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The Doctor Who Fooled the World: Science, Deception, and the War on Vaccines
Brian Deer exposes a conspiracy of fraud and betrayal behind attacks on a mainstay of medicine.
From San Francisco to Shanghai, from Vancouver to Venice, controversy over vaccines is erupting around the globe. Fear is spreading. Banished diseases have returned. And a militant “anti-vax” movement has surfaced to campaign against immunization. But why?
In The Doctor Who Fooled the World, award-winning investigative reporter Brian Deer exposes the truth behind the crisis. With the page-turning tension of a detective story, he unmasks the players and unearths the facts. Where it began. Who was responsible. How they pulled it off. Who paid.
At the heart of this dark narrative is the rise of the so-called “father of the anti-vaccine movement”: a British-born doctor, Andrew Wakefield. Banned from medicine, thanks to Deer’s discoveries, he fled to the United States to pursue his ambitions, and now claims to be winning a “war.”
In an epic investigation, spread across fifteen years, Deer battles medical secrecy and insider cover-ups, smear campaigns and gagging lawsuits, to uncover rigged research and moneymaking schemes, the heartbreaking plight of families struggling with disability, and the scientific scandal of our time.
2021 winner: Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY), and 2021 Eric Hoffer Book Award
From San Francisco to Shanghai, from Vancouver to Venice, controversy over vaccines is erupting around the globe. Fear is spreading. Banished diseases have returned. And a militant “anti-vax” movement has surfaced to campaign against immunization. But why?
In The Doctor Who Fooled the World, award-winning investigative reporter Brian Deer exposes the truth behind the crisis. With the page-turning tension of a detective story, he unmasks the players and unearths the facts. Where it began. Who was responsible. How they pulled it off. Who paid.
At the heart of this dark narrative is the rise of the so-called “father of the anti-vaccine movement”: a British-born doctor, Andrew Wakefield. Banned from medicine, thanks to Deer’s discoveries, he fled to the United States to pursue his ambitions, and now claims to be winning a “war.”
In an epic investigation, spread across fifteen years, Deer battles medical secrecy and insider cover-ups, smear campaigns and gagging lawsuits, to uncover rigged research and moneymaking schemes, the heartbreaking plight of families struggling with disability, and the scientific scandal of our time.
2021 winner: Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY), and 2021 Eric Hoffer Book Award
11 pages, Audiobook
First published September 1, 2020
254 people are currently reading
4647 people want to read
About the author
Brian Deer
2 books51 followersBrian Deer is a multi-award-winning investigative reporter, best known for inquiries into the drug industry, medicine, and social issues for The Sunday Times. He's the author of the nonfiction investigation, The Doctor Who Fooled the World, and the medical thriller, Blind Trial.
Among Deer's professional recognitions, he's been awarded an honorary doctorate and nominated three times for British Press Awards, winning the title of specialist journalist of the year twice, and shortlisted for the title of UK reporter of the year. Judges said of his first prize, for investigations published longform in The Sunday Times Magazine, that he was probably "the only journalist in Britain that polices the drugs companies." For his second, given for investigations included in The Doctor Who Fooled the World, they said his reporting was "a tremendous righting of a wrong."
In 2021, The Doctor Who Fooled the World, won the Eric Hoffer Award, and an Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY).
Among Deer's professional recognitions, he's been awarded an honorary doctorate and nominated three times for British Press Awards, winning the title of specialist journalist of the year twice, and shortlisted for the title of UK reporter of the year. Judges said of his first prize, for investigations published longform in The Sunday Times Magazine, that he was probably "the only journalist in Britain that polices the drugs companies." For his second, given for investigations included in The Doctor Who Fooled the World, they said his reporting was "a tremendous righting of a wrong."
In 2021, The Doctor Who Fooled the World, won the Eric Hoffer Award, and an Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY).
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August 2, 2022
This book is an extraordinary investigation spanning more than fifteen years about British-born doctor Andrew Jeremy Wakefield. He is considered the father of the anti-vax movement. Wakefield moved to the USA after he was banned from Medicine in the UK.
The Anti-vax movement gained a lot of public attention recently during the pandemic when a particular section of people denied taking the vaccines.
What I learned from this book
1) Who is Andrew Wakefield, and what is his relation to the MMR vaccine and autism?
Andrew Wakefield's study on the MMR vaccine and autism has gathered a lot of international attention. Many people treated him like a hero at that time until they understood the fakeness behind his study. Dr. Andrew Wakefield's fraudulent 1998 retracted Lancet research is the main topic the author is trying to discuss in this book.
"I'd first heard his name in February 1998, on the occasion of a report, or "paper," he published in a top medical journal, The Lancet. In a five-page, four thousand-word, double-columned text, he claimed to have discovered a terrifying new "syndrome" of brain and bowel damage in children. The "apparent precipitating event," as he called it on page 2, was a vaccine given routinely to hundreds of millions. He later talked of an "epidemic" of injuries.
In time, he'd take aim at pretty much any vaccine, from hepatitis B to human papillomavirus. But, in the beginning, there was one in his crosshairs. This was a three-in-one shot against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), which he argued was the cause of a rising tide of "regressive" autism, in which infants lost language and skills. "Sufferers have to live in a silent world of their own unable to communicate," he warned.
But then, five years later, all that changed with a topical feature assignment. By then, the "MMR doctor" was so celebrated in Britain that anything new would get a "good show," as journalists used to say in the golden age of ink on paper. So I interviewed the mother of a developmentally challenged boy whose details were anonymized in that Lancet report. And there began Wakefield's end.
Nothing came easy. He refused to be interviewed, and ran away when I approached him with questions.
But, as I pressed on, asking questions, gathering documents, and resisting lawsuits that he brought to try to gag me, his report was retracted as "utterly false," and his doctoring days were done."
2) Why is it dangerous to use the "fake it till you make it" principle in Medicine?
As Deer says in this book, Medicine is not a field suitable for fake pathological liars who try to gain instant fame by faking results in Medical research.
Medicine is a field dealing with human beings. One fake research study has the power to alter the lives of millions of people in the worst possible manner. Wakefield tried to fake his research study and publish the results in a reputed journal like Lancet, which triggered the development of the anti-vax movement that has become a severe threat to everyone. We have all seen the public riots and protests that happened all around the world against vaccination and herd immunity during the COVID- 19 pandemic.
"Beneath the title was a single line, asking if the child's "initial development" was "normal." To claim vaccine damage, this feature was important. And I knew the Lancet paper was clear. In its "Methods" and "Interpretation" sections, it stressed that the twelve were "previously normal" children, with a "history of normal development."
But Child Six's report got off to a rocky start. "Initial development—normal?" it asked, and answered itself bluntly:
No
Promising, I thought. But this didn't detain me, because three inches below that, a six-inch-wide box went to the heart of Wakefield's behavior. It was labeled, in boldface, "Initial diagnosis" and was answered:
Aspergers Syndrome
Down the page was another box, "Current diagnosis":
Aspergers Syndrome (most likely)
I didn't need to check. That twelve-child paper reported no case of Asperger's syndrome. According to Table 2, column 2—"Behavioural diagnosis"—eight of the kids were diagnosed with "Autism," one with "Autism? Disintegrative Disorder?" one with "Autistic spectrum disorder," and two with "encephalitis?"
3) Opioid excess hypothesis and Opioid suppression hypothesis of Andrew Wakefield
To show the relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism Andrew Wakefield used the help of two hypotheses. It seems to be both interesting and absurd at the same time.
"A coherent explanation for a link between the gut, persistent measles virus infection, autoimmunity and autism, is embodied in the 'opioid excess' hypothesis," he told the board. "The hypothesis proposes that early in life, opioid peptides—principally in ß-caesomorphine and ß-gliadorphin—derived from dietary casein and gliadin [a gluten component] respectively, enter the circulation through a damaged or leaky gut."
So, here was how MMR was meant to cause autism. Persistent measles virus led to bowel inflammation. Then an "excess" of peptides from food escaped into the bloodstream, traveled to the brain, and caused damage."
"He says he was asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. The data would never be published. "It was almost like it had become a religion. And if you got a result that you didn't like, you ignored that result and carried on."
No surprise there. That was the logic of litigation. The goal wasn't the truth. It was to win—or, at least, maximize billing to legal aid. And, understandably for a lawyer, Barr kept his nerve, even after the unblinding opened eyes. A peptides meeting was promptly convened in Norfolk (flying four academics from the United States to huddle with March), at which "opioid excess" was unsentimentally dumped for a new "opioid suppression hypothesis."
My favourite three lines from this book
"That was the voice of the doctor who fooled the world. He reveled in his power to terrorize. And he saw in Thompson the opportunity that it was: to mirror the complaints found proven against himself, by accusing the government of fraud. "They say this, I say that." Here was a chance to reclaim familiar territory—and in the months that followed, he did."
