On The Lancet's Retraction of Wakefield's 1998 Paper Alleging A Connection Between the MMR Vaccine and Autism

Update February 7,2010. I will cease updating this post daily effective this afternoon. Please feel free to leave links to blogs and articles published after February 7 in the comments and I will move them to the body of the post as time permits.

Brian Deer's Investigative Journalism: The Wakefield File. 

From the February 2, 2010 Bloomberg News article

“It has become clear that several elements of the 1998 paper by Wakefield et al are incorrect, contrary to the findings of an earlier investigation,” the editors of the Lancet wrote in a statement today....

The paper was retracted from the published record, stripping it of its scientific claims.

Download Lancet retraction of Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children

From the February 2 2010 New York Times article

The retraction by The Lancet comes a day after a competing medical journal, BMJ, issued an embargoed commentary calling for The Lancet to formally retract the study. The commentary was to have been published on Wednesday.

The BMJ commentary said once the study by British surgeon and medical researcher Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues appeared in 1998 in The Lancet, ''the arguments were considered by many to be proven and the ghastly social drama of the demon vaccine took on a life of its own.''

I kept a running record of the reactions to the General Medical Council's verdict on Wakefield's conduct at Andrew Wakefield: Dishonesty, Misleading Conduct, and Serious Professional Misconduct: Blog Posts Critical of Verdict; Blog Posts Approving of Verdict. This post will collate the responses to the Lancet's retraction.

Posts Critical of the Lancet's Decision to Retract Paper

February 2, 2010

1. Age of Autism, blogging at Age of Autism, posts The Lancet Retraction
2. Mo Gallant, blogging at Pottstown Blog, posts MMR Vaccine and Autism (with a long quote from Halvorsen that I can't find elsewhere.)
3. Bobbi Lea, blogging at News Cottage, posts Study Linking Autism to Vaccine Retracted - Jew Controlled British Medical Journal Bows to Pressure To Keep Children Sick
4. Kim Stagliano, blogging at Huffington Post, posts The Censorship of Autism Treatments
5. David Kirby, blogging at the Huffington Post, posts The Lancet Retraction Changes Nothing

February 3, 2010

6. Megan at Fox News Interviews Mark Blaxill , posted at Age of Autism,
7. CNN Interviews Kim Staglianoposted at Age of Autism,

February 4, 2010

8. Dan Olmstead, blogging atAge of Autism posts Olmstead on Autism: Enjoy in While It Lasts
9. Prevent Disease, publishing at PreventDisease.com, publishes Lancet Slammed: Vaccine Science Poisoned by Special Interests in PharmaMedia

February 5, 2010

10. Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey, published Age of Autism link: A Statement from Jenny McCarthy & Jim Carrey: Andrew Wakefield, Scientific Censorship, and Fourteen Monkeys
11. Mike Adams, blogging at Natural News, posts The Lancet retraction of vaccine autism paper condemned as Big Pharma conspiracy to discredit Dr. Wakefield
12. Maryanne, posting at Matthew's Puzzle, posts With the Lancet Retraction Comes...

February 6, 2010

13. Louise Kuo Habakus, blogging at Life Health Choices Blog, posts Dr. Andrew Wakefield and the Distasteful Practice of the Ignorant “Pile On”

