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It’s a New Year: Dr. Wakefield is Fighting Back

Community Rallies to his Aid

Files Suit against British Medical Journal, Fiona Godlee, Brian Deer

Dr. Wakefield filed a lawsuit in Travis County, TX District Court, January 3rd against the British Medical Journal (BMJ), the editor, Fiona Godlee, and writer, Brian Deer for defamation, in part, over a series of articles and editorials in the BMJ in January 2011 that accused Wakefield of committing scientific fraud.

The study, in question, by Dr. Wakefield, published in 1998, found bowel disease in children with autism and raised questions about the safety of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.

Bill Parish, Wakefield’s attorney, said, “The legal team looks forward to proving the falsity of the claims made by Mr. Deer, Dr. Godlee, and the British Medical Journal in a court of law. Unfortunately,” Parish continued, “many Texas residents were misled by the allegations. We welcome the opportunity to set the record straight. “

“It’s a great day,” said Ed Arranga, director of the Dr. Wakefield Justice Fund. “With great courage and conviction, we go forward and place our faith in the US judicial system, the open and honest hearts and minds of the American people, and our belief that truth will triumph and justice will be served.”Arranga continued, “We look with resolve to the future and stand united in our moral duty to correct this terrible wrong and prove Dr. Andrew Wakefield innocent of the allegations made by the BMJ, Fiona Godlee, and Brian Deer.”  

Jennifer Larson, a mother-advocate and Wakefield supporter stands firmly behind Dr. Wakefield. "I know him to be a man of honor and integrity," Larson said. "It has been a tough year watching Dr. Wakefield be falsely accused of research fraud and there comes a time when we must stand together for the truth." Larson continued, "That time has come.”

The DR. WAKEFIELD JUSTICE FUND was established by friends and supporters to fund the legal fees and related expenses in order to respond to false claims made against Dr. Wakefield; expose the corrupting influence of special interest groups behind these allegations and protect Dr. Wakefield’s work from both profit- and politically-motivated censorship and retribution. Learn more here.