What killed Sally Clark’s child?
Neville Hodgkinson asks why the jury in the Sally Clark trial was told to discount the DTP jab given to her second child, Harry, just five hours before he was found dead
Professor Sir Roy Meadow was first to describe MSBP. Previously held in high esteem for his work in this field, in 2005 he was struck off by the General Medical Council for giving ‘erroneous’ and ‘misleading’ evidence that helped wrongly convict Sally, and two other mothers, of killing their children. Last year he was reinstated, after an appeal to the High Court in London. Mr Justice Collins said he had acted in good faith when he gave evidence at the Clark trial, including his widely publicised claim that the probability of two cot deaths in a family such as the Clarks’ was 73 million to one. Studies suggest a more realistic figure is 64 to one. The judge said he had ‘made one mistake; it was a mistake that was easily and widely made’.
Clearly, Professor Meadow is much respected and has made a distinguished contribution to medicine. But was it really such an innocent mistake? Or was the professor — in common with his paediatric colleagues — avoiding facing up to a reality, unpleasant for professionals who have for years defended a controversial vaccine: that when a tiny baby dies five hours after being injected, a link between the two events might be more probable than that the mother was a murderer?
More articles from: Neville Hodgkinson | this section
Post this entry to: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
Advertisement
Immortalised in print
Geoffrey WheatcroftOxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2001-2004, edited by Lawrence Goldman
Real Life
Melissa KiteWriter’s block
Low Life
Jeremy ClarkePassing the time of day
The Turf
Robin OakleyBe patient
To become an extremist, hang around with people you agree with
Cass SunsteinCass Sunstein — co-author of the hugely influential Nudge and an adviser to President Obama — unveils his new theory of ‘group polarisation’, and explains why, when like-minded people spend time with each other, their views become not only more confident but more extreme
Brown’s nemesis awaits — and his name is Brian
Matthew LynnMatthew Lynn identifies the men who may soon declare the British government incapable of repaying its debts
Hague’s EU policy would be suicidal for Britain
David Miliband
The year ahead is crucial for the European Union.
Is McDonald’s now a safer bet than HMG?
Matthew VincentGilt prices have soared, says Matthew Vincent, but corporate bonds could offer more attractive long-term returns
My ancestor’s private memories of Darwin
Charlotte MooreSir Norman Moore was Charles Darwin’s doctor and friend for many years. Charlotte Moore, his great-granddaughter, reveals the intimate recollections in his private correspondence
The BBC can’t help loving Obama, just as it can’t help encouraging recession
Rod LiddleRod Liddle says that television news is intrinsically biased: it transforms what it reports.
In the case of the economy, ministers are right to counteract this with a dose of optimism
Latest blog posts
sponsored links
BIG SAND STEEL BAND
IF YOU ARE PLANNING A CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION and looking for some light entertainment, you can now hire London's busiest steel
BOSC LEBAT, Tarn et Garonne.
BOSC LEBAT, SW France. Only 45 minutes from Toulouse Airport with daily flights from most provincial airports avoiding the horrors
ROME CENTRE
PORTA METRONIA, ROME Standing high on the top of one of the seven hills of Rome- the Coelian- this unique
Spectator Business | Apollo Magazine
Corporate | Advertising | Privacy | Terms
Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP
All Articles and Content Copyright ©2008 by The Spectator | All Rights Reserved
carol jewell
March 16th, 2009 8:43amSally and her family deserve justice for her and her family. To cover up the fact the little baby had had a combination of chemicals pumped into it's body should have those involved in administering this lethal cocktail in the High Court. There is a link between the condition of the little baby and the administering of the injections. The baby was said to have been sniffeling before the injections were given. This was a sign all was not well and to then inject the baby with these chemicals was an appalling act of medical irresponsibility. The all too freely of flooding synthetic chemicals into the body just has to be vigorously opposed. In the case of babies who are showing signs and symptoms ( as Sally's little boy did ) of a weakness in the pituitary gland, the chemicals would have a further devastating effect on this gland and major organ failure would result. The most common cause of the symtoms the baby was showing would be the presence of the viruses Measles; Mumps; Chicken-pox; Rubella in the central nervous system..