|
|
|
|
|
|
AUTISM FIRST STEPS
AUTISM DAILY NEWSLETTER
Sunday, December 2, 2001
INDEX:
* Parents left stunned as MMR doctor is forced out
* Anti-MMR
doctor is forced out
* Teachers needed to fill SIET /SPECIAL Ed
hours for a VB/NET/DTT
model program
* Fwd:
Olympic Torch carried by Mom of Child with Autism
* ECHO,
the Expressive Communication Help Organization upcoming
Support Group Meeting
******************************
Parents left stunned as MMR
doctor is forced out
(Filed: 02/12/2001)
The specialist who linked autism and
bowel disease with the combined vaccine has been treated shabbily, say his
supporters. Lorraine Fraser
reports.
THE departure from the Royal Free Hospital in London of Andrew Wakefield, the
doctor who first raised doubts about the safety of the childhood MMR
vaccination, will delight his opponents in the Department of Health, but it has
devastated the parents of the 200 children he has studied.Rosemary Kessick,
whose 13-year-old autistic son, William, was one of the first Dr Wakefield
examined in his research into the links between autism, bowel disease and MMR,
said: "What people fail to realise is that Andrew Wakefield did not go
looking for us."We parents went looking for him because we were convinced,
and we were right, that our children had bowel problems and these were somehow
related to their autism. He has stood by us and as a result he has been treated
very shabbily."There are hundreds of children with symptoms of the new
combined syndrome, such as severe abdominal pain, loss of language and extreme
behaviour. In addition to the 200 being cared for by staff at the hospital's
department of paediatric gastroenterology, another 150 are currently on a
waiting list that stretches to 2003.The service is so overwhelmed that some of
the worried parents met officials from Tony Blair's office two months ago to
beg him to intervene. Dr Wakefield was at that meeting, supporting the parents'
plea, but last week he had finally to acknowledge that the hostility towards
him inside the hospital and its medical school had made his position there
untenable.He said: "I realise now that everything that has happened to me
was inevitable from the beginning. If you offend the system, then the system
will take its revenge."Last night those who had heard the news were
desperate for reassurance that their children would continue to be cared for by
the unit, which was headed by Britain's most respected specialist in children's
bowel disease, Prof John Walker-Smith, until his retirement last year.It has an
international reputation for excellence. In many cases the children's
behavioural problems and learning difficulties have improved in consequence.
The parents fear that without Dr Wakefield, there will be pressure on his
former colleagues to stop this work.Mrs Kessick, from Peterborough,
Cambridgeshire, one of 250 parents taking legal action against the
manufacturers of MMR vaccines, said: "In the end, I think, Andrew felt he
had no choice but to fall on his sword to relieve the political pressure on his
colleagues. "I just hope he is correct in assuming that his absence will
make it easier for the Royal Free to continue to care for all the children. My
view is that there are some in positions of power there who do not want this to
be the case."Richard Miles, from west London, said that his 13-year-old
son Robert's condition had improved greatly with the hospital's help. Mr Miles
said: "The bottom line is that I think some of these children will die if
the Royal Free stops looking after them. The team has done an absolutely
tremendous job."Ann Hewitt, from north London, whose son Thomas, eight, is
severely affected and needs frequent hospital attention, said: "Irrespective
of the causes of their problems these children are entitled to the best
treatment and to the care and respect they deserve. "They can shoot the
messenger but these children are going to keep coming and it is essential that
they continue to be looked after."When he started work at the Royal Free
Hospital Medical School in 1987 Dr Wakefield was the man everyone wanted to
know. The doctor, who studied at St Mary's Hospital in west London and trained
in bowel transplantation at the University of Toronto, arrived with plans to
investigate the cause of two devastating inflammatory bowel diseases: Crohn's
disease and ulcerative colitis.Throughout the early 1990s his research was
supported by grants worth millions from pharmaceutical companies and charities.
These began to fall away when, in 1995, he published a study suggesting that
measles vaccination could be a risk factor for the bowel illnesses, the first
warning that his research produced unpopular results.He was unprepared,
however, for the opprobrium that ensued when in 1998 he published a medical
paper in The Lancet, reporting that he and his colleagues had identified a
previously unknown combination of bowel disease and autism in 12 children.
