it were to emerge after publication. This
is, of course, a subjective definition and
of The Lancet (Feb 21, 2004), and help
of an adversarial legal dispute is needed
could, or actively does, interfere with the
article relate to a legal dispute and are,
later to pursue litigation, following their
such a dispute, irrespective of the rights
I work for the pharmaceutical industry as well
and wrongs of this particular case, might
National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial
College London, Academic Cardiology Unit,
10th Floor, QEQM Wing St Mary’s Hospital,
scientific paper but a clinical report. The
generalisation suggested in the title that
society in protecting health over commercial
interests: lessons from Thailand. Lancet
2004; 363: 560–63.
reiterate simply reported a novel clinical
industry, a contribution to public health
The Lancet1 that he was undertaking a
of the Sunday Times of Feb 22, 2004,
National Institutes for Health, funded by
against those of us involved in the Lancet
this role, presentation of the US govern-
first 12 children reported in the Lancet
conceal the fact that the viral study was
events. Failure to achieve progress at the
Hospital exclusively for the investigation
paper in The Lancet in 1998. Almost
The Lancet and our co-authors have had
knowledge of any future legal claim.
The report itself was a description of the
of such conflict, as stated by AJW at the
relevant clinical findings. No claim of a
time. The Lancet requires that the fund-
vaccines pending scientific resolution of
THE LANCET • Vol 363 • April 17, 2004 • www.thelancet.com
For personal use. Only reproduce with permission from The Lancet.
history of MMR vaccine and its safety.
subset of children with autistic spectrum
interpret the events of the past month as
after the original 1998 Lancet paper. Andrew J Wakefield (AJW), *Peter Harvey,
c/o 134 Harley Street, London W1G 7JY, UK
disease, and MMR vaccine. Lancet 1998;
bias studies”. Nonetheless we regret the
351: 1356.
Jefferson T, Price D, Demicheli V, et al.
which AJW bears some responsibility.
with MMR: a systematic review. Vaccine
2003; 21: 3954-60.
Disturbance of cerebral function in people
exposed to drinking water contaminated with
aluminium sulphate: retrospective study of
the Camelford water incident. BMJ 1999;
319: 807–11.
reporting of possible iatrogenic injury in
viral infection and measles-mumps-rubella
redress. It is notable that subsequent to
vaccination. Isr Med Assoc J 1999; 1: 183–87.
Wakefield AJ, Anthony A, Murch SH, et al.
Enterocolitis in children with developmental
disorders. Am J Gastroenterol 2000; 95:
Commission, and reported in the British
Drachenberg C, Tildon JT. Gastrointestinal
disorder. J Pediatrics 1999; 135: 559–63.
interpretation”, not a retraction of the
colonic epithelial pathology and ␥␦-T cell
infiltration in autistic enterocolitis. J Pediatrics
2001; 138: 366–72.
Torrente F, Machado N, Ashwood P, et al.
in the original 1998 Lancet report, other
epithelial IgG deposition in autism. Mol Psych
2002; 7: 375–82.
Horvath K, Perman A. Autistic disorder and
gastrointestinal disease. Curr Opin Pediatr
2002; 14: 583–87.
10 Ashwood P, Murch SH, Anthony A, et al.
Intestinal lymphocyte populations in children
with regressive autism: evidence for extensive
mucosal immunopathology. J Clin Immunol
a plea that we welcome wholeheartedly.
2003; 23: 504–17.
11 Uhlmann V, Martin CM, Shiels O, et al. The Lancet, 32 Jamestown Road, London
Potential viral pathogenic mechanism for new
variant inflammatory bowel disease. Mol Pathol 2002; 55: 84–90.
12 Sheils O, Smyth P, Martin C, O’Leary JJ.
disease, and MMR vaccine. Lancet 1998;
Development of an ‘allelic discrimination’
351: 1356.
type assay to differentiate between the strain
origins of measles virus detected in intestinal
disease, and MMR vaccine. Lancet 1998;
351: 1356.
lymphonodular hyperplasia and concomitant
developmental disorder. J Pathol 2002;
198 (suppl): 5A.
13 Singh VK, Lin SX, Yang VC. Serological
light of this lesson it is imperative that
herpesvirus-6 with brain autoantibodies in
rather than relying on endless reviews of
autism. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 1998; 89: Hughes RAC. Treatment of Guillain-Barrésyndrome with corticosteroids: lack of benefit?
14 Singh VK, Lin SX, Newell E., Nelson C.
Lancet 2004; 363: 181—In this Commentary
Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies
(Jan 17), the last sentence of paragraph two
should have read: “Meta-analysis of the two
autism. J Biomed Sci 2002; 9: 359–64.
intravenous methylprednisolone trials alone
investigated on an individual basis.
15 Singh VK, Jensen RL. Elevated levels of
shows 0·17 (–0·06 to 0·39) more improvement
measles antibodies in children with autism.
in the corticosteroid than the placebo-treated
Lancet report should be viewed in the
Pediatr Neurol 2003; 28: 292–94.
patients, which is still not significant.”
THE LANCET • Vol 363 • April 17, 2004 • www.thelancet.com
For personal use. Only reproduce with permission from The Lancet.
WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE AMERICAN DISCOUNT PHARMACY OVER IMPORTING MEDICATIONS FROM CANADA? 1. Our business model is based on providing our customers the best price possible on al of our products. We have over 1000 generics posted with discount prices. Canadian drug companies have a difficult time competing on our generic prices. Our company charges a fee similar to a dispensing fee versus a
Health Outreach Newsletter – Fall 2008 Tim’s Notes to make our missions successful. We meet regularly to plan by Tim Lee, President and Founder - tim@healthoutreach.ca our annual trip to Guatemala and to plot the future course of the charity. Building on our success in January where I have been advocating expansion of our scope of operations to include other countries