Comments | xinie: Austims-vaccine link faked

xinie

Austims-vaccine link faked

Feb 08, 2009 15:24

The doctor who sparked the scare over the safety of the MMR vaccine for children changed and misreported results in his research, creating the appearance of a possible link with autism, a Sunday Times investigation has found ( Read more... )

Comments 11

trystero February 8 2009, 21:52:44 UTC

There was never any good evidence pointing to a link between the MMR vaccine and autism in the first place, so verification here seems rather like icing on the cake. But there was a hugely effective populist lobby pushing for the vaccine to be dropped, whipped up by media scare stories. Ben Goldacre of Bad Science, among many others, has written about the sheer frustration of dealing with this whole saga.

xinie February 8 2009, 22:10:51 UTC

Absolutely frustrating. All the pseudoscience kept pointing back at this one study, though, so I don't get why it took so long to pull the rug out from under it.

At least, I guess, they are publicizing it to celebrate Charles Darwin's 200th birthday... I guess no solace to the parents whose children have died from measles.

mikecap February 9 2009, 00:28:34 UTC

But why would the guy do it in the first place??

xinie February 9 2009, 02:21:17 UTC

That would be a great place to start researching the psych behind pseudoscience and what Colbert termed "truthiness"- believing something in your gut or "on faith" or anecdote being more valuable to so many people than actual facts.

Thread 5

milknut February 9 2009, 02:04:34 UTC

I wonder what else people will blame for the increase in autism...

xinie February 9 2009, 02:21:36 UTC

I'm sure Jenny McCarthy will tell us any day now.

drama_kween February 9 2009, 20:17:50 UTC

Oh, snap! LOL!

xinie February 9 2009, 21:53:19 UTC

Thank you for yet another opportunity to rationalize posting my favorite flow chart:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vjornaxx/294168009/

Thread 5

profittbigpaul2 February 10 2009, 20:50:37 UTC

Hi

I’m sending you this as it’s something you shouldn’t miss…
I was completely shocked and amused with what I saw and
I thought it might benefit you as well
You’ll find this very exciting and I’m sure you would
want to check it out too.
http://www.easy-money-spinner.co.uk
http://www.papercraft-ideas.com
http://www.memorial-signs.co.uk
Best Wishes,
Paul profitt