# Andrew Wakefield sues after people tell the truth about him **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 19, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071 "2012-01-19T22:04:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/41 "2012-01-20T21:12:07Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > I’m convinced that we’ve lost 14 years of time in the fight to understand autism, time and money we’ll never get back, and it’s all because of Wakefield. I don’t understand how parents of children with autism aren’t LIVID at him for misleading the scientific community for so long. Instead, they elevate him to the level of a saint, and worship at his feet. I think it’s largely because he presents himself as the epitome of compassion and empathy, for them and their children. He’s fighting for them, and it’s costing him everything he has. What’s the phrase - something like ‘It’s cost him his job, his country, and his reputation’? I’m not sure that’s exact, but it was showing up a lot for while, when his book came out. He’s a master of the emotional appeal, convincing people that he truly only has their interests at heart, and that he’s fighting for the injured children, those who can’t fight for themselves. His book started with a comparison of autistic children to bombing victims, with a touching image of himself not being able to help those who were fatally wounded by the bomb, so now he refuses to give up on those other terribly injured, the vaccine-damaged children. I’ve seen him start a speech with a story about a mother of an autistic child, who called him to say that when she dies she’s taking the child with her, because no one else will love or care for him. You could almost see him pulling his audience into his grasp. I think in a lot of ways he really does believe his own story. I also think he’s convinced himself that whatever he has to do to stay afloat or keep his ‘work’ going is justified because it’s not for him, after all, it’s for the children. The poor, damaged, neglected or ignored children. The ones the medical/pharmaceutical companies just couldn’t care less about. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/42 "2012-01-20T21:44:26Z")
> [@thirdwarning](#): > > I think it’s largely because he presents himself as the epitome of compassion and empathy, for them and their children. He’s fighting for them, and it’s costing him everything he has. What’s the phrase - something like ‘It’s cost him his job, his country, and his reputation’? I’m not sure that’s exact, but it was showing up a lot for while, when his book came out. He’s a master of the emotional appeal, convincing people that he truly only has their interests at heart, and that he’s fighting for the injured children, those who can’t fight for themselves. > > His book started with a comparison of autistic children to bombing victims, with a touching image of himself not being able to help those who were fatally wounded by the bomb, so now he refuses to give up on those other terribly injured, the vaccine-damaged children. > > I’ve seen him start a speech with a story about a mother of an autistic child, who called him to say that when she dies she’s taking the child with her, because no one else will love or care for him. You could almost see him pulling his audience into his grasp. > > I think in a lot of ways he really does believe his own story. I also think he’s convinced himself that whatever he has to do to stay afloat or keep his ‘work’ going is justified because it’s not for him, after all, it’s for the children. The poor, damaged, neglected or ignored children. The ones the medical/pharmaceutical companies just couldn’t care less about. Yeah, and “Mr. Compassion” is infamous for taking blood samples from kids at Birthday parties and giving his trial kids colonoscopes, lumbar punctures and barium meals. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/43 "2012-01-20T21:58:28Z")
By the way, Wakefield has gone the lawsuit route on an earlier occasion: “Wakefield has taken legal action against Deer before. He sued the journalist, along with Channel 4 and 20/20 productions, over a documentary on MMR in 2004, but later dropped the action and agreed to pay legal costs.” > **[Andrew Wakefield sues BMJ for claiming MMR study was fraudulent](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/jan/05/andrew-wakefield-sues-bmj-mmr)** > > BMJ and investigative journalist stand by allegations in articles about research linking MMR vaccine to autism I wonder if he plans this time to show up for court proceedings draped in an American flag (like the one he’s fondling in his “justice fund” website photo). > [@thirdwarning](#): > > I think in a lot of ways he really does believe his own story. I also think he’s convinced himself that whatever he has to do to stay afloat or keep his ‘work’ going is justified because it’s not for him, after all, it’s for the children. The poor, damaged, neglected or ignored children. The ones the medical/pharmaceutical companies just couldn’t care less about. The ones (more specifically, their parents) whose cash he hopes to keep collecting now that his legitimate research career is in ruins. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/44 "2012-01-20T21:58:34Z")
