The doctor involved in the first suggestions that there was a link between MMR vaccinations and autism has been struck off the register.
Dr Andrew Wakefield was found by the GMC to be guilty of serious professional misconduct over the way he carried out his controversial research. It had already been ruled that he had acted unethically when he first published the research.
His 1998 study in The Lancet caused a huge drop in vaccination rates which resulted in a rise in measles. His findings were later discredited. He was ruled to have acted "dishonestly and irresponsibly" when conducting his research.
The whole issue was not whether Dr Wakefield's findings were right or wrong, but more about the methods of research.
The GMC panel criticised Dr Wakefield in January 2010 for the invasive tests that were carried out on children against their best clinical interests. Dr Wakefield, who was working at London's Royal Free Hospital as a gastroenterologist at the time, was said to not have had the ethical approval or relevant qualifications to carry out such tests.
They particularly took exception to the way he gathered blood samples. It was revealed that Dr Wakefield paid children £5 each for the samples during his son's birthday party. It was also revealed that Dr Wakefield should have disclosed the fact that he was paid to advise solicitors who were acting for parents who believed their children had been harmed by the MMR.
Two former colleagues of Dr Wakefield at the Royal Free were also ruled to have broken guidelines. Professors John Walker-Smith and Simon Murch both helped Dr Wakefield carry out the research. Their fate is yet to be decided.
After January's verdict, Dr Wakefield, who now no longer lives in the United Kingdom, claimed he was "extremely disappointed by the outcome" as the allegations were both "unfounded and unjust".
24 May 2010 | 
Lily Allen Loses Her Baby At 6 Months
