On January 13, 2011, Dr. Andrew Wakefield responded to the newest allegations brought against him by journalist, Brian Deer. Since the first of a series of articles Deer offered the Sunday Times in 2004, Deer has sought to destroy the credibility of Dr. Wakefield and his autism and vaccines theory. Wakefield is the main researcher of a paper published in the academic journal, Lancet, in 1998 (now retracted), and the first person to question a possible connection between environmental triggers and autism.
What Do Parents With Autistic Children Think of Dr. Andrew Wakefield?
Media reports side with Deer’s recent accusation that the 1998 paper was a hoax because Wakefield’s motivation was profit. However, these journalists haven’t read Dr. Wakefield’s original study or talked to the parents. Many parents of autistic children, including all of the parents of the 12 children involved in Wakesfield’s study, continue to support Dr. Andrew Wakefield. Not Brian Deer.
Dr. Wakefield’s View on MMR Vaccines and Autism
Dr. Wakefield denies Brian Deer’s allegations against him. The statement released January 13, 2011, “Breaking News: Statement From Dr. Andrew Wakefield: No Fraud. No Hoax. No Profit Motive.” can be read at the Age of Autism website. Dr. Wakefield states his work wasn’t fraudulent or a hoax, that profit wasn’t why he looked at MMR vaccines and autism.
“The MMR is only one vaccine of the 11 vaccinations on the pediatric schedule that has been studied for causing developmental problems such as autism. That is fact, not opinion,” Wakefield says. “I continue to fully support more independent research to determine if environmental triggers, including vaccines, are causing autism and other developmental problems.”
Brian Deer Personally Investigated by J. B. Handley
J. B. Handley is the parent of an autistic son, co-producer of the film Autism Yesterday, and co-founder of an international organization of scientists, physicians, and parents called Generation Rescue dedicated to researching not only the causes and treatments for autism, but also for ADHD and other chronic illnesses. He personally investigated Brian Deer and spoke to the parents of the autistic children involved.
What he discovered is not what is being reported. Handley’s findings, “Keeping Anderson Cooper Honest: Is Brian Deer the Fraud?” is a lengthy, detailed article well worth the time to read at the Age of Autism website as it exposes not only Deer’s mental state and possible financial motives behind his attack on Dr. Wakefield, but also some of his misleading statements.
Parents of Autistic Children Involved Still Blame MMR Vaccines
Despite Deer’s accusations, the parents of the autistic children who went into regression after MMR vaccines continue to support Dr. Wakefield and the others who treated their children at the World Free Hospital. They also continue to believe their children’s regression into autism came from those vaccines.
However, when the General Medical Council (GMC) didn’t allow them to testify at Wakefield’s hearing, they collectively wrote a letter to the GMC denouncing Deer’s filed documents and allegations. You can listen to that letter at the YouTube video, “ Lancet 12 Statement about Doctor Wakefield, Murch and Walker-Smith.”
The entire one-hour documentary, “Selective Hearing, Brian Deer, and the GMC, Dr. Andrew Wakefield Autism MMR,” can be viewed for free at the CryShameUK website. In the film, many of the parents share their feelings about autism and vaccines, how Deer was deceitful and insensitive, and correct many of Deer’s inaccuracies. It also shows how Deer’s communication with the parents was often confrontational, argumentative, and deceptive.
Autism and MMR Studies Support Parental Claims, Not Brian Deer
In the documentary, Brian Deer continuously states the children involved in Dr. Wakefield’s autism and MMR study did not have inflammatory bowel disease; that the study found no such thing. However, the point of Dr. Wakefield’s study, “Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, Non-specific Colitis, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder in Children,” was to search for a connection between the childrens’ chronic enterocolitis and their autism.
In addition, other studies like “Autistic Enterocolitis: Fact or Fiction?” published by Polymnia Galiatsatos and colleagues in the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology clearly talk about Dr. Wakefield’s autistic enterocolitis findings as fact, since it matched their own findings, including the parents’ stated statistics that 70% of those with regressive-type autism suffer gastrointestinal complaints.
Andrew Wakefield and Brian Deer Controversy
Despite Dr. Andrew Wakefield losing his job, career, and reputation, Brian Deer continues to fuel the controversy and fear over autism and MMR vaccines. With many journalists willing to regurgitate his allocations without investigating Deer or talking directly to the parents of the autistic children involved, the controversy isn’t likely to end any time soon.
For a more rounded knowledge of the controversy, read Handley’s investigation, watch the documentary, and listen to the parents. Wakefield’s study didn’t prove or disprove that vaccines cause autism. It wasn’t designed to. The study was simply the catalyst autistic parents needed to begin to unravel the puzzle known as autism.
Sources:
Age of Autism, “Breaking News: Statement From Dr. Andrew Wakefield: No Fraud. No Hoax. No Profit Motive.” January 13, 2011 (accessed January 15, 2011)
Guardian, Notes & Theories section, “The medical establishment shielded Andrew Wakefield from fraud claims,” by Brian Deer, January 12, 2011 (accessed January 14, 2011)
Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology, Galiatsatos, P., MD, FRCPC, Gologan, A., MD, Lamoureux, E., MD, FRCPC, Autistic Enterocolitis: Fact or Fiction? 23:2, 95-98, February 2009
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Vickie Ewell - Vickie has worked with autistic individuals for 9 years. She has celiac disease and specializes in gfcf living.
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