“Medicine was for doctors; science for scientists. My responsibility was to question. And if that meant digging till his house fell down, then, corny as it sounds, better journalists than me have lost their lives for untold truths."
"If he believed in something, he would have gone to the ends of the earth to go on believing.
To go on believing. Not to search for solutions. He'd always been making a case. And the case he made—which was rarely not for profit—was that his big ideas must prevail. No matter his betters, no matter the truth, no matter the outbreaks of fear, guilt, and disease, nothing would obstruct his path."
What could have been better?
In this current world, this is a book that has immense importance. Still, I felt the writing should have been better. The grandiosity of the author in a couple of places in this book should have been avoided. The author should have devoted some more space to describing the demerits and problems associated with the anti-wax movement.
Rating
4/5 If you are someone who loves to read investigative journalism and enjoys reading books like Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup and Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators, this book will be a great choice for you.
January 4, 2021
It's hard to put into words just how terrible a human being Andrew Wakefield is, but Brian Deer is the best person for the task. The award-winning journalist never wanted to report on Wakefield in the first place, but the story that emerged from his writing was (and remains) of such worldwide consequence that it's important we all know the depths of this con-artist's lies. If you've never heard of Wakefield, he's the reason millions of parents falsely believe "vaccines cause autism" and various other flavors of vaccine denialism. In The Doctor Who Fooled the World: Andrew Wakefield’s War on Vaccines, Deer exposes the layers of fraud and self-interest that have elevated a man who properly belongs in jail.
Andrew Wakefield may have started with decent credentials and the potential for a promising career as a researcher, but did not find the results that he was looking for when he initially sought a connection between measles and gastroenterological diseases such as Crohn's. There's nothing wrong with exploring such potential connections, of course, but there is something wrong with faking data. Wakefield published a 1998 paper in The Lancet claiming a connection between the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine and autism, which incited a public backlash against vaccination on what turned out to be fraudulent data based on a small sample size of participants who were recruited from self-selected targets... essentially, everything you could do wrong with a scientific paper, he did. Volumes of subsequent studies have shown the vaccine/autism connection to be nonexistent.
Deer unpacks every step along the timeline: how Wakefield's claims shifted over time from a measles/Crohn's connection to vaccine/autism, from blaming thimerosol to multi-packaged doses, how he sought to financially gain from investing in his own competing single-dose vaccine product, how he sought out participants whose parents were already engaged anti-vaccine lawsuits and whose lawyers were bankrolling the "research", to identifying the participants themselves. In a journalistic coup, Deer finds a paper revealing many of the participants' names, and was able to verify that most had autism symptoms before their vaccination, or were vaccinated with something other than MMR, or didn't have an autism diagnosis, and even two subjects who were siblings. Did I mention that the study size was only 12 to begin with? Deer also reveals how photos and tissue samples used to support Wakefield's claims were falsified or pulled from unrelated subjects.
The Lancet did not retract the paper until 2010, and by that time the damage had been done. That same year, the UK struck Wakefield from its medical register. Deer describes the difficulty that Wakefield's university had in removing him from his tenure, and how he milked that situation for severance pay. Plus, Wakefield padded his resume with a variety of titles he had no claim to. It's a story filled with frustrations, as Wakefield continually plays each situation to his advantage, going on speaking tours and riling up anti-vaccine sentiment, claiming he's a martyr for his whistleblowing, rather than a fraudster who has benefited by endangering everyone's lives. Deer details libel lawsuits and counter-lawsuits between the two of them, and how Wakefield has vaunted small victories and downplayed large ones. He's a pathological liar, an opportunist, and in many ways a Trump-like figure: it's telling that one of the first stories is about Wakefield's presence at Trump's inauguration ball. There's no happy ending: instead of languishing in jail, Wakefield continues to appear in documentaries and public rallies, and is dating supermodel Elle MacPherson. Sigh. While he's gotten away with so much, we should all be very thankful for the work Brian Deer has done to keep Wakefield on his toes and to expose his malfeasance.
Andrew Wakefield may have started with decent credentials and the potential for a promising career as a researcher, but did not find the results that he was looking for when he initially sought a connection between measles and gastroenterological diseases such as Crohn's. There's nothing wrong with exploring such potential connections, of course, but there is something wrong with faking data. Wakefield published a 1998 paper in The Lancet claiming a connection between the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine and autism, which incited a public backlash against vaccination on what turned out to be fraudulent data based on a small sample size of participants who were recruited from self-selected targets... essentially, everything you could do wrong with a scientific paper, he did. Volumes of subsequent studies have shown the vaccine/autism connection to be nonexistent.
Deer unpacks every step along the timeline: how Wakefield's claims shifted over time from a measles/Crohn's connection to vaccine/autism, from blaming thimerosol to multi-packaged doses, how he sought to financially gain from investing in his own competing single-dose vaccine product, how he sought out participants whose parents were already engaged anti-vaccine lawsuits and whose lawyers were bankrolling the "research", to identifying the participants themselves. In a journalistic coup, Deer finds a paper revealing many of the participants' names, and was able to verify that most had autism symptoms before their vaccination, or were vaccinated with something other than MMR, or didn't have an autism diagnosis, and even two subjects who were siblings. Did I mention that the study size was only 12 to begin with? Deer also reveals how photos and tissue samples used to support Wakefield's claims were falsified or pulled from unrelated subjects.
The Lancet did not retract the paper until 2010, and by that time the damage had been done. That same year, the UK struck Wakefield from its medical register. Deer describes the difficulty that Wakefield's university had in removing him from his tenure, and how he milked that situation for severance pay. Plus, Wakefield padded his resume with a variety of titles he had no claim to. It's a story filled with frustrations, as Wakefield continually plays each situation to his advantage, going on speaking tours and riling up anti-vaccine sentiment, claiming he's a martyr for his whistleblowing, rather than a fraudster who has benefited by endangering everyone's lives. Deer details libel lawsuits and counter-lawsuits between the two of them, and how Wakefield has vaunted small victories and downplayed large ones. He's a pathological liar, an opportunist, and in many ways a Trump-like figure: it's telling that one of the first stories is about Wakefield's presence at Trump's inauguration ball. There's no happy ending: instead of languishing in jail, Wakefield continues to appear in documentaries and public rallies, and is dating supermodel Elle MacPherson. Sigh. While he's gotten away with so much, we should all be very thankful for the work Brian Deer has done to keep Wakefield on his toes and to expose his malfeasance.
October 1, 2025
10/1/2025 addendum: Gee, it's almost like our government officials have a vested interest in, or some secret profit motive for, making egregiously-wrong statements like, "Tylenol taken during pregnancy causes autism" or, the classic, "vaccines cause autism". Or, maybe they just don't read. Or, they read the wrong stuff. Like the single (I'll say it again: SINGLE) scientific paper linking autism with childhood vaccines such as MMR, which turned out to be debunked as a hoax. Yet, there are idiots out there, like trump and RFK, Jr., who still bandy about the paper's claims as if it were truth. But the health and welfare of our fellow citizens are not what's motivating these idiots. It's money. It's finding ways to capitalize on the misery of others.
“The world, he believed, was however he said that it was, just because he said it was so. (p.214)”
On February 28, 1998, a prestigious British medical journal, The Lancet, published a paper that linked bowel-disorder and autism to the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine, commonly given to young children all over the world. The paper claimed to discover that the vaccine caused a new syndrome called autistic enterocolitis. The paper’s main author (there were twelve contributing co-authors) was a physician named Andrew Wakefield.
Vaccinations plummeted after the paper came out. Doctors and parents throughout the U.S., the UK, and other countries were up in arms against the pharmaceutical companies that manufactured these vaccines. Wakefield, almost overnight, became a heroic figure among parents of children with autism and single-handedly helped to bolster the anti-vaccination movement. His paper is still referred to by many anti-vaxxers, and Wakefield still gives speeches in which he quotes from this document. He has been lauded by and schmoozed with celebrity anti-vaxxers such as Jenny McCarthy, Jim Carrey, and Donald Trump. (Yes, as recently as 2017, Wakefield was seen partying it up with big-wigs and the U.S. president.)
Here’s the rub: the paper was bullshit.
Ten of the twelve co-authors later retracted, saying that the data was “insufficient” to support the paper’s conclusion, that the MMR vaccine causes autism. Not only that, but after a several month-long inquiry, it was discovered that not only did Wakefield have a huge conflict of interest (he was receiving money secretly from lawyers engaged in a class-action lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company), but he also falsified information within the paper. Of the only twelve children in the case study (that alone was a red flag), it was discovered that several of them had displayed symptoms of autistic behavior long before the MMR vaccine was administered.
If that wasn’t enough, scientists in other countries tried replicating Wakefield’s experiment. Every single experiment was unable to find any causal link between bowel-disorders, autism, and the MMR vaccine.
This story is fascinating enough, and the investigative journalist, Brian Deer, who initially broke the story could have ended it there. Unfortunately, Wakefield’s bizarre and horrible story continued to unfold.
