X-Message-Number: 23478
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
Subject: quality of research
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2004 17:52:26 -0000

A recent BBC news story is relevant to the recent discussion here on the
quality of research papers.

A storm has arisen over research that links Autism with MMR (triple Mumps
Measles and Rubella) vaccines.

from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3508865.stm
>>
The allegations do not cover the actual findings of the study.

On Saturday Dr Horton told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Dr Wakefield
had been commissioned by the Legal Aid Board to do a separate study to what
was reported in the Lancet.

Some children were involved in both trials, which took place at London's
Royal Free Hospital, he said.

Dr Horton said the goal of the Legal Aid Board-funded study was to find out
if there was evidence to support a multi-party litigation case by parents
who claimed the MMR jab had harmed their children.

"We did not know that he had a dual role with the Legal Aid Board in that he
was doing this study separately from his Lancet investigation...and we
certainly had no idea that he had received money to do that."

Dr Horton said Dr Wakefield had accepted the facts of his dual role and that
he had received money from the Legal Aid Board, but denied a conflict of
interest.

<<<

The way the news media have taken up this story denies the first line, ie
"The allegations do not cover the actual findings of the study" but merely
the legal implications of the double interest. The researcher claims that he
has done the research properly and the results are unaffected. However as
the results are now "legally unsafe" the government is pushing its MMR
vaccine program because it is cheaper than injecting the three vaccines
separately at different times. No one has claimed that the results are
"scientifically unsafe" or factually flawed, only flawed in terms of correct
procedure.

-- 
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

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