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John Walker-Smith

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Australian gastroenterologist

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

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

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.

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. 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.

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.

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. ^ "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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