Investigative reporter Brian Deer uncovers a web of deceit and betrayal behind the attacks on vaccines, a cornerstone of modern medicine.
Awarded the Eric Hoffer Award for Nonfiction in the Culture Category and the IPPY Book Award for Health/Medicine/Nutrition, Brian Deer’s compelling investigation, The Doctor Who Fooled the World, delves into the heart of the global vaccine controversy. From bustling San Francisco to vibrant Shanghai, and picturesque Vancouver to historic Venice, a wave of apprehension regarding vaccinations has surged across continents. Diseases once considered vanquished are making a disturbing comeback, fueled by a vocal and organized “anti-vax” movement actively campaigning against childhood immunizations. But the crucial question remains: why?
In The Doctor Who Fooled the World, acclaimed investigative journalist Brian Deer meticulously dissects this global crisis, revealing the unsettling truth behind the fear. With the gripping narrative style of a detective novel, Deer meticulously exposes the key players and unearths the critical facts, tracing the origins of the movement, identifying those responsible, detailing their manipulative tactics, and uncovering the financial motivations that underpinned the scandal.
At the core of this alarming story is the ascent of the self-proclaimed “father of the anti-vaccine movement,” the British physician Andrew Wakefield. Disgraced and stripped of his medical license due to Deer’s groundbreaking revelations, Wakefield sought refuge in the United States, where he continues to propagate his dangerous theories and falsely claims to be winning a “war” against established science.
Spanning fifteen years of relentless investigation, Deer navigated a labyrinth of medical secrecy, clandestine cover-ups, aggressive smear campaigns, and stifling legal threats. His unwavering commitment unearthed fraudulent research, lucrative schemes built on misinformation, the heart-wrenching experiences of families grappling with disability, and ultimately, the preeminent scientific scandal of our era, meticulously detailed in The Doctor Who Fooled the World.