I’d consider him more compassionate if he actually WANTED to find out what contributes to autism, instead of continuing to perpetuate the completely-disproven fraud that he created. Instead, he manipulates parents who are already struggling with a serious situation by playing on their natural fears, and ratcheting them up until the parents feel beset on all sides by evil. Then he plays the white knight, coming in to slay the demons. He’s scum, filth, and deserves to be in jail. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/45 "2012-01-20T22:50:54Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > He’s scum, filth, and deserves to be in jail. I must disagree. What he _deserves_ is to die a wretched death from an easily preventable disease, while his marks “protect” him from a cure available from Big Pharma. Such is not a remedy available to the courts, however. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/46 "2012-01-20T22:57:32Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > I must disagree. What he _deserves_ is to die a wretched death from an easily preventable disease, while his marks “protect” him from a cure available from Big Pharma. Such is not a remedy available to the courts, however. No, what he deserves is locked in syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/47 "2012-01-20T23:03:05Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Although you’ve been given the link, don’t expect your acquaintances to care. In my long, long years involved with this issue, I have yet to see a Wakefield supporter and fan change their mind I don’t. There’s a reason I used the phrase prophet. The level of cognitive dissonance fans of Wakefield manage to keep up can only be compared to hard core religious nuts ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/48 "2012-08-05T20:08:23Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > The way I figure it, Wakefield’s hoping the case is dismissed out of hand because of jurisdiction issues - then he can claim that he’s still being oppressed, and live off the money that he’s been collecting from his followers for the hilariously misnamed “Justice fund.” I’m hoping that this goes down as one of the great disasters of a libel suit, in which the persons sued show such definitive evidence of the validity of their disputed statements that the persons suing not only lose the case, but go to jail. The case was dismissed due to jurisdiction issues, as expected [http://briandeer.com/solved/slapp-jurisdiction-dismissed.pdf](http://briandeer.com/solved/slapp-jurisdiction-dismissed.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/49 "2012-08-05T20:19:08Z")
He could still refile in federal court, or in the UK… but as you predict, he won’t. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/50 "2012-08-05T22:12:34Z")
I predict it will become another station of the cross for the “prophit” Wakefield. In instance : “See how far is the reach of Big Pharma. They can have lawsuits against them dismissed !” ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/51 "2012-08-05T23:21:13Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > The case was dismissed due to jurisdiction issues, as expected [http://briandeer.com/solved/slapp-jurisdiction-dismissed.pdf](http://briandeer.com/solved/slapp-jurisdiction-dismissed.pdf) You don’t have a copy of the motion to exclude, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/52 "2012-08-05T23:50:57Z")
> [@j666](#): > > You don’t have a copy of the motion to exclude, do you? Here - [http://briandeer.com/solved/slapp-motion.pdf](http://briandeer.com/solved/slapp-motion.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/53 "2012-08-06T00:50:30Z")
> [@detop](#): > > I predict it will become another station of the cross for the “prophit” Wakefield. In instance : “See how far is the reach of Big Pharma. They can have lawsuits against them dismissed !” Yep. Wakefield’s allies are already [sliming the judge](http://www.ageofautism.com/2012/08/judge-in-wakefield-case-amy-clark-meachums-husband-lobbies-for-sponsor-of-alison-singer.html) in the case. Amazing how these people profess ethical concerns, while ignoring Wakefield’s misdeeds and [massive conflicts of interest](http://www.skepdic.com/wakefield.html). ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/54 "2012-08-06T00:52:23Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Here - [http://briandeer.com/solved/slapp-motion.pdf](http://briandeer.com/solved/slapp-motion.pdf) Oh, thank you. I looked on his site, but couldn’t find it … 4 & 1/2 pages of cases cited? “DR. WAKEFIELD’S CLAIMS FAIL BECAUSE HE CANNOT SHOW THAT THE CHALLENGED STATEMENTS ARE FALSE.” If I share this with people, they will dismiss it as legal gobbledegook … ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/55 "2012-08-06T08:19:01Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > I don’t understand how parents of children with autism aren’t LIVID at him for misleading the scientific community for so long. This would mean admitting to themselves they were wrong to trust him, and that they have been taken for fools. Many fraud victims never report they have been defrauded for this reason. The more they pay and the greater their emotional investment, the more they don’t want to admit what they have done; to anyone else or themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/56 "2012-08-06T08:46:23Z")
Blaming autism on vaccination gives the parents a reason for why they don’t have a perfect child, too. A reason that allows them to blame The Medical Establishment, and the parents are Martyrs. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071/57 "2012-08-06T13:51:15Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Oh, thank you. I looked on his site, but couldn’t find it > > … 4 & 1/2 pages of cases cited? > > “DR. WAKEFIELD’S CLAIMS FAIL BECAUSE HE CANNOT SHOW THAT > THE CHALLENGED STATEMENTS ARE FALSE.” > > If I share this with people, they will dismiss it as legal gobbledegook … Well, more importantly the court didn’t rule on it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andrew-wakefield-sues-after-people-tell-the-truth-about-him/610071.md?page=2)