MMR doc mixed ‘spin and science’

THE row over the doctor who sparked the MMR controversy intensified last night after the British Chief Medical Officer made stinging criticisms of his research.

Prof Sir Liam Donaldson accused Dr Andrew Wakefield of “mixing spin and science” and blamed his paper for a loss of confidence in a vaccine which saved millions of children’s lives.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair also called for an end to fears over the jab.

And the General Medical Council announced it was considering a formal investigation into claims that Dr Wakefield’s research was “fatally flawed” by a conflict of interests.

His paper, which linked the measles, mumps and rubella jab with autism in children, began the row over MMR when it was published in medical journal The Lancet in 1998.

But on Friday, the journal’s editor Dr Richard Horton said he would not have published the research had he known Dr Wakefield was being paid for a study looking for evidence to support legal action by parents who thought their children had been damaged by the vaccine.

The GMC confirmed it had spoken to Dr Wakefield in the wake of the claims and said he had indicated his willingness to co-operate with any investigation.

“We will be studying the statement made by The Lancet chief editor, to determine what action we may need to take,” a spokeswoman said.

Mr Blair had earlier said: “There’s absolutely no evidence to support this link between MMR and autism.

“If there was, I can assure you that any Government would be looking at it and trying to act on it.

“I hope now that people see that the situation is somewhat different to what they were led to believe, they will have the triple jab because it is important to do it.”

Meanwhile, Prof Donaldson said he had always regarded Dr Wakefield’s original study as “poor science”.

“If the paper had never been published, we wouldn’t have had the seed of doubt sown in parents’ minds which has caused a completely false loss of confidence in a vaccine that has saved millions of children’s lives.

“When Dr Wakefield has been in contact with us, he has often been represented by a PR company rather than communicating directly,” he added. “I don’t think that spin and science mix. If they are mixed, it is a very unfavourable situation for children’s health.”

Dr Wakefield was unavailable for comment last night, but had previously said he would welcome an inquiry.