Deer writes about the infamous paper and Wakefield’s criminally unethical behavior in his book “The Doctor Who Fooled the World”. It is investigative journalism at its best and most important.
Wakefield, who has the blood of thousands of dead children on his hands, may have lost his license to practice, but he is still out there peddling his lies. Indeed, Wakefield (who still inexplicably gets invited on to talk shows occasionally) insists that he is the victim in all this. Currently, he is living somewhere in Miami, Florida, dating supermodel Elle McPherson, and living off billions from the divorce of his first wife and his new career as a “filmmaker”. One can’t make shit like this up.
In the meantime, Deer has had to suffer death threats and anti-vaxxer animosity for “ruining the life” of a “good man”. He has been accused of being a defender of, and taking money from, pharmaceutical companies. (In truth, he has written several stories exposing corrupt and illegal actions by Big Pharm. He is most definitely not in their pocket.) He manages to accept all this fairly well. It is, sadly, the price one pays for being a good journalist nowadays.
The sad fact is that the anti-vax movement still has many proponents and true believers. It is one of those conspiracy theories—-much like the one about Democrats stealing the election from Trump—-that is not only based on little to no evidence but straight-up lies and misinformation. And, as with any good conspiracy theory, the believers accuse anyone who claims it is anything but the truth to be clear enemies of the truth. People like Wakefield and Trump are scary, but they are perhaps not as scary as the hundreds of thousands who support and perpetuate their bullshit simply because they refuse to believe the alternative, i.e. Reality.
“The world, he believed, was however he said that it was, just because he said it was so. (p.214)”
On February 28, 1998, a prestigious British medical journal, The Lancet, published a paper that linked bowel-disorder and autism to the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine, commonly given to young children all over the world. The paper claimed to discover that the vaccine caused a new syndrome called autistic enterocolitis. The paper’s main author (there were twelve contributing co-authors) was a physician named Andrew Wakefield.
Vaccinations plummeted after the paper came out. Doctors and parents throughout the U.S., the UK, and other countries were up in arms against the pharmaceutical companies that manufactured these vaccines. Wakefield, almost overnight, became a heroic figure among parents of children with autism and single-handedly helped to bolster the anti-vaccination movement. His paper is still referred to by many anti-vaxxers, and Wakefield still gives speeches in which he quotes from this document. He has been lauded by and schmoozed with celebrity anti-vaxxers such as Jenny McCarthy, Jim Carrey, and Donald Trump. (Yes, as recently as 2017, Wakefield was seen partying it up with big-wigs and the U.S. president.)
Here’s the rub: the paper was bullshit.
Ten of the twelve co-authors later retracted, saying that the data was “insufficient” to support the paper’s conclusion, that the MMR vaccine causes autism. Not only that, but after a several month-long inquiry, it was discovered that not only did Wakefield have a huge conflict of interest (he was receiving money secretly from lawyers engaged in a class-action lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company), but he also falsified information within the paper. Of the only twelve children in the case study (that alone was a red flag), it was discovered that several of them had displayed symptoms of autistic behavior long before the MMR vaccine was administered.
If that wasn’t enough, scientists in other countries tried replicating Wakefield’s experiment. Every single experiment was unable to find any causal link between bowel-disorders, autism, and the MMR vaccine.
This story is fascinating enough, and the investigative journalist, Brian Deer, who initially broke the story could have ended it there. Unfortunately, Wakefield’s bizarre and horrible story continued to unfold.
Deer writes about the infamous paper and Wakefield’s criminally unethical behavior in his book “The Doctor Who Fooled the World”. It is investigative journalism at its best and most important.
Wakefield, who has the blood of thousands of dead children on his hands, may have lost his license to practice, but he is still out there peddling his lies. Indeed, Wakefield (who still inexplicably gets invited on to talk shows occasionally) insists that he is the victim in all this. Currently, he is living somewhere in Miami, Florida, dating supermodel Elle McPherson, and living off billions from the divorce of his first wife and his new career as a “filmmaker”. One can’t make shit like this up.
In the meantime, Deer has had to suffer death threats and anti-vaxxer animosity for “ruining the life” of a “good man”. He has been accused of being a defender of, and taking money from, pharmaceutical companies. (In truth, he has written several stories exposing corrupt and illegal actions by Big Pharm. He is most definitely not in their pocket.) He manages to accept all this fairly well. It is, sadly, the price one pays for being a good journalist nowadays.
The sad fact is that the anti-vax movement still has many proponents and true believers. It is one of those conspiracy theories—-much like the one about Democrats stealing the election from Trump—-that is not only based on little to no evidence but straight-up lies and misinformation. And, as with any good conspiracy theory, the believers accuse anyone who claims it is anything but the truth to be clear enemies of the truth. People like Wakefield and Trump are scary, but they are perhaps not as scary as the hundreds of thousands who support and perpetuate their bullshit simply because they refuse to believe the alternative, i.e. Reality.
October 7, 2021
Generally, I'll give any nonfiction book five stars, because I always appreciate the research an author has done. Plus, real life is always more interesting to me than fictional worlds. That said, I just couldn't get through this book. It had nothing to do with the content -- I really wanted to know more about the man behind the supposed link between autism and the MMR vaccine.
The problem is that I couldn't stay with the narrative. The author writes in bursts of incomplete sentences that made the narrative choppy. I know authors can use incomplete sentences to great effect, but it's overdone here. Here's an example: "The book was Fields Virology. Two red-and-silver tomes, each weighing half a brick. An encyclopedia of viruses. Second edition." This is no dramatic moment in the book, so why not just introduce the book with complete sentences, so the reader isn't endlessly starting and stopping?
The imprecision also bothered me. On one page, the author starts a paragraph with "His career Plan A was professor of surgery. 'If in doubt, cut it out' and all that." What does that mean? It's a shortcut that puts more emphasis on scene-setting than precise meaning.
In addition, I was also drawn out of the story by the voice of the text. Yes, it was Brian Deer's dogged reporting that brought to light the fraud that Andrew Wakefield committed, but the self-congratulatory tone and self-defensive voice when challenged didn't fit smoothly into this nonfiction narrative.
This is such an important subject, an issue that brought fear and guilt to legions of parents, but I just can't rate the book any higher. However, another reader might be able to look past the issues that I couldn't.
The problem is that I couldn't stay with the narrative. The author writes in bursts of incomplete sentences that made the narrative choppy. I know authors can use incomplete sentences to great effect, but it's overdone here. Here's an example: "The book was Fields Virology. Two red-and-silver tomes, each weighing half a brick. An encyclopedia of viruses. Second edition." This is no dramatic moment in the book, so why not just introduce the book with complete sentences, so the reader isn't endlessly starting and stopping?
The imprecision also bothered me. On one page, the author starts a paragraph with "His career Plan A was professor of surgery. 'If in doubt, cut it out' and all that." What does that mean? It's a shortcut that puts more emphasis on scene-setting than precise meaning.
In addition, I was also drawn out of the story by the voice of the text. Yes, it was Brian Deer's dogged reporting that brought to light the fraud that Andrew Wakefield committed, but the self-congratulatory tone and self-defensive voice when challenged didn't fit smoothly into this nonfiction narrative.
This is such an important subject, an issue that brought fear and guilt to legions of parents, but I just can't rate the book any higher. However, another reader might be able to look past the issues that I couldn't.
December 30, 2020
Uggh, I knew Andrew Wakefield was a fake but I always thought mayyybe he genuinely believed his own nonsense - I didn't realize just how conniving, cruel and viciously greedy he was. Just the worst kind of con who has done so much damage to the world, especially to the most vulnerable people and children and without serious consequences. A really interesting and horrifying read that lays out all the stages this snakeoil salesman went through to fool everyone and line his own pockets. Blech.
Journalists like this author are the heroes we need many more of.
Journalists like this author are the heroes we need many more of.
April 25, 2024
Може би едно от най-важните неща, които научих в следването си, е:
"Нормално е да имате предварителна идея какво може да е нещото, което изучавате. Но най-важното са фактите. За вас като учени ще се съди по това как боравите с тях. Ако не се оставите на идеята да ви владее, вие ще я променяте на база наличните факти. Това е работа на един учен. Ако направите обратното и подбирате фактите, така че да отговарят на идеята - тогава сте самодоволни задници"*.
Разбира се, в речника на уважаемия професор не присъства думата "задник" (трябва да уточня, че цитатът ми е по-близо до перифразата). И в интерес на истината по втория сценарий се подлъгват и най-добрите учени. Защо ли? Ами, просто се увличат. Когато нещо е твоя страст или е грабнало ума ти още от ранна възраст, може да изключиш за рационалното. Но разликата между тенденциозния подбор на факти и лъжата все още е от небето до земята.