Bowel symptoms are common in autistic children but had until then been regarded
as simply a manifestation of their behavioural problems. The finding that these
children had real and severe bowel disease was a groundbreaking discovery. Had
the paper stuck to these facts alone Dr Wakefield might still be in a job.
Against the advice of others in the team, however, he insisted that their joint
paper record that eight parents said their previously normal child had fallen
ill after receiving the MMR inoculation - a mixture of weakened but live
measles, mumps and rubella virus given to a 1.5 million children a year.The
result was uproar and with each piece of research the doctor has announced
since - including evidence of measles virus infection in damaged bowel tissue
from some of the children - the louder the medical establishment's condemnation
of him has grown.When Dr Wakefield said in January that he had now seen 170
children with the bowel effects and autism, and that a majority of the parents
involved had said their children fell ill after being given the MMR vaccine,
the Department of Health's response was to launch a £3 million publicity
campaign to reassure parents that it is safe.The Department of Health said
parents often first noticed signs of autism in their children around the time
MMR is usually given but that did not mean the two were connected. A spokesman
said: "Our view is that the triple vaccine is the safest way to protect
children against three potentially serious diseases."Yesterday Dr
Wakefield said he still did not regret his decision to get involved in the MMR
controversy. "Losing a London hospital teaching job doesn't do much for my
CV but there are bigger issues at stake," he said. "What matters now
most of all is what happens to these children." 
Related
reports
Anti-MMR
doctor is forced out
www.telegraph.co.uk
******************************
Anti-MMR doctor is forced out
By
Lorraine Fraser, Medical Correspondent
(Filed: 02/12/2001)
THE specialist who first raised concerns about the safety of
MMR vaccinations has been forced out of his job, The Telegraph can
reveal.Andrew Wakefield, a consultant gastroenterologist whose
research has linked the vaccine to autism and bowel disease in children,
said last night that he had been asked to resign because of his work."I
have been asked to go because my research results are unpopular," said Dr
Wakefield, an academic at the Royal Free Hospital Medical School in London
whose research into the triple measles, mumps and rubella vaccination has
caused controversy."I did not wish to leave but I have agreed to stand
down in the hope that my going will take the political pressure off my
colleagues and allow them to get on with the job of looking after the many sick
children we have seen."They have not sacked me. They cannot; I have not
done anything wrong. I have no intention of stopping my investigations."He
has been testing the theory that measles virus from MMR vaccine can colonise
the bowel of susceptible children, producing inflammatory bowel disease, which
then, via a disruption of the chemical balance in the body and the brain, leads
to autism.Although the specialist admits he has not published proof, he has
infuriated ministers by suggesting that the three component vaccines should be
given separately.Dr Wakefield's departure comes a month after he was made a
Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in recognition of his research
work.He left his £50,000 job on Friday after 14 years having been told that his
ideas were "unwelcome" at University College London, which controls
the Royal Free. The news will please vaccination programme officials in the
Public Health Laboratory Service. They have ridiculed his research and still
insist that MMR, recommended officially for every child at around 13 months and
again at four years, is safe.He added last night: "I am very concerned
that I have been unable to gain any guarantee from the hospital that the
children we have already seen, and who need to be seen, will be looked
after".Parents of autistic children involved in his research expressed
their anger last night. Some demanded reassurances that the Royal Free Hospital
will continue treating their children.Dr Wakefield's research has made him a
pariah of the medical establishment. As a result, the World Health Organisation
felt obliged to announce its support of the MMR vaccine.The Government has
played down concerns since he published a paper in The Lancet in 1998,
reporting that he and colleagues had identified a hitherto unknown combination
of bowel damage and autism in children whose parents said their previously
normal children fell ill after MMR.The row became a crisis last January when Dr
Wakefield told The Telegraph that he
had seen almost 170 children with a similar story and claimed that the Department
of Health's contention that MMR had been proven to be safe did not
"hold up".That number, has now reached almost 200. Pressure on the
children's gastroenterology unit is so great that it's waiting list risks
breaking the NHS's 18-month limit. Parents have appealed to Tony Blair to give
it more funds.The Royal Free Hospital Medical School was unavailable for
comment last night.
