The Lancet, a well regarded British medical journal, has retracted a discredited study that linked the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism.
The Lancet published the controversial paper, "Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children," by gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield and colleagues in 1998. But editors of the journal said earlier this week that it had become clear following a review of Dr. Wakefield's conduct by Britain's General Medical Council that the study had serious problems and was, in fact, "incorrect." Namely, the study group only involved 12 children and researchers found no link between the MMR vaccine, gastrointestinal problems and behavioural problems.
What do you think about the retraction? Will it be able to quell the growing anti-vaccination movement which took root following the publication of the article in 1998? Should the retraction have come earlier?
SEE STORIES: "Lancet retracts flawed autism study, but paper's legacy lingers, experts fear" by Canadian Press | "Vaccinations and autism: there's no link" in Dalnews, Oct. 31, 2008
SEE RETRACTION: The Lancet
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