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MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR, SAYS DOCTOR
BY LAURA MATLESS
11:00 - 16 December 2003
The controversial Bath doctor who first raised concern over the safety of
the MMR vaccine last night said his conscience was entirely clear as the
row over his claims intensified. As a TV drama reignited the debate over
the triple inoculation system, gastroenterologist Dr Andrew Wakefield came
under renewed fire over his suggestion of a link with autism.
Channel Five's Hear the Silence reflected the concerns raised by ex-King
Edward's School pupil Dr Wakefield when he worked at the Royal Free
Hospital in London.
He announced in 1998 that he had found a possible link between the combined
vaccine given to children for measles, mumps and rubella and the onset of
autism and bowel disorders in a small percentage of children.
Bath charity Visceral was set up to fund his research with Dr Wakefield's
city-based parents, retired GPs Bridget and Graham Wakefield, both supporters.
Hear the Silence starred Hugh Bonneville as Dr Wakefield and Juliet
Stevenson as a mum who tries to find out why her previously healthy child
develops autism after having the jab.
The drama was heavily criticised by public health doctors, convinced that
it will further reduce inoculation take-up rates. An open letter signed by
11 experts said the programme was fatally flawed and unjustifiably raised
anxieties.
But in an interview on Channel 4 News, Dr Wakefield said he had no regrets
about raising fears and condemned the Government's unwillingness to make
single vaccines more freely available.
"If there is a problem, it should be laid at the door of the people who
have taken that choice away," he said.
In a combative exchange, presenter Jon Snow suggested Dr Wakefield's theory
was unsupported by the bulk of medical opinion and had "left the vast
majority of children exposed to death and blindness".
But Dr Wakefield replied that his conscience would be clear whether his
theory was proven to be true or not. "I have addressed my responsibility to
the patient sitting across the desk from me," he said.
Meanwhile, an American study has given fresh credibility to the concerns,
with experts at the New York University School of Medicine seeing the same
pattern of illness as pinpointed by Dr Wakefield.
This year Visceral, which is based in Fountain Buildings in Bath, has
committed £600,000 to research.
The charity funds 16 studies in 11 medical institutions in Europe and
America hand-in-hand with sister charities in other countries.
Robert Sawyer, chief executive of the charity, dismissed the drama's
critics and said the story had been carefully re-told. "I have been working
with Dr Wakefield since 1994 and have generated financial support for his
findings," said Mr Sawyer.
"I was privy to most of the events in his time at the Royal Free Hospital
and, having seen the drama, believe that although there are inevitable
distortions caused by compressing the events of several years into a
90-minute drama, his relationship with the Royal Free Hospital is
reasonably accurately portrayed."
Mr Sawyer added: "It is the responsibility of the Department of Health to
make sure that children are protected from these dangerous wild infections
and at this time I believe it is justified that they offer wider access to
the single vaccines."
The National Autistic Society has called for more support for families of
autistic children and more research into the effects of the vaccine. Vernon
Beauchamp, its chief executive, said: "The drama accurately portrays the
desperate struggle many parents face in getting the correct provision for
their children."