MMR row doctor 'paid children £5 for blood samples at son's birthday party'

Dr Andrew Wakefield, 50, who linked the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism, was accused of giving youngsters cash to take part in his research without worrying about the distress and pain they suffered.

The consultant, who caused a worldwide furore when he suggested the MMR vaccine was associated with autism after conducting a study on just 12 youngsters between 1996 and 1998, is currently fighting to save his career.

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Dr Andrew Wakefield and his wife arrive for the GMC hearing today

The married father-of-four appeared before the General Medical Council for the start of a three-month disciplinary hearing into his fitness to practice.

The gastroenterology specialist, who is accused of abusing his position of trust and bringing the medical profession into disrepute, received a hero's welcome from supporters as he arrived at the hearing in London.

Dozens of parents who claim the MMR jab has harmed their children, whooped, cheered and clapped as he walked in with his wife, Carmel.

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Supporters of Andrew Wakefield wait outside the hearing carrying placards

Whilst the couple posed for pictures, many of those in the crowd brandishing placards of "Wakefield Cares" and "We're with Wakefield" chanted,

"There's only one Andrew Wakefield", while one shouted "It's a witch hunt."

The case surrounds his controversial paper published in The Lancet medical journal in February 1998 which associated the triple jab with bowel disease and autism.

His research whilst working at the Royal Free Hospital in North London caused a dramatic drop in the number of parents immunising their children against the potential fatal diseases, which was further fuelled when Tony Blair refused to say whether his son Leo had received the triple jab.

Whilst the paper has now been largely discredited, many maintain that the injection is harmful.

One of Dr Wakefield's 7,000 supporters, Sue Gilbert, from Bath claims her 16-year-old son, Adam, developed Asperger's syndrome after being immunised.

Outside the hearing she said: "My son had the MMR job at 14 months and had a terrible reaction to it. About 10 or 11 days later he came out in a measles rash, he was very poorly.

"Prior to the MMR he was a totally normal child. We took him to see Andy Wakefield when he was eight. He was the only doctor who listened to us, who took us seriously."

Dr Wakefield, together with his research partners, Professors, John Walker-Smith and Simon Murch, now face charges of serious professional misconduct and could be struck off the medical register if found guilty.

A panel was told that the three doctors did not have permission from the hospital's ethics committee to carry out tests on 11 of the 12 children aged between three and 10 who took part in the study.

The 11 children were subjected to a series of invasive tests, including colonoscopies and lumbar punctures which were not in their clinical interest, it was claimed.

On a separate occasion, Dr Wakefield, who now lives in America with his 50-year-old wife and four sons aged 18, 16, 10 and daughter aged 10, is said to have taken blood at his child's birthday party without getting ethics committee approval.

Later, it was claimed that he joked about it, telling a conference in America in March 1999 that he intended to get more samples that way.

According to the charge list, Dr Wakefield failed to declare to the ethics committee that he was being paid £50,000 to advise solicitors in litigation against the manufacturers of the MMR vaccine.

In addition, the panel heard that he had neglected to tell the Lancet that he had applied for a patent for a new vaccine for MMR.

He is also accused of having a drug administered to a child for experimental reasons, without ethical approval.

Dr Wakefield, Prof Walker-Smith and Prof Murch all deny serious professional misconduct.

The hearing continues.