И така стигаме до личността на Андрю Уейкфийлд - бащата на съвременното антиваксърство; нарцисист с его до луната и съвест на невестулка**. Четвърто поколение медик, той е запомнен от състудентите си като чудесен играч на футбол и незапомнен с никакви академични постижения. Това не го прави непременно лош лекар. Чакай малко - той няма пациенти, тъй че изобщо не можем да отсъдим какъв е по грижите за тях. Той е изследовател в лабораториите на Royal Free Hospital - треторазредно лечебно заведение. Вдъхновен от откритието на Бари Маршал и Робин Уорън за бактериалния произход на стомашната язва***, Уейкфийлд, самият той гастроентеролог, започва да търси бактерия или вирус, който да причинява болестта на Крон и си харесал за тази цел вируса на дребната шарка. Казвам "харесал", защото той никога няма да представи убедителни доказателства за РНК на дребна шарка при болен от Крон. Но тъй като Крон е болест на развитите страни, където шарката е до голяма степен елиминирана в следствие на ваксинацията, д-р Уейкфийлд**** е убеден, че вирусът идва от ваксината за него.
Заради тази му работа адвокат*****, опитващ се да съди фармацевтичната индустрия по идея на майки, които смятат, че децата им са пострадали от конкретна ваксина, ще го потърси да бъде медицинския експерт на ищците (срещу 150 паунда на час). За тази цел докторът прави изследване, чиито резултати не само ще фалшифицира, но и ще скрие явния конфликт на интереси. Което ще доведе до падението му. Ала не и преди да нанесе непоправими щети.
В типично мой стил няма да пиша повече върху историята. Оставям на вас да продължите. За книгата - надали има по-подходящ човек да разкаже цялата каша от Браян Диър, журналистът, който повече от десетилетие търпи тормоза и заплахите на побърканите****** фенове на "лекаря без пациенти", защото е имал смелостта да бръкне в кацата с гнусни лъжи и да остане верен на фактите (и при това да не изгуби своето разбиране и човешко отношение към мнозина от участниците). Критиката ми е към стила - изобилието от кратки изречения накъсва смисъла и ги кара да губят патоса си. Липсва ми и цитиращ апарат, но последното е професионално изкривяване, така че ще го пропусна.
За финал - по новините съобщават, че две малки бебенца умрели от коклюш (това няма да го цитирам като източник, вярвам всички сте научили). Погледът ми се зарея като на теле в железница и казах: "Мислех, че тази болест е останала в старите книги".
* Па макар и учени.
** От уточненията нямаше нужда, защото нарцисистите по принцип имат голямо его и нямат съвест, но ми хареса как звучи. За повече информация виж Опасните личности.
***https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_U6c... - за да не обяснявам погледнете това.
**** Който (за щастие!) не е лекар от 2010 г. насам.
***** Въпросният адвокат и майките не са душички, както ще разберете.
****** Не очаквайте да се извиня за това!!!
"Нормално е да имате предварителна идея какво може да е нещото, което изучавате. Но най-важното са фактите. За вас като учени ще се съди по това как боравите с тях. Ако не се оставите на идеята да ви владее, вие ще я променяте на база наличните факти. Това е работа на един учен. Ако направите обратното и подбирате фактите, така че да отговарят на идеята - тогава сте самодоволни задници"*.
Разбира се, в речника на уважаемия професор не присъства думата "задник" (трябва да уточня, че цитатът ми е по-близо до перифразата). И в интерес на истината по втория сценарий се подлъгват и най-добрите учени. Защо ли? Ами, просто се увличат. Когато нещо е твоя страст или е грабнало ума ти още от ранна възраст, може да изключиш за рационалното. Но разликата между тенденциозния подбор на факти и лъжата все още е от небето до земята.
И така стигаме до личността на Андрю Уейкфийлд - бащата на съвременното антиваксърство; нарцисист с его до луната и съвест на невестулка**. Четвърто поколение медик, той е запомнен от състудентите си като чудесен играч на футбол и незапомнен с никакви академични постижения. Това не го прави непременно лош лекар. Чакай малко - той няма пациенти, тъй че изобщо не можем да отсъдим какъв е по грижите за тях. Той е изследовател в лабораториите на Royal Free Hospital - треторазредно лечебно заведение. Вдъхновен от откритието на Бари Маршал и Робин Уорън за бактериалния произход на стомашната язва***, Уейкфийлд, самият той гастроентеролог, започва да търси бактерия или вирус, който да причинява болестта на Крон и си харесал за тази цел вируса на дребната шарка. Казвам "харесал", защото той никога няма да представи убедителни доказателства за РНК на дребна шарка при болен от Крон. Но тъй като Крон е болест на развитите страни, където шарката е до голяма степен елиминирана в следствие на ваксинацията, д-р Уейкфийлд**** е убеден, че вирусът идва от ваксината за него.
Заради тази му работа адвокат*****, опитващ се да съди фармацевтичната индустрия по идея на майки, които смятат, че децата им са пострадали от конкретна ваксина, ще го потърси да бъде медицинския експерт на ищците (срещу 150 паунда на час). За тази цел докторът прави изследване, чиито резултати не само ще фалшифицира, но и ще скрие явния конфликт на интереси. Което ще доведе до падението му. Ала не и преди да нанесе непоправими щети.
В типично мой стил няма да пиша повече върху историята. Оставям на вас да продължите. За книгата - надали има по-подходящ човек да разкаже цялата каша от Браян Диър, журналистът, който повече от десетилетие търпи тормоза и заплахите на побърканите****** фенове на "лекаря без пациенти", защото е имал смелостта да бръкне в кацата с гнусни лъжи и да остане верен на фактите (и при това да не изгуби своето разбиране и човешко отношение към мнозина от участниците). Критиката ми е към стила - изобилието от кратки изречения накъсва смисъла и ги кара да губят патоса си. Липсва ми и цитиращ апарат, но последното е професионално изкривяване, така че ще го пропусна.
За финал - по новините съобщават, че две малки бебенца умрели от коклюш (това няма да го цитирам като източник, вярвам всички сте научили). Погледът ми се зарея като на теле в железница и казах: "Мислех, че тази болест е останала в старите книги".
* Па макар и учени.
** От уточненията нямаше нужда, защото нарцисистите по принцип имат голямо его и нямат съвест, но ми хареса как звучи. За повече информация виж Опасните личности.
***https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_U6c... - за да не обяснявам погледнете това.
**** Който (за щастие!) не е лекар от 2010 г. насам.
***** Въпросният адвокат и майките не са душички, както ще разберете.
****** Не очаквайте да се извиня за това!!!
November 22, 2020
I feel unable to rate this book any higher than 2 stars. It’s a really important book that is so prescient at the moment and It’s important that this man has been exposed for what he is especially as he is still feted amongst anti-Vaccination activists and conspiracy theorists the world over. However I felt this book was a difficult read, not for what it says but the way it says it and the style it is written in. What really galled me was that the language used was too informal, was no rigorous enough as befitting the subject matter and it felt as if it had been either written exclusively for or at least edited for the American market. It was written in American English and used idioms I do not expect in a work of non-fiction - I had to look up the author to check that he was British and was a Sunday Times journalist. Every English placename was followed by a description of how far it was from London. Whenever women were mentioned the author went on about their hair colour and described their figures. I could go on. I felt that the author was trying to write a medical thriller/blockbuster, the film rights of which he could sell to Hollywood with himself portrayed as the hero, of course. I couldn’t read the last few chapters for the self-congratulatory tone the author took, constantly telling us that he has saved Western civilisation from the monster that is Andrew Wakefield. Yes he has, but did he really have to keep going on about how great he was? My favourite line before I gave up completely : “But journalism hadn’t slept through the hearing on Euston Road” - I mean, please. I have worked in Virology and also with AIDS professionals. I know the dangers of charlatans in the medical profession as well as the damage infectious diseases can cause. Those who care deeply about such things deserve better than this - it may have been a great investigation and a piece of outstanding journalism that brought Wakefield to his knees and for that I am thankful to Mr Deer, but this is a shoddy book.
April 1, 2022
Monster Mengele may I introduce you to Wakefield ? Wakefield I’m sure you’ve heard of Mengele since you seem to mirror his techniques
This book, Henrietta Lacks,and Asperger’s children need to be given to all of those caregivers of children who do not inoculate their children. I wish I could force this on my ex sister-in-law who thinks that every dose of a vaccine uses a baby fetus. EVERY SINGLE SHOT HAS ITS OWN FETUS. god get educated people.
WTH is Elle Macpherson THINKING? WintheactualF Mind blown
This book, Henrietta Lacks,and Asperger’s children need to be given to all of those caregivers of children who do not inoculate their children. I wish I could force this on my ex sister-in-law who thinks that every dose of a vaccine uses a baby fetus. EVERY SINGLE SHOT HAS ITS OWN FETUS. god get educated people.
WTH is Elle Macpherson THINKING? WintheactualF Mind blown
September 18, 2020
"Докторът, който заблуди света" на разследващия журналист Brian Deer проследява скандалната история на Андрю Уейкфилд - водачът на световното антивакс движение.
