Talk about a quandary; science writers across the board have been critical of Andrew Wakefield and his linking of vaccines and autism, which set off a decade of concern before being laid to rest. But in a world where every person who feels oppressed by Big Science claims they are just like Galileo, prosecuting a researcher for bad data needs to be done with caution.
Yes, though prosecuting someone who falsifies patient histories is another matter entirely.
Writing on CNN, RealClearScience editor Dr. Alex Berezow gives it the deft touch and calls on Hollywood to send us a pro-vaccine actor. There's no harm in cautious parents looking for answers but science and scientists need to be trusted guides and Wakefield did a terrific amount of damage to advocate his beliefs - when he should have been advocating valid science.
