An Interactive Introduction to Organismal and Molecular Biology, 2021

24 | SCIENTIFIC CONTROVERSIES
Examples
Let’s look at some examples of science topics to determine if and to what extent they are scientific controversies.
Vaccines & Autism
Does vaccination cause autism, and is this a scientific controversy?
As emphasized by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there
is no evidence supporting that vaccination causes autism.
The idea of this possible link began by Wakefield and his research group when they published a paper in
“The Lancet” journal in 1998 titled “Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive
developmental disorder in children” (see the original article, which has since been retracted). In the article,
Wakefield et al. (1998) claimed that “In eight children, the onset of behavioural problems had been linked, either
by the parents or by the child’s physician, with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination.”
After years of investigation and additional research studies—all of which found no link between autism
and vaccination (Eggertson, 2010)—the General Medical Council held a hearing in 2010. During this hearing,
Wakefield “admitted and found proved” that the research was funded by Mr. Barr, who “had the benefit of
public funding from the Legal Aid Board in relation to the pursuit of litigation against manufacturers of the
MMR vaccine” (p. 4).
Additionally, the children in the study were not randomly selected for the study. Rather, according to the
General Medical Council (2018), each child in the study was carefully selected after conversations with the
children’s parents and doctors. For instance, the report described procedures for the selection of each child, and
Child 3 was referred by the child’s general practitioner for having “behavioural problems of an autistic nature,
severe constipation and learning difficulties all associated by his parents with his MMR vaccination” (p. 18).
“In reaching its decision, the Panel concluded that [Wakefield’s] description of the referral process as “routine”,
when it was not, was irresponsible and misleading and contrary to [Wakefield’s] duty as a senior author” (p. 46).
The General Medical Council (2018) also found other irresponsible measures such as telling assistants to
increase the amount of medication without reporting it to the doctor and taking blood samples from children
at his son’s birthday party (documented on pages 50-56).