MP raises new allegations against Andrew Wakefield

Dr Andrew Wakefield, the researcher who is the leading proponent of a link between autism and the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (Lancet 1998;351: 637), was accused last week of conducting investigations on children without the proper approval of his hospital's ethics committee. The ethics committee of the Royal Free Hospital, London, where Dr Wakefield worked, was also criticised for the procedures it adopted.

Dr Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, who sits on both the BMA's ethics committee and the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, made the allegations during an adjournment debate in the House of Commons (House of Commons Official Report (Hansard) 2004 March 15: cols 128-36).

Speaking about the work done at the Royal Free Hospital by the inflammatory bowel disease group between 1995 and 1998, Dr Harris said: “There is very clear evidence pointing towards unethical conduct by the researchers—or by one or some of them—and equally strong evidence of failure and incompetence by the research ethics committee.”

He said that documents …