Може спокойно да кажем, че Уейкфилд е лекарят, който е навредил най-много на човечеството в цялата история на медицината. Как може да определим човек, който има основна роля за завръщането на почти ерадикираното заболяване морбили? От историята в книгата разбираме, че Уейкфилд е бил треторазряден лекар, без пациенти и без особени изгледи за професионален успех, докато не публикува скандална "научна" статия. В нея включва само 12 деца, насочени от родители антиваксъри, като по този начин създава учебникарски пример за пристрастна извадка (selection bias). Цялата статия е пълна с неточности или директни фабрикации с цел постигане на публичен отзвук и печалба от съдебно дело срещу фармацевтична компания. Уейкфилд бързо е разкрит в шарлатанските си практики и не особено добре прикрит конфликт на интереси. Лекарските му права са отнети. За съжаление по това време социалните мрежи вече са основен фактор в живота на всеки и той се превръща в мъченик в очите на антиваксърите.
Прочетете историята, описваща как обикновен шарлатанин с мания за величие успява да всее страх, несигурност и съмнения у много родители. Ваксините са безопасни и ефективни. Тази книга ще ви обясни защо трябва да се доверите на науката, а не на ренегати, отричащи академичния консенсус.
Може спокойно да кажем, че Уейкфилд е лекарят, който е навредил най-много на човечеството в цялата история на медицината. Как може да определим човек, който има основна роля за завръщането на почти ерадикираното заболяване морбили? От историята в книгата разбираме, че Уейкфилд е бил треторазряден лекар, без пациенти и без особени изгледи за професионален успех, докато не публикува скандална "научна" статия. В нея включва само 12 деца, насочени от родители антиваксъри, като по този начин създава учебникарски пример за пристрастна извадка (selection bias). Цялата статия е пълна с неточности или директни фабрикации с цел постигане на публичен отзвук и печалба от съдебно дело срещу фармацевтична компания. Уейкфилд бързо е разкрит в шарлатанските си практики и не особено добре прикрит конфликт на интереси. Лекарските му права са отнети. За съжаление по това време социалните мрежи вече са основен фактор в живота на всеки и той се превръща в мъченик в очите на антиваксърите.
Прочетете историята, описваща как обикновен шарлатанин с мания за величие успява да всее страх, несигурност и съмнения у много родители. Ваксините са безопасни и ефективни. Тази книга ще ви обясни защо трябва да се доверите на науката, а не на ренегати, отричащи академичния консенсус.
November 29, 2021
This book details the shocking acts of former doctor Andrew Wakefield who concocted a scheme to get rich by faking a study stating that MMR vaccines cause autism. The study he undertook is one of the most famous cases of outright fraud in research. The story is almost too painful to read as Wakefield subjected young children with autism to horrendous invasive procedures, misled desperate parents and caused a worldwide anti-vaccine movement.
December 22, 2021
Before reading this book, I thought I couldn’t be less sympathetic to the anti-vax movement. Then I read this and realized it was somehow even more of a crock of shit than I had originally thought. It certainly didn’t help that Andrew Wakefield is a reprehensible person who somehow gets worse with everything you read about him. But a gastroenterologist who has no background in vaccines or autism trying to convince people that autism is a gastrointestinal disease brought on by the MMR vaccine is as completely ridiculous as it sounds. The amount of times I had to put down this book to rant about some nonsense to my girlfriend (who has a masters in public health and got me to read this book) was insane.
I really think that everyone who is even remotely against vaccines needs to read this, because any amount of critical thinking shows how much of this data was fabricated. It also outlines the major conflict of interest coming from the lawyer representing a class action suit against vaccines who was looking for a vast payout for his clients and himself. This whole story stinks of lying and corruption, so much so that it seems like it should be fiction.
I really think that everyone who is even remotely against vaccines needs to read this, because any amount of critical thinking shows how much of this data was fabricated. It also outlines the major conflict of interest coming from the lawyer representing a class action suit against vaccines who was looking for a vast payout for his clients and himself. This whole story stinks of lying and corruption, so much so that it seems like it should be fiction.
May 5, 2020
Very biased book, much in favour of Big Pharma, and a book that intensely dislikes whistleblowers. Andrew Wakefield's career was ruined by Brian Deer and his powerful lobbyists, but Brian Deer fails to address the many issues that Andrew Wakefield highlighted, such as viral evolution owing to inoculation, and the blanket law brought in by the USA refusing permission to sue for any vaccination-related injuries/side effects.
All in all, a book that sticks to the official story and blatantly disregards the truth.
All in all, a book that sticks to the official story and blatantly disregards the truth.
Read
March 23, 2021Andrew Wakefield is one of the darkest figures of our time, personally responsible for launching a mass panic about vaccines that has resulted in a resurgence of deadly childhood epidemics worldwide. He has also caused untold grief to misguided parents who view this con-man as a saviour, and to autistic people who face further stigma by being falsely portrayed as ‘vaccine-damaged’. Written with the meticulousness of a journalist determined to find out the truth and the pulse-pounding pacing of a thriller, The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a profoundly important book.
Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes: the legacy of autism and the future of neurodiversity
The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a definitive account of the most consequential medical fraud of the twentieth century and of investigative reporter Brian Deer's role in uncovering it. Deer's book is a compelling reminder of what great investigative journalism looks like and why it matters.
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Cyberwar: how Russian hackers and trolls helped elect a president
Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and Deer shines some of the brightest rays yet to reveal the rotten heart of one of the greatest public health frauds in history.
Dr Zubin Damania, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, and host of ZDoggMD Show
A magnificent book. Too few people know how greed and deceit conspired to create the myth that vaccines cause autism. Only Brian Deer can tell that whole story, because he uncovered all of its chilling twists and turns.
Dr Ivan Oransky, president, the Association of Health Care Journalists, and co-founder of Retraction Watch
As a pediatrician, I’ve witnessed with fury the impact that Andrew Wakefield’s fraudulent science has had on the health of children. This brilliantly written book is a must-read.
Dr Su Laurent, author of Your Baby Month By Month: what to expect from birth to 2 years
An extraordinary story of medical fraud and scaremongering, told by the courageous and tenacious journalist who revealed the truth.
Simon Singh, author of Fermat’s Enigma
This riveting history of Andrew Wakefield’s career as an advocate for the discredited link between the measles vaccine and autism serves as a stirring demonstration of the process and power of investigative journalism … Deer recounts uncovering Wakefield’s deceptions thanks to testimony from disillusioned parents of study participants and guidance from more meticulous scientists … Readers who love a good debunking will find Deer’s narrative logical, exciting, and enraging.
Publishers Weekly
Riveting from start to finish. Thankfully, reporters like Brian Deer exist. He is not afraid to look into the eyes of the Grim Reaper and to fight back on behalf of all of us for whom scientific rigour is so important, but also perhaps more importantly, for the families whose lives have so often been devastated by misinformation and bad science.
Ava Easton, Chief Executive, Encephalitis Society
It’s a remarkable story and this is a remarkable book … [H]elping to explain the political and social predicament that now afflicts so many of us — the crisis in truth and its exploitation by people without scruple.
David Aaronovitch, The Times, ‘Book of the Week’
At times Deer’s book reads more like a thriller, and reveals the extent to which an ostensibly empirical scientific endeavour can be distorted by the subjectivity of human nature.
Decca Aitkenhead, The Australian
Well argued and entertainingly written.
Robin Osborne, GPSpeak
Very detailed yet easy to read story of the events … It’s investigative journalism at its best and medical research at its worst … The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a fantastically detailed look at why we need investigative journalism and the global effect of misinformation.
Sam Still Reading
Exposing researchers who lie, cheat and fake their data often requires the work of courageous whistleblowers or tenacious investigative journalists. Enter Brian Deer, an award-winning reporter for the Sunday Times of London.
The Wall Street Journal
Mind-boggling … Every chapter drops your jaw.
The Big Think
Although many people think they know this now-infamous story, it is likely they are unaware of all its dramatic details.
Paul A. Offit, Science
Deer has been on the front line investigating this scandal for more than a decade, and his book is captivating on many levels … This stunning work sounds an urgent message and demonstrates the essential role of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth.
Foreword Reviews
Seldom has any new book been more timely than The Doctor Who Fooled the World … At times the book reads more like a thriller than a journalistic investigation.
The Sunday Times Magazine
It’s fantastic … I couldn’t put it down. It was absolutely enthralling, disturbing, and it had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.
Heidi Robertson, host of The Skeptic Zone
In this coronavirus age, where conspiracy theories run rampant, it’s an essential reminder: facts matter.
Natalie Kotsios, The Weekly Times
Riveting … a compelling portrait of hubris and the terrible dark shadow it can cast.
Saad B. Omer, Nature
Exposing researchers who lie, cheat and fake their data often requires the work of courageous whistleblowers or tenacious investigative journalists. Enter Brian Deer, an award-winning reporter for the Sunday Times of London.
