The doctor who first linked the MMR vaccine to autism defended the way he carried out his research at a General Medical Council hearing into his conduct last week.
Dr Andrew Wakefield said he adhered to official guidelines in his study, published in the Lancet in 1998, and denied charges of professional misconduct, along with two colleagues. Dr Wakefield is accused of violating ethical guidelines and of acting against the clinical interests of children who took part in his research. MMR vaccination rates stood at 91 per cent in 1997-1998 but slipped to 80 per cent in 2003-2004 in the scare that followed the Lancet article, although rates have since increased to 85 per cent.
