Anti-vaccine doctor in the pay of ambulance chasers

Alexander Wakefield, one of the people behind a study that linked the MMR vaccine to autism and bowel disorders, was allegedly advising lawyers whose clients believed their children had been harmed by the vaccine. In addition, Wakefield is accused of paying children attending his son's birthday party £5 for allowing him to draw blood.

It was also alleged that 11 children were subjected to a series of invasive tests, including colonoscopies, lumbar punctures, blood and urine tests and MRI scans.

This was contrary to their best clinical interests and Dr Wakefield did not have the "requisite paediatric qualifications" nor sought the right approval for the tests, the charge sheet went on.

Dr Wakefield and Prof Walker-Smith are also accused of acting "dishonestly and irresponsibly" in failing to disclose in the Lancet paper the method by which they recruited patients for inclusion in the study.

And it is alleged that a drug was administered to one child for experimental reasons.

The allegations that he took blood from children at his son's birthday party date back to prior to 20 March 1999.

Later on, he joked about the incident while giving a presentation at the Mind Institute in California, and said he intended to get samples the same way in the future, the hearing was told.

The 1998 study, which appeared in The Lancet led to a drop in the number of vaccinations even though subsequent studies have been unable to find a link between the vaccine and either autism or Crohn's disease. The paper has since been disavowed by the British medical journal--but not before causing an upswing in the number of measles cases.

I can’t say I’m surprised

It seems the UK is “having difficulties” establishing a database of fat schoolchildren, partly because parents are opting out of the system.

The largest database of its kind in the world, the NCOD was set up by the government as a tool with enormous potential for tracking and analysing trends in childhood obesity, and tackling this major public health problem.
Parents were asked for their consent to having their children measured, and the report said: "There is anecdotal evidence of higher rates of opting out of the measurement process among heavier children, which is supported by the findings of this analysis. This means the figures obtained from the NCOD are likely systematically to underestimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity."

Notice how they’re sure that all the fat kids are opting out. Clearly the point of compiling this database is to reaffirm the government’s belief that the UK’s schoolchildren are overwhelmingly pudgy.

But you know, even if my kid had 5 percent body fat, I wouldn’t give the government that information. Aside from the fact that I have serious doubts about the so-called obesity epidemic, this data gathering exercise is a huge intrusion. What happens after they get all the facts and figures? Will the government come round and check to make sure the lunch I’m packing is nutritionally sound?

Besides, even if your kid has to be hoist with a crane on a scale, just how effective do you suppose government intervention would be at changing that?

UK fat police issue manifesto

Here's what they propose:

• Printing a helpline numbers for advice with all clothes sold with a waist of more than 40in for men and 37in for boys, women’s garments with a waist of more than 35in or size 16 or above, and more than 31in for girls
  
• Banning the placement of sweets and fatty snacks at or near shop tills and at children’s eye level
  
• Taxing processed foods that are high in sugar or saturated fat
  
• Introducing health checks for all school leavers, both primary and secondary
  
• Allowing new urban roads only if they have cycle lanes
  
• Establishing a dedicated central agency responsible for all aspects of obesity