Michael Shermer, The Wall Street Journal
Mind-boggling … Every chapter drops your jaw.
Derek Beres, The Big Think
Although many people think they know this now-infamous story, it is likely they are unaware of all its dramatic details.
Paul Offit, MD, Science
This stunning work sounds an urgent message and demonstrates the essential role of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth.
Kristen Rabe, Foreward Reviews
This is storytelling at its best … And this is ultimately, investigative journalism at its best … The Doctor Who Fooled the World does an amazing job of taking you to the beginnings of the modern-day anti-vax movement, opening your eyes to the ulterior motives of the man who lit the match and started a fire that sadly, can't seem to be put out.
Melody Tan, Mums at the Table
This book is the whole story. 4.5 STARS
Robyn Douglas, The Advertiser
The Doctor Who Fooled The World provides a damning indictment of the processes and procedures against scientific fraud in medical academe … The great strength of Deer’s book is how he clearly explains the issues associated with medical and scientific research in the specialised area of vaccinations. His account is readily accessible to persons without such knowledge or training. The Doctor Who Fooled The World should be read by all of us for its explanation of campaigns against vaccination – battles between science and superstition, science and pseudo-science – which, if not put to rest, will have devastating consequences for all of us.
Braham Dabscheck, The Newtown Review of Books
Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes: the legacy of autism and the future of neurodiversity
The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a definitive account of the most consequential medical fraud of the twentieth century and of investigative reporter Brian Deer's role in uncovering it. Deer's book is a compelling reminder of what great investigative journalism looks like and why it matters.
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Cyberwar: how Russian hackers and trolls helped elect a president
Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and Deer shines some of the brightest rays yet to reveal the rotten heart of one of the greatest public health frauds in history.
Dr Zubin Damania, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, and host of ZDoggMD Show
A magnificent book. Too few people know how greed and deceit conspired to create the myth that vaccines cause autism. Only Brian Deer can tell that whole story, because he uncovered all of its chilling twists and turns.
Dr Ivan Oransky, president, the Association of Health Care Journalists, and co-founder of Retraction Watch
As a pediatrician, I’ve witnessed with fury the impact that Andrew Wakefield’s fraudulent science has had on the health of children. This brilliantly written book is a must-read.
Dr Su Laurent, author of Your Baby Month By Month: what to expect from birth to 2 years
An extraordinary story of medical fraud and scaremongering, told by the courageous and tenacious journalist who revealed the truth.
Simon Singh, author of Fermat’s Enigma
This riveting history of Andrew Wakefield’s career as an advocate for the discredited link between the measles vaccine and autism serves as a stirring demonstration of the process and power of investigative journalism … Deer recounts uncovering Wakefield’s deceptions thanks to testimony from disillusioned parents of study participants and guidance from more meticulous scientists … Readers who love a good debunking will find Deer’s narrative logical, exciting, and enraging.
Publishers Weekly
Riveting from start to finish. Thankfully, reporters like Brian Deer exist. He is not afraid to look into the eyes of the Grim Reaper and to fight back on behalf of all of us for whom scientific rigour is so important, but also perhaps more importantly, for the families whose lives have so often been devastated by misinformation and bad science.
Ava Easton, Chief Executive, Encephalitis Society
It’s a remarkable story and this is a remarkable book … [H]elping to explain the political and social predicament that now afflicts so many of us — the crisis in truth and its exploitation by people without scruple.
David Aaronovitch, The Times, ‘Book of the Week’
At times Deer’s book reads more like a thriller, and reveals the extent to which an ostensibly empirical scientific endeavour can be distorted by the subjectivity of human nature.
Decca Aitkenhead, The Australian
Well argued and entertainingly written.
Robin Osborne, GPSpeak
Very detailed yet easy to read story of the events … It’s investigative journalism at its best and medical research at its worst … The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a fantastically detailed look at why we need investigative journalism and the global effect of misinformation.
Sam Still Reading
Exposing researchers who lie, cheat and fake their data often requires the work of courageous whistleblowers or tenacious investigative journalists. Enter Brian Deer, an award-winning reporter for the Sunday Times of London.
The Wall Street Journal
Mind-boggling … Every chapter drops your jaw.
The Big Think
Although many people think they know this now-infamous story, it is likely they are unaware of all its dramatic details.
Paul A. Offit, Science
Deer has been on the front line investigating this scandal for more than a decade, and his book is captivating on many levels … This stunning work sounds an urgent message and demonstrates the essential role of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth.
Foreword Reviews
Seldom has any new book been more timely than The Doctor Who Fooled the World … At times the book reads more like a thriller than a journalistic investigation.
The Sunday Times Magazine
It’s fantastic … I couldn’t put it down. It was absolutely enthralling, disturbing, and it had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.
Heidi Robertson, host of The Skeptic Zone
In this coronavirus age, where conspiracy theories run rampant, it’s an essential reminder: facts matter.
Natalie Kotsios, The Weekly Times
Riveting … a compelling portrait of hubris and the terrible dark shadow it can cast.
Saad B. Omer, Nature
Exposing researchers who lie, cheat and fake their data often requires the work of courageous whistleblowers or tenacious investigative journalists. Enter Brian Deer, an award-winning reporter for the Sunday Times of London.
Michael Shermer, The Wall Street Journal
Mind-boggling … Every chapter drops your jaw.
Derek Beres, The Big Think
Although many people think they know this now-infamous story, it is likely they are unaware of all its dramatic details.
Paul Offit, MD, Science
This stunning work sounds an urgent message and demonstrates the essential role of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth.
Kristen Rabe, Foreward Reviews
This is storytelling at its best … And this is ultimately, investigative journalism at its best … The Doctor Who Fooled the World does an amazing job of taking you to the beginnings of the modern-day anti-vax movement, opening your eyes to the ulterior motives of the man who lit the match and started a fire that sadly, can't seem to be put out.
Melody Tan, Mums at the Table
This book is the whole story. 4.5 STARS
Robyn Douglas, The Advertiser
The Doctor Who Fooled The World provides a damning indictment of the processes and procedures against scientific fraud in medical academe … The great strength of Deer’s book is how he clearly explains the issues associated with medical and scientific research in the specialised area of vaccinations. His account is readily accessible to persons without such knowledge or training. The Doctor Who Fooled The World should be read by all of us for its explanation of campaigns against vaccination – battles between science and superstition, science and pseudo-science – which, if not put to rest, will have devastating consequences for all of us.
Braham Dabscheck, The Newtown Review of Books
July 8, 2022
This is a must read. This is the story of "the doctor without patients" written by none other than the journalist who exposed him for a complete fraud. This book will make you angry. Which is a good thing. Because the despicable evil on display should boil the blood of any sane person.
August 23, 2021
Wakefieldowi nie sposób odmówić czołowego miejsca w rankingu największych dupków ostatniej dekady. Ale Deer również jest dupkiem. Znacznie mniejszej wagi i w innej lidze, ale jest. Trudno nie zgodzić się, że psychopaci pokroju Wakefielda nie zasługują na jakiekolwiek słowa szacunku, ale co dobrego może romans tabloidu i śledztwa dziennikarskiego przynieść sprawie, której jak dotąd nie udało się wygrzebać spod fety nienaukowych bzdur? Osobiste wycieczki i seksistowskie wstawki, ogrom bzdetów bez znaczenia dla tematu, dużo narcyzmu, a wszystko to w grafomańskiej oprawie. Pardon my French, ale książka może lepiej służyć do masturbowania się do własnego ego niż by szerzyć fakty i wiedzę wśród osób poszukujących odpowiedzi.
Bardzo doceniam tytaniczną pracę walki z szarlatanerią, ale książka to niestety ciężkostrawny gniotek.
Bardzo doceniam tytaniczną pracę walki z szarlatanerią, ale książka to niestety ciężkostrawny gniotek.
August 3, 2021
An in depth recounting of the history of the man more or less behind modern anti-vax movement by the reporter who blew it all open. I was referred to this book by Hbomberguy's excellent Youtube essay which gave the general outline of Wakefield's evolution from a doctor with bad theories, to a crusader for "public health," and after reading this it is staggering just how massively things snowballed from such innocuous beginnings.
November 3, 2020
Very important read for anyone with an interest in autism or who has heard vaccines are dangerous or cause autism. Very well researched. 4 stars instead of 5 because the writing jumped around a bit at the beginning. Very important read.
July 25, 2021
Plus za lata imponującego śledztwa, minus za okropny język i sposób przedstawiania postaci. Hitem jest zdanie o tym, że jedna bohaterka tekstu nieco przytyła, ale "dalej była wiarygodna"...
Read
March 23, 2021Andrew Wakefield is one of the darkest figures of our time, personally responsible for launching a mass panic about vaccines that has resulted in a resurgence of deadly childhood epidemics worldwide. He has also caused untold grief to misguided parents who view this con-man as a saviour, and to autistic people who face further stigma by being falsely portrayed as ‘vaccine-damaged’. Written with the meticulousness of a journalist determined to find out the truth and the pulse-pounding pacing of a thriller, The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a profoundly important book.
Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes: the legacy of autism and the future of neurodiversity
The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a definitive account of the most consequential medical fraud of the twentieth century and of investigative reporter Brian Deer's role in uncovering it. Deer's book is a compelling reminder of what great investigative journalism looks like and why it matters.
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Cyberwar: how Russian hackers and trolls helped elect a president
Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and Deer shines some of the brightest rays yet to reveal the rotten heart of one of the greatest public health frauds in history.
Dr Zubin Damania, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, and host of ZDoggMD Show
A magnificent book. Too few people know how greed and deceit conspired to create the myth that vaccines cause autism. Only Brian Deer can tell that whole story, because he uncovered all of its chilling twists and turns.
Dr Ivan Oransky, president, the Association of Health Care Journalists, and co-founder of Retraction Watch
As a pediatrician, I’ve witnessed with fury the impact that Andrew Wakefield’s fraudulent science has had on the health of children. This brilliantly written book is a must-read.
Dr Su Laurent, author of Your Baby Month By Month: what to expect from birth to 2 years
An extraordinary story of medical fraud and scaremongering, told by the courageous and tenacious journalist who revealed the truth.
Simon Singh, author of Fermat’s Enigma
This riveting history of Andrew Wakefield’s career as an advocate for the discredited link between the measles vaccine and autism serves as a stirring demonstration of the process and power of investigative journalism … Deer recounts uncovering Wakefield’s deceptions thanks to testimony from disillusioned parents of study participants and guidance from more meticulous scientists … Readers who love a good debunking will find Deer’s narrative logical, exciting, and enraging.
Publishers Weekly
Riveting from start to finish. Thankfully, reporters like Brian Deer exist. He is not afraid to look into the eyes of the Grim Reaper and to fight back on behalf of all of us for whom scientific rigour is so important, but also perhaps more importantly, for the families whose lives have so often been devastated by misinformation and bad science.
Ava Easton, Chief Executive, Encephalitis Society
It’s a remarkable story and this is a remarkable book … [H]elping to explain the political and social predicament that now afflicts so many of us — the crisis in truth and its exploitation by people without scruple.
David Aaronovitch, The Times, ‘Book of the Week’
At times Deer’s book reads more like a thriller, and reveals the extent to which an ostensibly empirical scientific endeavour can be distorted by the subjectivity of human nature.
Decca Aitkenhead, The Australian
Well argued and entertainingly written.
Robin Osborne, GPSpeak
Very detailed yet easy to read story of the events … It’s investigative journalism at its best and medical research at its worst … The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a fantastically detailed look at why we need investigative journalism and the global effect of misinformation.
Sam Still Reading
Exposing researchers who lie, cheat and fake their data often requires the work of courageous whistleblowers or tenacious investigative journalists. Enter Brian Deer, an award-winning reporter for the Sunday Times of London.
The Wall Street Journal
Mind-boggling … Every chapter drops your jaw.
The Big Think
Although many people think they know this now-infamous story, it is likely they are unaware of all its dramatic details.
Paul A. Offit, Science
Deer has been on the front line investigating this scandal for more than a decade, and his book is captivating on many levels … This stunning work sounds an urgent message and demonstrates the essential role of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth.
Foreword Reviews
Seldom has any new book been more timely than The Doctor Who Fooled the World … At times the book reads more like a thriller than a journalistic investigation.
The Sunday Times Magazine
It’s fantastic … I couldn’t put it down. It was absolutely enthralling, disturbing, and it had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.
Heidi Robertson, host of The Skeptic Zone
In this coronavirus age, where conspiracy theories run rampant, it’s an essential reminder: facts matter.
Natalie Kotsios, The Weekly Times
Riveting … a compelling portrait of hubris and the terrible dark shadow it can cast.
Saad B. Omer, Nature
Exposing researchers who lie, cheat and fake their data often requires the work of courageous whistleblowers or tenacious investigative journalists. Enter Brian Deer, an award-winning reporter for the Sunday Times of London.
Michael Shermer, The Wall Street Journal
Mind-boggling … Every chapter drops your jaw.
Derek Beres, The Big Think
Although many people think they know this now-infamous story, it is likely they are unaware of all its dramatic details.
Paul Offit, MD, Science
This stunning work sounds an urgent message and demonstrates the essential role of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth.
Kristen Rabe, Foreward Reviews
This is storytelling at its best … And this is ultimately, investigative journalism at its best … The Doctor Who Fooled the World does an amazing job of taking you to the beginnings of the modern-day anti-vax movement, opening your eyes to the ulterior motives of the man who lit the match and started a fire that sadly, can't seem to be put out.
Melody Tan, Mums at the Table
This book is the whole story. 4.5 STARS
Robyn Douglas, The Advertiser
The Doctor Who Fooled The World provides a damning indictment of the processes and procedures against scientific fraud in medical academe … The great strength of Deer’s book is how he clearly explains the issues associated with medical and scientific research in the specialised area of vaccinations. His account is readily accessible to persons without such knowledge or training. The Doctor Who Fooled The World should be read by all of us for its explanation of campaigns against vaccination – battles between science and superstition, science and pseudo-science – which, if not put to rest, will have devastating consequences for all of us.
Braham Dabscheck, The Newtown Review of Books
Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes: the legacy of autism and the future of neurodiversity
The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a definitive account of the most consequential medical fraud of the twentieth century and of investigative reporter Brian Deer's role in uncovering it. Deer's book is a compelling reminder of what great investigative journalism looks like and why it matters.
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Cyberwar: how Russian hackers and trolls helped elect a president
Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and Deer shines some of the brightest rays yet to reveal the rotten heart of one of the greatest public health frauds in history.
Dr Zubin Damania, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, and host of ZDoggMD Show
A magnificent book. Too few people know how greed and deceit conspired to create the myth that vaccines cause autism. Only Brian Deer can tell that whole story, because he uncovered all of its chilling twists and turns.
Dr Ivan Oransky, president, the Association of Health Care Journalists, and co-founder of Retraction Watch
As a pediatrician, I’ve witnessed with fury the impact that Andrew Wakefield’s fraudulent science has had on the health of children. This brilliantly written book is a must-read.
Dr Su Laurent, author of Your Baby Month By Month: what to expect from birth to 2 years
An extraordinary story of medical fraud and scaremongering, told by the courageous and tenacious journalist who revealed the truth.
Simon Singh, author of Fermat’s Enigma
This riveting history of Andrew Wakefield’s career as an advocate for the discredited link between the measles vaccine and autism serves as a stirring demonstration of the process and power of investigative journalism … Deer recounts uncovering Wakefield’s deceptions thanks to testimony from disillusioned parents of study participants and guidance from more meticulous scientists … Readers who love a good debunking will find Deer’s narrative logical, exciting, and enraging.
Publishers Weekly
Riveting from start to finish. Thankfully, reporters like Brian Deer exist. He is not afraid to look into the eyes of the Grim Reaper and to fight back on behalf of all of us for whom scientific rigour is so important, but also perhaps more importantly, for the families whose lives have so often been devastated by misinformation and bad science.
Ava Easton, Chief Executive, Encephalitis Society
It’s a remarkable story and this is a remarkable book … [H]elping to explain the political and social predicament that now afflicts so many of us — the crisis in truth and its exploitation by people without scruple.
David Aaronovitch, The Times, ‘Book of the Week’
At times Deer’s book reads more like a thriller, and reveals the extent to which an ostensibly empirical scientific endeavour can be distorted by the subjectivity of human nature.
Decca Aitkenhead, The Australian
Well argued and entertainingly written.
Robin Osborne, GPSpeak
Very detailed yet easy to read story of the events … It’s investigative journalism at its best and medical research at its worst … The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a fantastically detailed look at why we need investigative journalism and the global effect of misinformation.
Sam Still Reading
Exposing researchers who lie, cheat and fake their data often requires the work of courageous whistleblowers or tenacious investigative journalists. Enter Brian Deer, an award-winning reporter for the Sunday Times of London.
The Wall Street Journal
Mind-boggling … Every chapter drops your jaw.
The Big Think
Although many people think they know this now-infamous story, it is likely they are unaware of all its dramatic details.
Paul A. Offit, Science
Deer has been on the front line investigating this scandal for more than a decade, and his book is captivating on many levels … This stunning work sounds an urgent message and demonstrates the essential role of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth.
Foreword Reviews
Seldom has any new book been more timely than The Doctor Who Fooled the World … At times the book reads more like a thriller than a journalistic investigation.
The Sunday Times Magazine
It’s fantastic … I couldn’t put it down. It was absolutely enthralling, disturbing, and it had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.
Heidi Robertson, host of The Skeptic Zone
In this coronavirus age, where conspiracy theories run rampant, it’s an essential reminder: facts matter.