February 7, 2010

14. Katherine Muratore, blogging at Lew Wakefield.com posts Retraction of the MMR Paper — Not What It Seems

Posts Approving of the Lancet's Decision to Retract Paper

February 2, 2010

1. Kev, blogging at LeftBrain/RightBrain, posts Lancet Retracts Wakefield Paper
2. Every Good Thing Between Us, blogging at Every Good Thing Between Us, posts Ethical Lapse in Autism Study
3. Courtney, blogging at One Mom's Perfect Imperfection, posts Medical Journal Retracts Article Linking Autism To Vaccine!
4. Haddyr, blogging at Haddyr's Journal, posts Medical Journal retracts Study Linking Autism to Vaccine
5. TheSafetyMom, blogging at The Safety Chronicles, posts CNN Breaking News Regarding The MMR Vaccine
6. Stasa, blogging at Stasa's Blog This! posts UK Medical Journal Retracts Flawed Vaccine Study
7. Emily, blogging at A Life Less Ordinary, posts The Collapse is Complete
8. Jim Beck, blogging at Drug and Device Law, posts More Evidence that The Vaccine-Autism Link Is Garbage
9. Modern Mom blogging at Modern Mom, posts Medical Journal Retracts Study Linking Vaccine to Autism.
10. Doug, blogging at Doug Speaks, posts Medical Journal Retracts Autism Study
11. Carol Forsloff, writing at Digital Journal, writes Scientists Retract Study on Positive Autism Vaccine Link
12. Matthew Herper, blogging at The Science Business (Forbes Magazine) posts The Lancet's Incomprehensible Autism Retraction
13. Corina Becker, blogging at No Stereotypes Here, posts The Triggering of Dr. Wakefield
14. David Knowles, blogging at Paradigms Lost (True Slant) posts Study Linking MMR vaccine and autism is retracted 
15. Gad Saad, blogging at Homo Consumericus, (Psychology Today Blog) posts Paper Linking MMR to Autism Has Been Retracted
16. Debbie Schlussel, blogging at Debbie Schlussel.com, posts Paging “Dr.” Jenny McCarthy, Stat: Will Bimbo Retract Her Junk Science About Autism & Vaccines?
17. Science Media Centre, New Zealand, blogging at Science Media Center, posts UK and New Zealand Vaccine and Autism Experts Respond to Lancet Retraction
18. Scott Hensley, blogging at Shots (NPR), posts Lancet Renounces Study Linking Autism and Vaccines
19. Cecilia, blogging at Knee Deep Down Under, posts Well, Well, Well
20. Tim, blogging at A Progressive on the Prairie , posts Retracting 11 Years of Bogus Science
21. Jonathan Levy, blogging at The Interactive World (Psychology Today Blog), posts Four Quick Reactions to Lancet Retraction
22. Chris Wysocki, blogging at WyBlog, posts Lancet Acknowledges There Is No Vaccine-Autism Link
23. Closet Conservative, blogging at Closet Conservative, posts The Lancet: Retraction of Flawed Autism Study
24. Ace, blogging at Ace of Spades HQ, posts The Science is Settled: Medical Journal The Lancet Retracts MMR Vaccine Link
25. Sullivan, blogging at LeftBrain/RightBrain, posts With the Facts Against Them, Dr. Wakefield's Supporters Appeal to Emotion
26. Dave, blogging at AkronDave, posts Let The Conspiracy Theorists Rage
27. Alencon, blogging at Alencon's Place, posts Paper Linking Vaccines and Autism Retracted
28. Evan Harris, M.D., M.P., blogging at Dr. Evan Harris MP, posts  Lancet MMR Retraction Should Have Been Done Years Ago
29. Podblack, blogging at Podblack Cat, posts Lancet Finally Retracts False Wakefield Paper
30. Jean Mercer, blogging at Child Myths (Psychology Today Blog), posts Lancet Takes It All Back: Vaccines and [No] Autism 
31. Anthony Cox, blogging at Black Triangle, posts Lancet Wakefield Retraction
32. Anthony Cox, blogging at Black Triangle, posts Wakefield Condemned by Wakefield
33. Anthony Cox, blogging at Black Triangle, posts Wakefield on the Upside of Infection
34. K.I.M., blogging at Shuddup.com, posts Autism Research Retracted
35. Mom26Children, blogging at What Are They Thinking, posts Stay Tuned
36. Monica Potts, blogging at Tapped (The American Prospect) posts Autism Study Retracted, Twelve Years Too Late
37. Phil Plait, blogging at Bad Astronomy (Discover) posts And Now The Anti-Vax Failure Is Complete 
38. Dave Anderson, blogging at Newshoggers, posts Autism-Vaccine Retractors

