Dr. Wakefield's response to The Mail on Sunday

I was saddened by the story of Jack Piper in today's Mail on Sunday, a national UK newspaper. Although I personally never had any dealings with Jack, nor any responsibility for or role in his care, I am aware of the fact that he suffered both a perforation during colonoscopy and a difficult post-operative recovery. Jack's care was negligent and this fact was admitted by the Royal Free Hospital. Extraordinarily, the consultant paediatric gastroenterologist responsible for performing the colonoscopy (not Dr. Simon Murch) left the procedure in the hands of an inexperienced junior doctor while he went off to perform a similar procedure in a private hospital. Strangely, this fact finds no mention in the article. While perforation is a rare but recognised complication of colonoscopy, in this instance its occurrence was inexcusable, negligent, and the basis for Jack's settlement.

Sadly and inaccurately, Jack's story portrays him as a victim of 'MMR experimentation' and a picture of me accompanies the story. I am informed that Jack was assessed by Dr. Murch at his parent's request, on the basis of his unexplained bowel symptoms. Dr. Murch clearly considered a colonoscopy to be clinically indicated. I had no role in any of these decisions, but have no reason to doubt Dr. Murch's expert judgment.

The case was settled on the basis of clinical negligence. The issues of experimentation and lack of informed consent were not tested in court, nor should they have been since they have no merit. But what a perfect opportunity to weave another lie into the gossamer of this tragic tale.

Andrew Wakefield

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