John Walker-Smith

John Walker-Smith
Walker-Smith in June 2002
NationalityAustralian
OccupationGastroenterologist
Years active1985–2001
EmployerUniversity of London

John Walker-Smith is an Australian[1] gastroenterologist well known for his work in pediatrics.[2] From 1985 until his retirement in 2001, he was professor of pediatric gastroenterology at the University of London.[3][4] He also formerly served as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.[5]

MMR vaccine controversy

Main article: Lancet MMR autism fraud

Walker-Smith is the senior co-author of a fraudulent 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.[6]

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.[4][7] 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.[8]

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.[9]

References

  1. ^ Deer, Brian (2020). The Doctor Who Fooled the World: Science, Deception, and the War on Vaccines. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 367. ISBN 978-1-42143-800-9.
  2. ^ Walker-Smith J A. Enduring Memories: A Pediatric Gastroenterologist Remembers. Second Edition 2012, The Memoir Club ISBN 978-1-84104-538-2
  3. ^ Candy, David CA (November 2003). "Memoirs of John Walker-Smith". The Lancet. 362 (9396): 1683. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14821-0. S2CID 54306755.
  4. ^ a b "MMR doctor wins High Court appeal". BBC News. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Editorial Announcement Regarding Professor John Walker-Smith". Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 55 (2): 120. August 2012. doi:10.1097/MPG.0b013e31825945cf.
  6. ^ Wakefield, AJ; Murch, SH; Anthony, A; Linnell, J; Casson, DM; Malik, M; Berelowitz, M; Dhillon, AP; Thomson, MA; Harvey, P; Valentine, A; Davies, SE; Walker-Smith, JA (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. S2CID 439791. (Retracted, see doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60175-4, PMID 20137807,  Retraction Watch)
  7. ^ Burns, John F. (24 May 2010). "Council Bars Doctor Who Claimed Link Between Vaccines and Autism". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  8. ^ "MMR row: high court rules doctor should not have been struck off". 7 March 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  9. ^ Deer, Brian (2020). The Doctor Who Fooled the World: Science, Deception, and the War on Vaccines. USA: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 313. ISBN 978-1421438009.


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