Interesting article and discussion, there. Thanks.

Too much of science reporting (over here as well) is taking an article published in one of the big journals and blowing it up all out of proportion as an example of either the latest breakthrough or the latest contradiction to established theories. The press loves nothing more than controversy and newness, so it's not surprising that they ran with Wakefield's article.

c.f. TheRegister and their global warming reporting. Clicks are clicks.

So, you're right that it's not all his fault. However, if one is a careful scientist/researcher, one doesn't falsify evidence, etc., in order to make it fit the preconceived conclusion as he apparently did.

Goldacre's right that science doesn't work if researchers can't speak their minds even if they're cranks. But, they have to play by the same rules of high-quality evidence as everyone else. So, if this latest TimesOnline story is correct, I still lay much of the blame with Wakefield.

Cheers,
Scott.