Medical journal retracts autism paper

The Lancet medical journal has formally retracted a 12-year-old paper that caused a battle over the links between a childhood vaccine and autism, Reuters reports. Published in 1998 and written by British doctor Andrew Wakefield, the paper suggested that the combined measles, mumps and rubella shot (known as MMR) might be linked to autism and bowel disease, leading to a fall in the number of vaccinations and a rise in cases of measles. A disciplinary panel from Britain’s General Medical Council ruled last week that Wakefield showed a “callous disregard” for suffering children, bringing the medical profession into “disrepute.”

Reuters