February 3, 2010

39. Orac, blogging at Respectful Insolence, posts The Martyrdomof St. Andy, Part 2: David Kirby Rides to the Rescue (Sort Of)
40. Orac, blogging at Respectful Insolence, posts How Can I Resist Such A Request
41. Jim Hasik, blogging at The Red Travis Project, posts With The Retraction, The Hypothesis He Put Forward Has Been Debunked (Why GOP in Travis Co. Should Reject Anti-Vaccination Ideology)
42. Jay Gordon, blogging at Huffington Post, posts The Lancet Retracts Dr. Andrew Wakefield's Article On The Autism/Vaccine Connection (but does not reject Dr. Wakefield, is silent on Wakefield's ethics, and still thinks there may be a vaccine-autism connection)
43. Steven Salzberg, blogging at Genomics, Evolution, and Pseudoscience, posts The Lancet Finally Retracts Erroneous Study Linking MMR Vaccine to Autism
44. Steven Novella, blogging at Science-Based Medicine, posts The Lancet Retracts Andrew Wakefield's Article
45. Barry Jay Warsch, blogging at Far Right Democrat, posts Will Oprah Issue Any Retraction?
46. Denise Myshko, blogging at PharmaVOICE, posts Medical Journal Retracts Study
47. Alison Singer, writing at CNN, publishes Time to Regroup on Autism
48. SkepFeeds, writing at Skepfeeds, posts Wakefield Creamed by MSNBC
49. Shaw, blogging at Shaw's Eco-Logic, posts A Retraction from The Lancet That Is Very Weak and Way Too Late
50. Arthur Caplan, writing at MSNBC.com, publishes How a zealot’s word led us astray on autism: Tiny, flawed vaccine study a case study in biased medicine
51. Scott Costello, blogging at Essays on American Life, posts Big Mistake
52. Joanne Jacobs, blogging at Janne Jacobs posts Lancet retracts vaccine-autism study
53. Heather Horn, writing at AtlanticWire, publishes Vaccine-Autism Link Broken
54. Krisjan Wager, blogging at Pro-Science, posts The Wakefield Saga Continues
55. Nescio, blogging at Primum Non Nocere, posts Dr. Wakefield Abused Position of Trust
56. Tim Ellis, blogging at The Huffington Post, posts Waking up from the Wakefield Nightmare
57. Matt Ford, blogging at Nobel Intent (Ars Technica) posts Lancet Retracts Paper Linking MMR Vaccine and Autism
58. Alex Pareen, blogging at Gawker, posts Vaccines Still Don't Cause Autism
59. Thomas H. Maugh, blogging at Booster Shots (LA Times) posts Andrew Wakefield responds to article about journal retraction of autism study report
60. Kristina Chew, blogging at Care2 Update: Lancet Study Retracted: Vaccines, Autism, Bad Research and the Damage Wrought by Andrew Wakefield
61. Skeptico, blogging at Skeptico, posts David Kirby, King of Denial
62. Paul Offit, M.D., interviewed by CBSNews: The Lancet and the media share blame for popularizing the false MMR-autism link
63. Laura, blogging at Apt. 11D, posts Jenny McCarthy, Are You Listening?
64. Daniel Drezner blogging at Daniel W. Drezner (Foreign Policy) Science and Politics Sitting As Far Away from The Tree As Possible
65. Crawford Killian, blogging at H5N1 Blog posts Branswell on Lancet Retraction
66. Jim Edwards, blogging at  Pharma Industry Buzz (bnet) The Shame of The Lancet's Shoddy Autism Study Retraction
67. Alex O'Meara, blogging at AlexO'Meara.com posts Dr. Wakefield, The Lancet, Vaccines, Autism, and a Useless Retraction
68. Peter Lipson,  guest-blogging at The Science Business (Forbes) posts More Good News On The Vaccination Front
69. Amy, blogging at Asthma Mom, posts Lancet Finally Retracts The Wakefield Vaccine Paper
70. Chris Mooney, blogging at Science Progress, posts Will The Vaccine-Autism Saga Finally End?

February 4, 2010

71. Orac, blogging at Respectful Insolence, posts How Not To Report Science and Medical News, Vaccine Edition
72. Lone Wolf, Blogging at Lone Wolf's Den, posts The Lancet Retracts Andrew Wakefield Study
73. Abbas Raza, blogging at 3 Quarks Daily, posts Lancet Retracts Andrew Wakefield MMR Scare Paper
74. Noel Alonso, M.D., blogging at Moms & Dads: SunSentinel.com posts Autism and Vaccines: What Parents Should Do.
75. Linda, blogging at The BrodskyBlog, posts The Hall of Shame: Autism Is Not Caused By Vaccinations
76. Cara Natterson, M.D., blogging at ParentsAsk.com posts It's Damage Is Done
77. Stephen Barrett, M.D., writing at Autism-Watch.org, publishes Lancet Retracts Wakefield Paper
78. Elizabeth Whelan, M.D. (president of the American Council on Science and Health) , writing at The New York Post, publishes Junk science kills. Who'll apologize to dead kids?
79. From Newsy.com, reflections on how the retraction affects the peer-review process.
    Read the transcript at http://www.newsy.com/videos/journal-retracts-autism-paper-who-s-at-fault
80. Kwombles, blogging at Countering Age of Autism, posts Blathering Nonsense and an Epic Fail: Age of Autism