Natalie Kotsios, The Weekly Times
Riveting … a compelling portrait of hubris and the terrible dark shadow it can cast.
Saad B. Omer, Nature
Exposing researchers who lie, cheat and fake their data often requires the work of courageous whistleblowers or tenacious investigative journalists. Enter Brian Deer, an award-winning reporter for the Sunday Times of London.
Michael Shermer, The Wall Street Journal
Mind-boggling … Every chapter drops your jaw.
Derek Beres, The Big Think
Although many people think they know this now-infamous story, it is likely they are unaware of all its dramatic details.
Paul Offit, MD, Science
This stunning work sounds an urgent message and demonstrates the essential role of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth.
Kristen Rabe, Foreward Reviews
This is storytelling at its best … And this is ultimately, investigative journalism at its best … The Doctor Who Fooled the World does an amazing job of taking you to the beginnings of the modern-day anti-vax movement, opening your eyes to the ulterior motives of the man who lit the match and started a fire that sadly, can't seem to be put out.
Melody Tan, Mums at the Table
This book is the whole story. 4.5 STARS
Robyn Douglas, The Advertiser
The Doctor Who Fooled The World provides a damning indictment of the processes and procedures against scientific fraud in medical academe … The great strength of Deer’s book is how he clearly explains the issues associated with medical and scientific research in the specialised area of vaccinations. His account is readily accessible to persons without such knowledge or training. The Doctor Who Fooled The World should be read by all of us for its explanation of campaigns against vaccination – battles between science and superstition, science and pseudo-science – which, if not put to rest, will have devastating consequences for all of us.
Braham Dabscheck, The Newtown Review of Books
October 13, 2025
This is a must-read if you are a person, because people can get measles, and Andrew Wakefield is one of the reasons why measles has not been eradicated.
This book details Wakefield's life, including his infamous "twelve child study," which claimed that the MMR vaccine contributed to the development of autism. While I was familiar with the outline of the story, I didn't realize just how egregious Wakefield's fraud was. From putting children through unnecessary colonoscopies to secret deals with lawyers to fund class action lawsuit research, Wakefield broke nearly every rule in scientific research.
And Brian Deer is there to track it all down.
The book is stunningly well-researched, with thousands of documents, interviews, and transcripts to back it up. Deer may not have set out to take down Wakefield, but he became the preeminent expert on the "doctor without patients." It is important to note that this book was published before the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have changed some of the ending conclusions. I also thought that Deer dealt with the parents in the book very sensitively. He makes clear who is clearly grifting, based on evidence, and who is earnestly looking for an explanation of what happened to their child. I found that perspective to make his arguments stronger, as he isn't trying to paint a whole group of parents with the same anti-vax brush.
I will note that some of the early chapters are hard to get into, as they focus so much on the science of the initial studies. It is necessary to build Deer's points that Wakefield was doing bad research the whole time, but it can get a little confusing. I also found it very silly that Deer brings up multiple times his PowerPoint presentations about his reporting on vaccines.
Overall, it's a fascinating read and made more infuriating given the current context of outright anti-vaccination rhetoric coming directly from the American government. Wakefield's legacy is one of lies and grift, built on the backs of grieving mothers, best summed up by the last line of the book:
"The way I saw it, it was never about the science, the children, or the mothers. It had always been about himself."
This book details Wakefield's life, including his infamous "twelve child study," which claimed that the MMR vaccine contributed to the development of autism. While I was familiar with the outline of the story, I didn't realize just how egregious Wakefield's fraud was. From putting children through unnecessary colonoscopies to secret deals with lawyers to fund class action lawsuit research, Wakefield broke nearly every rule in scientific research.
And Brian Deer is there to track it all down.
The book is stunningly well-researched, with thousands of documents, interviews, and transcripts to back it up. Deer may not have set out to take down Wakefield, but he became the preeminent expert on the "doctor without patients." It is important to note that this book was published before the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have changed some of the ending conclusions. I also thought that Deer dealt with the parents in the book very sensitively. He makes clear who is clearly grifting, based on evidence, and who is earnestly looking for an explanation of what happened to their child. I found that perspective to make his arguments stronger, as he isn't trying to paint a whole group of parents with the same anti-vax brush.
I will note that some of the early chapters are hard to get into, as they focus so much on the science of the initial studies. It is necessary to build Deer's points that Wakefield was doing bad research the whole time, but it can get a little confusing. I also found it very silly that Deer brings up multiple times his PowerPoint presentations about his reporting on vaccines.
Overall, it's a fascinating read and made more infuriating given the current context of outright anti-vaccination rhetoric coming directly from the American government. Wakefield's legacy is one of lies and grift, built on the backs of grieving mothers, best summed up by the last line of the book:
"The way I saw it, it was never about the science, the children, or the mothers. It had always been about himself."
October 14, 2024
The actual content of this book and Brian Deer’s determination to investigate and expose all of Andrew Wakefield's shady activities and false claims gets 5 stars. But I just couldn’t deal with the way this book was written. There would constantly be these “humorous” asides or repetition of phrases like “the doctor without patients” or “the woman in scarlet” that felt like they were distracting from the message. Perhaps Deer was trying to give the book some style and not have it be just dry nonfiction. But I feel like investigative nonfiction like this where the actual story is so wild doesn’t need extra bits like that. The style shouldn’t overtake the substance.
January 9, 2023
This is the story of a disgraced doctor who preyed upon parents who were desperate to find help and answers for their children. His fraudulent research set off a chain reaction whose devastating consequences continue to (obviously) cause harm to this day.
While this book could be dry, one has to respect the sheer amount of work that obviously went into it. It made me curious about the stories of other charlatans who happened to be in right time and place to change the cultural zeitgeist, causing far-flung consequences.
While this book could be dry, one has to respect the sheer amount of work that obviously went into it. It made me curious about the stories of other charlatans who happened to be in right time and place to change the cultural zeitgeist, causing far-flung consequences.
January 14, 2024
A chilling but fascinating dive into all the nuances of the MMR scandal. -1 star because I found it a little hard to follow the timeline and all the names at times (turns out there's a timeline in the back, but still). Very good, would definitely recommend reading
TLDR: I Will Tear Andrew Wakefield Apart With My Bare Hands
TLDR: I Will Tear Andrew Wakefield Apart With My Bare Hands
January 6, 2021
Being a medic in this media-driven world is hard. Sadly good science can rarely compete with social influence, celebrity and the manipulation of emotions. Case in point.
May 12, 2021
This is the story of how Brian Deer, a Sunday Times journalist, was centrally involved in the uncovering of the scientific fraud perpetrated by Andrew Wakefield and colleagues in relation to the unsubstantiated link between the MMR vaccine and autism in children. This was an excellent piece of dogged investigative journalism, and the author had to dig deep into his reserves of resilience and courage as he received threats of legal action and vilification in social media over the years of his investigation.
I heard Mr Deer being interviewed on the excellent ‘The Drive’ medical podcast by Peter Attia a couple of weeks ago and decided to buy the book on the basis of hearing their conversation. I was a little disappointed with the way the book was written as it seems to jump around a bit and the timeline is difficult to follow in places. But it’s a great book and well worth reading even though thanks to the skillful interviewing of Peter Attia the story comes over a bit more cohesively and coherently in the podcast.
I heard Mr Deer being interviewed on the excellent ‘The Drive’ medical podcast by Peter Attia a couple of weeks ago and decided to buy the book on the basis of hearing their conversation. I was a little disappointed with the way the book was written as it seems to jump around a bit and the timeline is difficult to follow in places. But it’s a great book and well worth reading even though thanks to the skillful interviewing of Peter Attia the story comes over a bit more cohesively and coherently in the podcast.
February 12, 2021
I knew Andrew Wakefield was terrible but I didn’t know he was this awful. You expect Brian Deer would have personal grudge against Wakefield but he doesn’t. He simply asked the “who, what, where, and why” that others should have asked. What he found was the worst scientific fraud in memory. Wakefield brought nothing but fear, guilt, and disease to his disciples and they thanked him for it. Wakefield is living a life of luxury while those who oppose toil in obscurity. Brian Deer is fair. He doesn’t blame desperate parents. Those parents are in an impossible situation and they were misled. Wakefield’s misdeeds are exposed, not by a vindictive journalist, but by an honest and fair one.
January 30, 2021
Definitely a book worth reading, especially in the current climate of anti-vaxxers and open hostility in the face of basic science. The only reason I’ve marked it down fo three stars is that I found the author a little irritating on occasion. There’s no doubt he’s done a great job of exposing Wakefield...and he likes to remind you of this at every available opportunity.
May 1, 2022
Bardzo dobry reserch, ale bardzo trudny temat. Wiele kwestii mnie nurtujących zostało rozwianych. Niektóre fragmenty były bardzo szczegółowe co znacznie wydłużało czas czytania.....ten mój głupi brak umiejętności czytania kilku książek na raz....
September 23, 2021
Man, I don't even think words describe how fundamentally important this book is.
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