in the UK,and the drawn-out GMC investigation has played a major role in thisdisgraceful state of affairs," she said."It is deeply disturbing that Dr Wakefield's research findings and personalintegrity have been so damagingly called into question on the basis of draftcharges that may, in the end, simply be dropped."Last night Dr Wakefield

confirmed that no charges had been filed to date. "Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." - Aurobindo.

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