1.
Mr Deer has already published a number of
articles and publishes a website which
extensively deals with these matters and
from which his own views are demonstrably
clear and not impartial.
2.
His published articles concerning Andrew
Wakefield are in most cases demonstrably
false, highly opinionated and clearly
defamatory of Mr Wakefield. You should be
aware that these matters are being
reviewed by Leading Counsel.
3.
It is clear and probably not disputed
that Mr Deer is operating on his own
agenda in respect of these matters and it
is also right to say at this time that he
has made a formal statutory complaint to
the General Medical Council against Mr
Wakefield and others concerning these
matters. That statutory inquiry
within the auspices of the Medical Act
and the GMC’s Fitness to Practice
procedures is ongoing. Mr Wakefield
will be strongly contesting the
allegations that have been made against
him.
4.
Whilst Mr Wakefield might have liked and
has in the past constructively
participated in the debate concerning
MMR, you will understand that it would be
completely inappropriate for him now to
contribute or comment on these matters in
circumstances where there is an
unresolved and substantive complaint
before the General Medical Council.
5.
Mr Deer’s own published allegations
in The Sunday Times are the subject of a
current Press Complaints Commission
investigation and it is perfectly clear
that he is a campaigning journalist who
is not impartial or editorially sound.