February 5, 2010

81. Confutata, blogging at Confutata, posts Anti-Vaxxers Score Own Goal In Defense of Wakefield
82. This Way Baby, blogging at This Way Baby, posts Claims That Vaccinations Cause Autism Revisited
83. Stewart Lee, blogging at StewartLee.com, posts So What If Science Says I'm Wrong...
84. Sam, blogging at Proud Mommy and Wifey posts Happy that Lancet retracted study that linked autism to vaccines
85. Albert Fuchs M.D., blogging at Nice Jewish Doctor (Jewish Journal) posts Twelve Years Later, the Truth about Vaccines and Autism
86. Keith Kloor, blogging at Collide-a-Scape, posts Disparate Anti-Science Forces
87. Baby GooRoo, blogging at Baby GooRoo, posts Science Trumps Fear Over Autism

February 6, 2010

88. Joy, blogging at Babble On, posts About Time!
89. Atlanta Hyperbaric & Wound Care Clinic, blogging at Atlanta Hyperbaric & Wound Care Clinic, posts The Autism Blowup at the Lancet
90. Skepacabra, blogging at Skepacabra, posts Australian Vaccination Network begging for change & other anti-vaccination nuttiness
91. Editorial from SFGate  A reality check on autism and vaccines

February 7, 2010

92. Benjamin Ball, writing at BostonHerald.com, publishes Autism retraction sparks furor among docs, advocates

Comments

[Emily]

Hi, Liz--

Here's mine: http://daisymayfattypants.blogspot.com/2010/02/and-collapse-is-complete.html

Thanks as always for maintaining these lists. They're a great source.

[Corina Becker]

I did a bit of a piece about responsibility, called the Triggering of Wakefield, if you deem it compatible with the list.

http://nostereotypeshere.blogspot.com/2010/02/triggering-of-dr-wakefield.html

[Broken Link]

This is a noble idea, Liz, but there are currently 473 google news articles on this topic, found by searching "wakefield retracts". Many are opinion pieces, and almost all of them are pro-retraction.

Here's a cute example:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/homo-consumericus/201002/paper-linking-mmr-vaccine-autism-has-been-retracted

[Liz Ditz]

I should have made it clear that I'm tracking blog posts (the blogosphere) rather than the main-stream media sources.

[Kristjan Wager]

I also wrote something on the issue as well:
http://kriswager.blogspot.com/2010/02/wakefield-saga-continues.html

I obviously approve

[Broken Link]

Heather Horn, writing in the Atlantic Wire

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Vaccine-Autism-Link-Broken-2410

has also compiled a list of blog reactions, including one by Arthur Allen in Slate

http://www.slate.com/id/2243424/

(or maybe these are too mainstream)

[Linda Brodsky, MD]

Interesting lists. I hope the right people get the picture. Thanks for tracking these blogs. Wonder if twitter is seeing the reaction, too.

[Nescio]

Here is my two cents:
http://contusio-cordis.blogspot.com/2010/01/surprise-dr-wakefield-abused-position.html

and

http://contusio-cordis.blogspot.com/2010/02/vaccine-illuminati.html

Great list, will certainly look at your efforts more frequently :)

[Grant]

Latest news is that it seems that Wakefield may have resigned from Thoughtful House:

http://sciblogs.co.nz/code-for-life/2010/02/18/has-andrew-wakefield-resigned-from-thoughtful-house/

[8gb micro sd]

I have been watching and listening to the media circus following the vilification of Dr. Andrew Wakefield with great interest and sadness. I pray that people will rise above our sound bite world to understand that there is a tremendous amount at stake and we all better be paying careful attention

[tangorush10]

That:''On The Lancet's Retraction of Wakefield's 1998 Paper Alleging A Connection Between the MMR Vaccine and Autism'' article it's a piece of work let me tell you, and the huge list of blogs help too!!