Andrew Wakefield is best known for a controversial study published in the medical journal "The Lancet" in 1998. This study suggested a link between the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine and autism, which led to widespread public fear and a decline in vaccination rates.
Here is the citation for the original study:
- Wakefield, A. J., Murch, S. H., Anthony, A., et al. (1998). "Enterocolitis in children with developmental disorder." The Lancet, 351(9103), 637-641. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(97)11096-0
However, it is important to note that the study has been widely discredited. Subsequent investigations revealed ethical concerns, undisclosed conflicts of interest, and significant methodological flaws. In 2010, "The Lancet" fully retracted the paper, and Wakefield lost his medical license.
For more detailed and authoritative information about the study and its implications, you might want to consult:
- The BMJ (British Medical Journal) published a series of articles critical of Wakefield's work, including an investigation into the unethical conduct surrounding it. For instance:
- Godlee, F., Himagas, D., & Lakhani, M. (2011). "Wakefield's article linking MMR vaccine and autism was fraudulent." BMJ, 342, c7452. doi:10.1136/bmj.c7452
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