The Biggest Fraud in Clinical Research

In 1998, one of the most controversial studies in recent times was published. What seemed like an alarming link between MMR vaccinations and autism spectrum disorder soon turned into one of the deepest rabbit holes in in science..

00:00-00:31 Intro
00:31-5:42 An Unprecented Discovery
5:42-9:12 Why Can No One Replicate the Study?
9:12-13:54 How Everyone Found Out
13:54-15:43 The Devastating Aftermath

Andrew Wakefield was a doctor in the United Kingdom who focused on gastrointestinal surgery. He theorized that measles virus might cause chronic gut inflammation and Crohn's disease. Although this theory was later disproven, Wakefield was at the forefront of studying chronic gut inflammation. In 1998, Wakefield and John Walker Smith published a study where they claimed to have found a link between the MMR vaccine, chronic gut inflammation and possibly autism spectrum disorder. According to Wakefield, the majority of children investigated developed autism spectrum disorder shortly after MMR vaccination (as allegedly described by parents). After the study was published, MMR vaccination rates in the UK declined, as news coverage on MMR vaccines scared many parents. The scientific community soon tried to replicate Wakefields results but no one found a link between MMR vaccination and autism specturm disorder. Brian Dear, a journalist then found out that Wakefield had a clear conflict of interest and was allegedly paid for the study by a law firm that hoped to bring a law suit against vaccine manufacturers. In a disciplinary hearing, it was also found that Wakefield conducted invasive procedures on children without ethical approval and likely manipulated data to establish a link between MMR vaccines and autism. Although MMR vaccination rates have since increased, this flawed study caused distrust in scientists and vaccines.

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About Clemens Steinek:
CLEMENS STEINEK is a PhD student/youtuber (Sciencerely) who is currently conducting stem cell research in Germany.

[Leopold]

It’s not just awareness of autism. As we have gone through each iteration of the DSM, the criteria for who qualifies for a diagnosis has broadened. The primary reason we have “more autism” is we have changed the defining criteria to include more people.

[TempRawr]

the fact that his studie continues to be used as a evidence showcases how much deep reform to strip away any ability for people like this to be seen as a scientist/position of power.

[pinklight]

My youngest brother was diagnosed with Asperger's in the early '90s when he was still quite young. I remember my grandma being surprised there was a diagnosis, saying that boys like my brother just used to be called "little professors" (she was born in 1925 and remembered that phrase being used for her peers as well as kids the same age as her own children). Autism spectrum has always existed, and people were aware of it a lot of the time, it just wasn't understood the way it is now. People acting like it's some startling new development have not been paying attention.

[conradsieber]

Graduation from college IS caused by pizza consumption...

[conradsieber]

Anybody working in a school with half a brain notices the increase in autism is likely due to an increase in awareness and identification of the disorder.

[sodorflubbs]

I’m 53 and awaiting an autism diagnosis. I was born in a time when girls weren’t seen as having autism. So they weren’t given any tests for it.

[jamiemorrissey]

Great video - had no idea some of the details about Wakefield's connection to the law firm but did know that the study was bogus. Thanks for posting!

[tisjester]

There are too many organized entities that wish to sow distrust for this to ever go away. Fear has been used to control or influence people since the dawn of time. That is how those with no real power can try to hold onto power. There is money and power in fear.

[pyro]

As someone who is autistic, this case always infuriated me. The amount of damage this false study has done and is still doing to this day.
Think of the amount of kids who’ve gotten sick from these preventable diseases after their parents were tricked into thinking these vaccines were dangerous. Think of the parents with autistic children who falsely believe that them vaccinating caused them to be autistic, feeling guilt over something that was never caused by them.
And I’ll even go as far as to say that this fear culture that vaccines cause autism unintentionally caused people to see autism as this boogeyman who would ruin your perfect little child. If a child is autistic, it’s basically over for them. A fate worst than death for some. While instead, we should’ve been focusing on how to actually help out these autistic children and even autistic adults. To provide acceptance and help rather than misinformed awareness.
It’s disgusting what people would do for a quick buck, careless about the damage they caused.
Thank you for this video, so many people are clueless about this study years after it’s been debunked.

[dfjulesful]

Wakefield did so much damage. There's definitely blood on his hands

[emilyfletcher]

I had no idea how deceptive he was in his original paper! Another great, informative video.

[brianphillips]

I trust science... not scientist. And definitely not pharmaceutical scientists.

[Ken-ercq]

It was an awful paper. It did not look like the usual quality of paper that you would normally see in Lancet.

[jmc]

Some experts say incr from 2000 in part is from growing awareness and better screening tools.

[gamereditorner]

Thank you for the video and keep it up! People should check the factual information before publishing.

[gingernightmare]

My best mate's grandson is severely autistic and he's had no vaccines.

[vlndfee]

Del Bigtree had FOI documentation....
It shows... group children research was small..
Shows... problems...
Even in internal CDC meeting..
They said... they have not enough research on effects.
But than to outside world... it is all safe and effective

[WooWoo-cojf]

I can tell you why the rate of autism rose, it's really simple, it was being diagnosed. I wasn't diagnosed as a child, not was my hypermobility, the medical community just weren't aware of them as they are now. I went into teaching and in the early days it was thought autism didn't affect girls, we now know that's untrue, girls and women are just better as masking (hiding) it to fit in with peers. If I was a child now there's a high probability it would be spotted and diagnosed.
Many years ago it was named different things and people severely affected were out into institutions. My parents were told to put me into a school for special needs & they refused. I have a high IQ so I think I would have been bored, on other aspects of school.life it may have been easier for me.

[michaelgonzalez]

This channel is uncritical, and dogmatic. Appealing to authority is the only thing it does well. In that case I'll reference some of people who are actually on the inside. Richard Horton, editor of the Lancet, expressed the opinion that “much of the scientific literature, perhaps half, may simply be untrue” [1]. A similar sentiment was expressed by John Ioannidis, professor of medicine, epidemiology, and population health at Stanford, who stated, “There is increasing concern that in modern research, false findings may be the majority or even the vast majority of published research” [2]. Marcia Angell, former editor of The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), disclosed, “It is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted physicians or authoritative medical guidelines”

[VenturiLife]

I feel due to the prevalence of ADHD etc. and other conditions, there is a vaccination somewhere at the core of it, I'm talking about vaccines used 45+ years ago... it will never come to light.