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[–]ShitLord-Vader3 points
2 points
5 points
(+5|-3)
ago
(edited ago)
Short version: A doctor by the name of Andrew Wakefield published a study on the correlation of the MMR vaccination to autism. His paper was accepted by many without any forethought and brandished by scientifically illiterate people as a work of art.
Now for long version: Andrew Wakefield was the writer of a study about the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine and its correlation to autism. In his paper he describes what he calls "Autistic enterocolitis". For those not medically literate, that means autism from the colon. His own hypothesis was that the vaccine damaged the intestines, which damaged a protein, which then was trasnported to the brain and CAUSED autism. Notice the transfer from correlation to causation that he reported.
The problems with his study were as follows:
His sample was 12 children. This does not follow any scientific method about sample size, nor does it cover a diverse population or have a control.
All twelve children were known to already have social disorders related to autism, if not autism itself. His paper did not report this however, and all children were regarded as medically normal for its purposes.
There was a massive conflict of interest in his study. He had an MMR patent and diagnostic tests to find MMR in the intestines. Clearly with his findings he could monetize the shit out of frightened parents who don't know any better.
He was being paid by lawyers looking for their next suit as well.
Based on the study, an investigation was launched. Andrew Wakefield had his medical license revoked. Further, he was charged with child abuse for testing those children at his own house without a review board to give the go-ahead or watch to ensure patient safety.
Now, without even looking at the flaws in Wakefield's paper, we can look to other evidence that autism is not caused by vaccination. For one, vaccination rates have declined since Wakefield's study, yet diagnosis for autism has increased. Were his findings correct, we would expect to see that diagnosis decreases for autism spectrum disorders. Further, a Danish study of 500k children found MMR doesn't cause autism. Even while Wakefield's "research" was happening, the suspected component of vaccines that cause autism (thiomersal) were gradually being phased out. Thiomersal is a mercury based molecule that is able to preserve vaccines for long periods of time. This is obviously good because one dose of a vaccine is often small, and one vial can be used for multiple patients. However, other chemicals were being found that had better preservation and didn't use heavy metals, despite no effects being seen with the use of thiomersal.
Hopefully this provides light on why people grasp his study (it sounds like a scientific paper to those not fluent in science), and how it can be shown as both flawed and outright false.
By the way, whoever is downvoting those answering the question. Refute what we say. Otherwise you're just showing your stupidity. And with it, we see the human race as a whole isn't literate. Further, Voat's new no limit CCP policy. Glad I could get a degree in this shit and you idiots can't see how stupid you truly are.
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[–] ShitLord-Vader 3 points 2 points 5 points (+5|-3) ago (edited ago)
Short version: A doctor by the name of Andrew Wakefield published a study on the correlation of the MMR vaccination to autism. His paper was accepted by many without any forethought and brandished by scientifically illiterate people as a work of art.
Now for long version: Andrew Wakefield was the writer of a study about the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine and its correlation to autism. In his paper he describes what he calls "Autistic enterocolitis". For those not medically literate, that means autism from the colon. His own hypothesis was that the vaccine damaged the intestines, which damaged a protein, which then was trasnported to the brain and CAUSED autism. Notice the transfer from correlation to causation that he reported.
The problems with his study were as follows:
His sample was 12 children. This does not follow any scientific method about sample size, nor does it cover a diverse population or have a control.
All twelve children were known to already have social disorders related to autism, if not autism itself. His paper did not report this however, and all children were regarded as medically normal for its purposes.
There was a massive conflict of interest in his study. He had an MMR patent and diagnostic tests to find MMR in the intestines. Clearly with his findings he could monetize the shit out of frightened parents who don't know any better.
He was being paid by lawyers looking for their next suit as well.
Based on the study, an investigation was launched. Andrew Wakefield had his medical license revoked. Further, he was charged with child abuse for testing those children at his own house without a review board to give the go-ahead or watch to ensure patient safety.
Now, without even looking at the flaws in Wakefield's paper, we can look to other evidence that autism is not caused by vaccination. For one, vaccination rates have declined since Wakefield's study, yet diagnosis for autism has increased. Were his findings correct, we would expect to see that diagnosis decreases for autism spectrum disorders. Further, a Danish study of 500k children found MMR doesn't cause autism. Even while Wakefield's "research" was happening, the suspected component of vaccines that cause autism (thiomersal) were gradually being phased out. Thiomersal is a mercury based molecule that is able to preserve vaccines for long periods of time. This is obviously good because one dose of a vaccine is often small, and one vial can be used for multiple patients. However, other chemicals were being found that had better preservation and didn't use heavy metals, despite no effects being seen with the use of thiomersal.
Hopefully this provides light on why people grasp his study (it sounds like a scientific paper to those not fluent in science), and how it can be shown as both flawed and outright false.
By the way, whoever is downvoting those answering the question. Refute what we say. Otherwise you're just showing your stupidity. And with it, we see the human race as a whole isn't literate. Further, Voat's new no limit CCP policy. Glad I could get a degree in this shit and you idiots can't see how stupid you truly are.