A DOCTOR who made young, vulnerable children undergo invasive and unnecessary medical procedures during a study which wrongly linked the MMR vaccine with autism has been struck off.

Dr John Walker-Smith, of Monkhams Drive, Woodford Green, was a key player in the controversial research which sparked panic across the UK and lead to thousands of families withholding their children from the immunisation programme for the measles, mumps and rubella multi-jab.

Dr Walker-Smith, 73, along with colleague Dr Andrew Wakefield, was found guilty of serious professional misconduct at the General Medical Council (GMC) today, concluding more than two-and-a-half years of hearings.

The men caused a sensation when they published their study in medical journal the Lancet back in 1998, and in Redbridge alone the numbers receiving the jab dropped from 90 per cent that year to a low of 72 per cent in 2005.

However their work was based on a tiny sample of just 12 children, with multiple subsequent studies across the world finding no evidence to support any of their findings.

But the drop in immunisation rates has led to a sharp rise in the number of measles cases in the UK, with the effects still being felt today.

The GMC hearing heard how Dr Walker-Smith made some children undergo invasive 'spinal taps' and colonoscopy procedures, without ethical approval.

In its judgement ruling, the GMC said: “He caused them [the children] to undergo in the pursuit of that research, invasive procedures that were not in their best clinical interests.

“He was irresponsible in his reporting in a scientific journal of a study which he knew, or ought to have known, had major public health implications.”

Dr Walker-Smith refused to speak to the Guardian but issued the following statement:

“I am devastated that the GMC has decided to erase me from the medical register.

"At each stage of the GMC’s investigation and hearing I have put forward strong evidence contesting the central allegations against me.

"It is deeply disappointing that the GMC has chosen to impose a sanction of such severity despite the evidence they had available to them.

"I have always and will continue to vigorously contest any suggestion of wrongdoing on my part.”

He added: “I have always been committed to the care of children and my first concern has been to do the best for them. I am forever indebted to my colleagues, family and friends for their support and understanding during what has been a difficult and prolonged investigation.

"I will now be considering the GMC’s findings in detail with my legal advisers.”

Another of Dr Walker-Smith's colleagues, Professor Simon Murch of Tooting, was found to have had “errors of judgement” but was cleared of misconduct.