Biography:John Walker-Smith
John Walker-Smith | |
|---|---|
_John_Walker-Smith.jpg) Walker-Smith in June 2002 | |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Gastroenterologist |
| Years active | 1985–2001 |
| Employer | University of London |
John Walker-Smith is a gastroenterologist well known for his work in pediatrics.[1] From 1985 until his retirement in 2001, he was professor of pediatric gastroenterology at the University of London.[2][3] He also formerly served as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.[4]
MMR vaccine controversy
Walker-Smith is the senior co-author of a paper (along with Andrew Wakefield, the lead author) which claimed a unique gastrointestinal condition in autistic children that may be connected to the MMR vaccine. This study is generally regarded as sparking the MMR vaccine controversy.[5]
In 2010, Walker-Smith was found guilty by the General Medical Council of professional misconduct who recommended erasure subject to appeal. As a result, he was barred from practicing medicine.[3][6] On appeal, the case heard by Mr. Justice Mitting in the High Court stated that the GMC determinations were superficial and inadequate and so were quashed.[7]
In a statement reported in the book on the fraud by Brian Deer Walker-Smith said:
My case was related to entirely different issues to those that concerned Dr. Wakefield... Every investigative procedure I ordered was to find out what was wrong with the children.[8]
References
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- ↑ Walker-Smith J A. Enduring Memories: A Pediatric Gastroenterologist Remembers. Second Edition 2012, The Memoir Club ISBN:978-1-84104-538-2
- ↑ Candy, David CA (November 2003). "Memoirs of John Walker-Smith". The Lancet 362 (9396): 1683. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14821-0.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "MMR doctor wins High Court appeal". BBC News. 7 March 2012. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-17283751. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
- ↑ "Editorial Announcement Regarding Professor John Walker-Smith". Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 55 (2): 120. August 2012. doi:10.1097/MPG.0b013e31825945cf.
- ↑ Wakefield, AJ; Murch, SH; Anthony, A; Linnell, J; Casson, DM; Malik, M; Berelowitz, M; Dhillon, AP et al. (February 1998). "RETRACTED: Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children". The Lancet 351 (9103): 637–641. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(97)11096-0. PMID 9500320.
- ↑ Burns, John F. (2010-05-24). "Council Bars Doctor Who Claimed Link Between Vaccines and Autism" (in en-US). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/health/policy/25autism.html.
- ↑ "MMR row: high court rules doctor should not have been struck off". 7 Mar 2012. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/mar/07/mmr-row-doctor-appeal. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ↑ Deer, Brian (2020). The Doctor Who Fooled the World: Science, Deception, and the War on Vaccines. USA: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 313. ISBN 978-1421438009.
