What was wrong with Wakefield’s study? Discuss at least two variables or approaches that should have been controlled or assessed.
The link between Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. Wakefield’s study results suggested that the autism was linked to the MMR vaccine (Carpi et al. 2003). Wakefield results were based on the tests he had conducted on twelve children who had undergone vaccination a month ago (Carpi et al. 2003). The two variables based on the epidemiological studies conducted recently showed that there was no biological evidence linking MMR vaccine with cases of autism. In fact, MMR protected infants rather than infecting them with autism. Wakefield’s study results were fraudulent.
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Consider the source of some of his data (parental memory, for example), the small sample size, and whether he considered other variables (genetics, diet, and so on) that could have resulted in symptoms in these children. Discuss the importance of a control group and sample size when using the scientific methods.
The sample size is a significant constraint to consider when carrying out scientific research. Wakefield results were based on a small sample size of twelve children test results he conducted (Deer, 2011). The results from these small sample size were used to generalize the tests of a larger population. Wakefield relied majorly on the parental memory of these children which was not a significant factor to consider in reporting the results (Deer, 2011). Wakefield could have increased the tests on the larger sample size like the way to deal with uncertainty and doubt. Large sample size can be used to reduce the level of mistrust of the scientific research conducted. Wakefield could have considered randomizing the patients or specimen which was not the case in Wakefield study. In performing a sample size, the sample group to experiment should not be too large as it would lead to a waste of resources and time as a factor.
Control group is also a significant factor to consider when carrying out scientific research. Control group is the group that is yet to receive treatment and are used as the specimen and to measure how the tests are to be subjected (Wakefield et al. 1998). Wakefield study neither considered age, genetics or diet in drawing his conclusions of the analysis he had conducted (Taylor.et al 1999). Wakefield relied on the duration after (a month after vaccination) which the children underwent injection. Wakefield before reporting the results of his tests, he was to consider the genetic type of these control group. Genetics of human beings is different and always to tend to react differently with the kind of drug applied on them. Genetic nature of human beings also plays a significant role in determining the resistance of a vaccine to human beings. Diet of the is also an essential factor that the research could have relied on the reporting of Wakefield’s findings. The control group tends to rely majorly on a diet for MMR vaccines proper functioning.
Did Wakefield deserve to be barred from medical practice?
Wakefield deserves to be barred from medical partitioning. In 2004, General Medical Council, (GMC) investigated to pertain the conspiracy story behind Wakefield research. GMC discovered that Wakefield solely wrote the final version of the study. GMC also brought to light that his coauthors were not aware of his study which is highly unethical. Deer unearthed evidence of falsification (Wakefield et al. 1998). The medical documents of the twelve children were found to be inaccurate, and Wakefield was unable to reconcile the diagnosis and the descriptions of his findings. Wakefield’s acts were considered to be gross misconduct. The General Medical Council gave Wakefield a second chance. Wakefield decided not to redo his research and continued to preach his old story. Wakefield’s coauthors chose to replicate the job to save their medical practices.
Deer also unveiled documents from the Freedom of Information legislation that Wakefield conspired with one of the fathers whose son was used in his experiments. The conspiracy was to cause a scare on the MMR vaccination on which Wakefield will gain profits on the new medical tests approved by the government. However, Wakefield planned to attain those profits through his own research company.
What were the consequences of his overblown conclusions?
The General Medical Council revoked Wakefield medical license. Deer’s Wakefield report was retracted, and it was discovered that documents were falsified. Wakefield’s statements led to the scares relating to the safety relating to the vaccines.
References
Carpi, A., & Dingle, A. (2003). Chemical bonding. Vision learning, CHE-1(7). Retrieved from https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Chemistry/1/Chemical-Bonding/55
Deer, B. (2011). How the case against the MMR vaccine was fixed. BMJ, 342. Retrieved from http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c5347
Science Buddies. (2018). Steps of the scientific method: What is the scientific method? Retrieved from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair- projects/science-fair/steps- of-the- scientific-method#keyinfo
Taylor, B., Miller, E., Farrington, C. P., Petropoulos, M. C., Favot-Mayaud, I., Li, J., & Waight, P. A. (1999). Autism and measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine: No epidemiological evidence for a causal association.
The Lancet, 353(9169), 2026-2029. Retrieved from http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(99)01239- 8/fulltext
Wakefield, A. J., Murch, S. H., Anthony, A., Linnell, J., Casson, D. M., Malik, M., … et al. (1998). RETRACTED: Ilea-lymphoid- nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. The Lancet, 351. Retrieved from http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(97)11096-pdf
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. (2017, December 6). Do vaccines cause autism? Retrieved from https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/do-vaccines- cause-autism
