Study linking autism with vaccinations labeled an 'elaborate fraud'

CNN reports that the British medical journal BMJ has concluded that Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the author of a 1998 study linking autism and childhood vaccinations, manipulated or misrepresented the medical histories of the twelve patients whose cases formed the basis of his now-discredited conclusions. The journal also says there is no doubt that Wakefield was the one responsible.

Our son has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, yet we never considered not giving him his routine childhood vaccinations. Other parents, unfortunately, did withhold those vaccinations.

I do not know why Dr. Wakefield did what he did. Perhaps he truly believed that childhood vaccinations were harmful and was willing to fudge the data to support that belief. But, as the CNN article noted, the number of measles cases has increased since the study was released. And the damage may not be over.