Oct 19 2008 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun
A WHO’S WHO of Britain’s top doctors has been reported to the General Medical Council over claims they failed to address health issues regarding the triple jab.
It marks a dramatic twist to the debate about the alleged link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and autism.
Those reported to the GMC include Professor David Salisbury, the Department of Health’s director of immunisation, and the Government’s chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson.
Also on the list is Mr Donaldson’s predecessor, Sir Kenneth Calman, who until recently was Vice Chancellor of Durham University.
The complaint has been brought by grandfather Bill Walsh, whose grandson is alleged to have developed autism and bowel problems after he received the MMR jab.
Mr Walsh said: “I brought this complaint because many children are suffering a life of pain.”
The action comes as the GMC is conducting an ongoing disciplinary hearing into Doctor Andrew Wakefield and two colleagues who suggested the MMR jab could be linked to autism.
Dr Wakefield, Professor Simon Murch and Professor John Walker- Smith face claims the research they conducted on the children breached ethical codes.
Mr Walsh of Glasgow, Scotland, said: “I am concerned about what I believe is the absence of proper tests since 1998 when Andrew Wakefield first raised concerns about the MMR jab.
“The complaint is as rigorous as possible so it makes it so much more difficult for them to try to close it down.
“There cannot be one rule for Andrew Wakefield and another for those in powerful positions.”
The full list includes Professor Sir David Hull, Professor Michael Langman and Professor Andrew Hall of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. Also reported to the GMC are Professor Sir Alisdair Breckenridge, Professor Gordon Duff and Professor Colin Blakemore, all of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and Sir William Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency.
The complaint said they ignored Dr Wakefield’s work, which claimed certain groups of children are damaged by the MMR jab, because of fears it would undermine the immunisation programme.
It also alleged the programme had been undermined by bad judgments and by the use of scientific studies of the general population to support the safety of the MMR jab, instead of studies of vulnerable groups as identified by Dr Wakefield.
It goes on to claim this has contributed to the spiralling numbers of autistic children — by not addressing the issue — and as a result, children were given unethical and unnecessary treatments.
A GMC spokesman said: “We do not comment on investigations as we have a duty of confidentiality to all parties involved.”
A Department of Health spokesmand said none of those named would comment, but added: “These allegations are completely without substance. They come from an individual who has pursued a long-standing campaign against MMR.”