One of the strangest parts of the story of Dr. Wakefield’s research is the birthday party where blood was drawn from children.
Dateline NBC included this in their recent story, A Dose of Controversy. Here are two clips from that show:
If I understand Dr. Wakefield correctly, he didn’t “pay” the children, they were “rewarded” at the end of the party. That makes it a different situation “in an ethical sense”.
I’d like to have one of the kids at the party explain the ethical differences, as I am confused.
I guess if the kids gave the blood of their own free will, and only later the were “rewarded”...in that case the money wasn’t an incentive or a coercion? Is that what is being said?
Again for those who’ve heard the story, you can put your hands over and you can take time out here, but this is again my son’s birthday party, 32 healthy controls. And you line them up – with parental informed consent, of course. They all get paid £5, which doesn’t translate into many dollars I’m afraid.
So, were they were paid? I thought we just heard that they were “rewarded”.
And, what about that “at the end of the party” statement. Again, a quote attributed to Dr. Wakefield:
“One child, who’s my son’s best friend, Ollie, he put his arm out, very bold, had the tourniquet put on, and then went very pale and sort of … wait till next year. He was nine at the time, and his four year old sister came up, stuck her arm out, had the blood taken, took her five pounds and went off.
I guess if she was the last child and this was the end of the party, this could fit in with Dr. Wakefield’s description of “end of the party.”
But, then, what about this statement:
“And (NAME) burst into tears. Ruined his birthday party. But people said to me, Andrew, look, you know, you can’t do this, people, children won’t come back to you. [laughter]. I said you’re wrong, I said: ‘Listen, we live in a market economy. Next year they’ll want ten pounds!’”
I am having trouble figuring out how to reconcile “rewards” with “a market economy” and the children wanting a higher amount the next time.
I gather that at least part of the problem is that blood is not bought or sold in the UK.
As a U.S. citizen, I am used to the idea that blood is bought and sold. It is still a bit strange to me, but not unheard of.
So, from my perspective, I would have greater respect for Dr. Wakefield if he had just said (assuming it is true) that he had made a mistake.
Here is a video with a bit more of Dr. Wakefield discussing the birthday party:
One of the strangest parts of the story of Dr. Wakefield’s research is the birthday party where blood was drawn from children.
Dateline NBC included this in their recent story, A Dose of Controversy. Here are two clips from that show:
If I understand Dr. Wakefield correctly, he didn’t “pay” the children, they were “rewarded” at the end of the party. That makes it a different situation “in an ethical sense”.
I’d like to have one of the kids at the party explain the ethical differences, as I am confused.
I guess if the kids gave the blood of their own free will, and only later the were “rewarded”...in that case the money wasn’t an incentive or a coercion? Is that what is being said?
If so, I am further confused by this quote attributed to Dr. Wakefield:
So, were they were paid? I thought we just heard that they were “rewarded”.
And, what about that “at the end of the party” statement. Again, a quote attributed to Dr. Wakefield:
I guess if she was the last child and this was the end of the party, this could fit in with Dr. Wakefield’s description of “end of the party.”
But, then, what about this statement:
I am having trouble figuring out how to reconcile “rewards” with “a market economy” and the children wanting a higher amount the next time.
I gather that at least part of the problem is that blood is not bought or sold in the UK.
As a U.S. citizen, I am used to the idea that blood is bought and sold. It is still a bit strange to me, but not unheard of.
So, from my perspective, I would have greater respect for Dr. Wakefield if he had just said (assuming it is true) that he had made a mistake.
Here is a video with a bit more of Dr. Wakefield discussing the birthday party: