Landon Hall Interviews Dr. Andrew Wakefield in the OC Register

Landon Hall wrote an article about Dr. Andrew Wakefield, author of Callous Disregard from Skyhorse Publishing  in the OC (Orange County, California) Register. Please click HERE to read the full article and to comment on their site.

To many long-suffering parents of autistic children, he's a crusader. To many pediatricians, scientists and public-health advocates, he's a charlatan and a central figure in the anti-vaccine movement.

What Dr. Andrew Wakefield is not is conciliatory. Although his research was largely discredited and his medical license stripped in his native Britain, Wakefield has remained outspoken about what he sees as a campaign by the pharmaceutical industry to destroy him. He is also not backing down from his claims that vaccines targeting childhood illnesses, particularly the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, are insufficiently tested for safety.

"I don't know whether vaccines cause autism, but I know full well that there's a valid question that needs to be answered," he said. "And I know, having dealt now with the other side of the equation, and coming from being an absolutely mainstream physician doing mainstream research, that when you ask an awkward question, suddenly the heavens open on you...

"This is about how the system deals with threats to its interest."

Wakefield spoke in late July at a meeting of Talk About Curing Autism, the Costa Mesa-based nonprofit that was started in 2000 by 10 families. Now it offers help to more than 17,000 nationwide. During that timeframe, the rate of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder has risen steadily.

In December the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, using data from 11 states, estimated that as of 2006, 1 in every 106 children had been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder by age 8, up from 1 in every 167 four years earlier. Among boys, the ratio jumped to 1 in 66 from 1 in 105 in the earlier survey.

Wakefield and his colleagues at the Royal Free Hospital in London spotted this trend mostly by accident. Wakefield is a gastroenterologist, and he began observing young patients with bowel problems: searing abdominal pain, constant diarrhea and rashes. The symptoms often accompanied behavioral issues known to be associated with an ASD, such as hand-flapping, loss of language and communication skills... Please click HERE to read the full article and to comment on their site.

Comments

[patricia pratt]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/mid_/8650048.stm

Another good doctor being persecuted for thinking and acting outside the pharmaceutical black box.

[michael framson]

Mary Kay, I read that piece from the Galen Institute. These remarks,"resulting in such small returns for [vaccine] manufacturers that many have little choice but to scale down or halt production."......"Junk lawsuits, government price fixing and over-regulation".

Its exactly the kind of pro-industry, less regulation crap which comes from a group of individuals who are influential in shaping government policy which favors industry and their bottom line, and use "our" democracy against us.

[Marykay]

It's good to see the Register at least touch on this side of the issue, as I'm used to reading the following type of coverage:

http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/vaccine-261842-vaccines-production.html

And kathy, as an Orange County resident I have to point out that my daughter receives services and I don't think we went through any more, or less, hassle than we would have anywhere else to get them. Also, pretty sure we have less pollution than many other areas. I've had asthma my whole life and I've never breathed better since living here!

[Benedetta]

Kathy said:
"Once again, the eloquence of his responses speaks the truth."

Right on Kathy!!!!

Cherry said:
"it makes ones blood boil to read that Dr. Wakefield has been discredited."

Absolutelty! I feel it in my chest!

[Cherry Sperlin Misra]

You have to appreciate that Landon Hall, AT LEAST got it right in his statements about what Dr. Wakefield actually claimed. I have read so many media articles that get this all wrong and well, we all know what kind of sources must have given it to them .
But of course it makes ones blood boil to read that Dr. Wakefield has been discredited.
What research is that which discredits him?
When, oh when are the parents of the autistic kids going to rise up in anger against those who dare to dismiss all the observations of the parents?

[Anne]

Dr. Wakefield is the most honourable, courageous man! I keep hoping someone will make a movie, including actual footage, of this whole "saga".

[kathy blanco]

note to self, don't live in Orange County, or you may not get services, or at least stand in a LOOONG line for them. And I am sure the pollution is quite high there, adding to the equation. Once again, the eloquence of his responses speaks the truth.