Dr Andrew Wakefield
As reported in the SMH, Britain's General Medical Council have charged any-vaccination doctor Dr Andrew Wakefield with professional misconduct for suggesting a link between the MMR vaccine and autism.
His research, now revealed to be flawed, caused millions of parents worldwide to abandon the shot for measles, mumps and rubella and several children died as a result. Wakefield has now been struck from the medical register and is unable to practice in the UK.
However, he has vowed to continue his research into the link between vaccines and autism.
"These parents are not going away, the children are not going to go away and I most certainly am not going away," he said.
Medical authorities hope that sanctions against Wakefield will restore parents' faith in the vaccination program.
"I hope this ruling will finally persuade the public and some misguided journalists that Dr Wakefield behaved irresponsibly," said Dr Jennifer Best, a virologist at King's College University in London. "(The measles) vaccine is a safe vaccine."
Nevertheless, many parents on Essential Baby feel that the autism link has merit. "I believe that is what triggered autism in my children" wrote one mother of two with the condition.
Do you think the MMR can trigger or cause autism and are you satisfied with the actions against Dr Wakefield? Join the conversation.
