Grandad jabs at top doctors over MMR vaccine

Grandad jabs at top doctors over MMR vaccine
Oct 19 2008 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun

A WHO'S WHO of Britain's top doctors has been reported to the General
Medical Council over claims they failed to address health issues regarding
the triple jab.

It marks a dramatic twist to the debate about the alleged link between the
measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and autism.

Those reported to the GMC include Professor David Salisbury, the Department
of Health's director of immunisation, and the Government's chief medical
officer Sir Liam Donaldson.

Also on the list is Mr Donaldson's predecessor, Sir Kenneth Calman, who
until recently was Vice Chancellor of Durham University.

The complaint has been brought by grandfather Bill Walsh, whose grandson is
alleged to have developed autism and bowel problems after he received the
MMR jab.

Mr Walsh said: "I brought this complaint because many children are suffering
a life of pain."

The action comes as the GMC is conducting an ongoing disciplinary hearing
into Doctor Andrew Wakefield and two colleagues who suggested the MMR jab
could be linked to autism.

Dr Wakefield, Professor Simon Murch and Professor John Walker- Smith face
claims the research they conducted on the children breached ethical codes.

Mr Walsh of Glasgow, Scotland, said: "I am concerned about what I believe is
the absence of proper tests since 1998 when Andrew Wakefield first raised
concerns about the MMR jab.

"The complaint is as rigorous as possible so it makes it so much more
difficult for them to try to close it down.

"There cannot be one rule for Andrew Wakefield and another for those in
powerful positions."

The full list includes Professor Sir David Hull, Professor Michael Langman
and Professor Andrew Hall of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and
Immunisation. Also reported to the GMC are Professor Sir Alisdair
Breckenridge, Professor Gordon Duff and Professor Colin Blakemore, all of
the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and Sir William
Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency.

The complaint said they ignored Dr Wakefield's work, which claimed certain
groups of children are damaged by the MMR jab, because of fears it would
undermine the immunisation programme.

It also alleged the programme had been undermined by bad judgments and by
the use of scientific studies of the general population to support the
safety of the MMR jab, instead of studies of vulnerable groups as identified
by Dr Wakefield.

It goes on to claim this has contributed to the spiralling numbers of
autistic children - by not addressing the issue - and as a result, children
were given unethical and unnecessary treatments.

A GMC spokesman said: "We do not comment on investigations as we have a duty
of confidentiality to all parties involved."

A Department of Health spokesmand said none of those named would comment,
but added: "These allegations are completely without substance. They come
from an individual who has pursued a long-standing campaign against MMR."

http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/north-east-news/2008/10/19/grandad-jab...t-top-d

On Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:17:39 +0100, "JOHN" <john RemoveThis @nospam.com> wrote:

>The complaint has been brought by grandfather Bill Walsh, whose grandson is
>alleged to have developed autism and bowel problems after he received the
>MMR jab.

Wouldn't it be more correct to say it was brought by Bill Walsh, an ex
property speculator, advertising agent and long term anti-vaccination
campaigner who is now the President of the "Autism Trust" which
received nearly $500,000 income last year?