In The Debate between MMR Vaccines and Autism, The Lancet Retracts Article on Controversial UK Physician

Matt Ford wrote on ArsTechnica.com that the editors of the British journal The Lancet reviewed the conclusions of a multiyear ethics investigation of UK doctor Andrew Wakefield performed by the General Medical Counsel (GMC) and then formally retracted a study which purported to find a link between the childhood MMR vaccine, gastrointestinal disease, and autism.

The article on Dr. Wakefield was published in 1998 and has been a source of international controversy in the pediatric community and among parents ever since. Ford wrote that much of the problems with the vaccines and autism can be traced to Wakefield's study.

"Wakefield was found to have acted unethically and conducted irresponsible research in coming to his—now thoroughly discredited—conclusions. According to Dr. Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet, "It's the most appalling catalog and litany of some the most terrible behavior in any research and is therefore very clear that it has to be retracted."

Read more about the issue here.