1
December 2001: Medical chief says MMR jabs 'too low'
5
August 2001: Doctor fights GMC on MMR vaccine
21
July 2001: Conflict of interest fear over study of autism
22
April 2001: Medical sleuths investigate MMR vaccine fears
23
January 2001: Campaign to persuade parents that the MMR jab is safe
21
January 2001: MMR doctor links 170 cases of autism to vaccine
1
November 1998: Families begin legal fight over MMR vaccine
27
February 1998: Vaccination may trigger disease linked to autism
27
February 1998: Vaccination may trigger disease linked to autism
Related
reports
Parents
stunned as MMR doctor is forced out
External
links
Autism
Research Centre
Jabs
[Anti-MMR group]
Measles,
Mumps and Rubella vaccine - Department of Health
MRC
review of the epidemiology and causes of Autism - Medical Research Council
The
MMR vaccine - Baby Centre
Royal
Free Hospitals London
news.telegraph.co.uk
- Anti-MMR doctor is forced out
Anti-MMR
doctor is forced out
******************************
Teachers needed to fill SIET /SPECIAL Ed hours for a
VB/NET/DTT model program for 3.5 year old boy. Training provided. Need
energetic, FUN, creative teachers . Call or email me for info! We are in East
Meadow Nassau County Long Island. Convienent location. Child is non aggressive
and adorable! :)
516 542 0567
Nicole
ndibra@optonline.com
******************************
Olympic Torch / 2002 Salt
Lake City Winter Olympics
carried in honor of those with autism!
We would like to make everyone in the Autism
community aware that on December
16th, 2001 at 14:24pm in Elizabeth Town, KY one of
our mothers will have the
proud honor of caring the Olympic Torch for the 2002
Salt Lake City Winter
Olympics. She accepted the nomination in honor of
her 5 year old son and all
individuals suffering with Autism. We ask that you
not only forward this
email to everyone you feel would like to help
support her on her journey but
to also to let all parents know to not only bring
their child but to have
signs, pictures of their child, etc to boost Autism
awareness for the run.
If you are in this area or know those who are:
This will take place on 31W from Enterprise Rent a
Car sign to Fire Star
Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge sign again in E-town at
14:24 on December 16th.
Please encourage others to support this great
nomination in light of all that
has happened in the US this year and the chance to
boost Autism Awareness.
Thanks,
FEAT of Louisville
******************************
ECHO, the Expressive
Communication Help Organization
based in Toronto, Ontario
pleased to present a very special guest speaker at our upcoming
Support Group Meeting.
Nancy Kaufman, CCC/SLP, of the Kaufman Children's Centre for
Speech, Language, and Sensory Disorders will be speaking to our
parent group on Thursday, December 6th, 2001, from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30
p.m. at the York Region South Services Branch,50 High Tech
Rd., in Richmond Hill
RSVP required - (905) 780-1489 OR
apraxiaontario@yahoo.com for more information
ECHO's regular support group meeting is on Sunday, December 9th, 10:00 -
11:30 a.m. Meeting is at the Armour Heights Community Centre, Avenue Road,
just south of Wilson on the east side. Children are welcome.
RSVP to apraxiaontario@yahoo.com by Dec 8th.
******************************
Autism Awakening, Autism FIrst Steps Newsletter,
or any staff do not endorse any individuals, groups or programs.
References regarding programs, meetings, resources, research, opinions,
treatment, etc., should not be interpreted as an indication of endorsement.
They are provided for informational purposes only. This is an attempt to keep
the nation advised to all diagnostic, treatment, therapy, educational,
options available as well as legislative autism updates and more.
To View Newsletter Policies they are located at the Newsletter
Website:
Direct Link:: Autism
First Steps Newsletter
http://autismawakeninginia.bizland.com/autismfirststepsnewsletter/
To have friends, Family, or professionals join:
1. they can go to the above link
2. They can go to the Newsletter Group page located at:
Direct Link:: Yahoo!
Groups : AutismFirstStepsAutismNewsletter
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AutismFirstStepsAutismNewsletter
3 Send a e-mail to AutismAwakening@aol.com and ask to be subscribed to
the free online daily newsletter
Visit
one of the largest websites Commited to bringing you the latest in news,
options, and techniques, and more on Autism located at:
Direct Link:: Autism Awakening 4 Kids
www.AutismAwakening.com
To Submit a story, alert, readers post, or advertisement
please e-mail AutismAwakening@aol.com
To be removed reply to this e-mail and requested to be removed from the list.
To
unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
AutismFirstStepsAutismNewsletter-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Your
use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
ALL
INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR
GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE
KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED
AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO
VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU
ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.