Controversial British doctor Andrew Wakefield’s wife defends him

The wife of controversial British doctor Andrew Wakefield, who is dating Elle Macpherson, defended him in a documentary about his life – just two months before he was photographed in an embrace with the supermodel.   

In the film ‘The Pathological Optimist’, Carmel, 61, his wife of three decades, tells their four children ‘your father was gravely defamed.’

Addressing her husband, she says ‘they want you to crawl into a little hole and just shut up’ to which he replies ‘well, that isn’t going to happen’.

In the film ‘The Pathological Optimist’, Andrew Wakefield, above, tells his wife, Carmel, that he refuses to be ‘shut up’

The former physician, 61, tells filmmaker Miranda Bailey, who followed Wakefield and his family for five years, that his four children ‘are great kids, they really are. Their biggest handicap is probably having me as a father’.

The film was released in September last year – just two months before Wakefield was photographed with Macpherson’s arm draped across his shoulders at an awards ceremony.

The documentary makers claim it looks at the ‘man behind the most highly controversial, intensely debated topics in modern medicine’.

Wakefield became controversial after linking the MMR vaccine to autism and he was was banned from practising medicine in the UK because of unethical behavior.

Carmel Wakefield told the couple's children 'your father was gravely defamed'

Carmel Wakefield told the couple’s children ‘your father was gravely defamed’

Shown here cooking for the family, Andrew Wakefield told filmmaker Miranda Bailey that his kids' 'biggest handicap is probably having me as a father'

Shown here cooking for the family, Andrew Wakefield told filmmaker Miranda Bailey that his kids’ ‘biggest handicap is probably having me as a father’

The former physician described his four children as 'great kids'

The former physician described his four children as ‘great kids’

It came as DailyMail.com revealed on Tuesday that Wakefield built a new house for Carmel before dumping her a month later – because ‘he wanted to find himself’. 

Wakefield and Carmel had just put the finishing touches on a $1.4m Tuscan-style villa that was to be their luxurious new home in an upmarket suburb of Austin,Texas when he announced he was leaving.

The former physician moved out around eight months ago and hasn’t been seen there since, according to friends of the estranged couple who married in 1986 and have grown-up kids. 

Wakefield was first pictured beside 54-year-old modeling icon Macpherson at an awards ceremony last November

Wakefield was first pictured beside 54-year-old modeling icon Macpherson at an awards ceremony last November

He moved out at the same time that he was photographed with the supermodel at the awards ceremony in November.  

But his wife’s brother revealed on Tuesday that he only told her that their relationship was over in April – and she is now selling the dream home he built for her.

 

Andrew Wakefield and his wife Carmen had just put the finishing touches on a $1.4m Tuscan-style villa that was to be their luxurious new home in an upmarket suburb of Austin, Texas when he announced he was leaving

His romance with Elle Macpherson was confirmed this week when DailyMail.com revealed exclusive photos of the loved-up pair walking arm in arm and kissing at an organic food market

Andrew Wakefield, who is enjoying an unlikely public romance with Elle Macpherson (together right), built a new house for his wife Carmel (left, with Wakefield in 2010) before dumping her a month later

Andrew Wakefield and his wife Carmel had just put the finishing touches on a $1.4m Tuscan-style villa (above) in Austin, Texas, when he announced he was leaving

Andrew Wakefield and his wife Carmel had just put the finishing touches on a $1.4m Tuscan-style villa (above) in Austin, Texas, when he announced he was leaving

Their fledgling romance was confirmed this week when DailyMail.com revealed exclusive photos of the loved-up pair walking arm in arm and kissing at an organic food market.      

The photos are said to have stunned Carmel, who describes herself as a ‘a medically-trained doctor’, voice actor, radio host and longtime supporter of her husband.

‘They had just build the house and a month after they moved in Andrew just decided he wanted to do his own thing – and off he went,’ dished a friend. 

‘There wasn’t a big argument, he just said he was moving on. He said he wanted to find himself.

‘They were married a long time so it must have come as a shock, but Carmel is doing OK. She is a wonderful person. We love her to death.’ 

The former physician, 61, moved out of the home around eight months ago and hasn't been seen there since, according to friends of the estranged couple

The former physician, 61, moved out of the home around eight months ago and hasn’t been seen there since, according to friends of the estranged couple

Wakefield only split up with Carmel in April - who is now selling the dream home her estranged husband built for her

Wakefield only split up with Carmel in April – who is now selling the dream home her estranged husband built for her

The home in an upmarket suburb of Austin, Texas, has spacious open kitchen and sun-drenched family room

The home in an upmarket suburb of Austin, Texas, has spacious open kitchen and sun-drenched family room

As well as stunning views, the home has expansive decks and a swimming pool with a waterfall

As well as stunning views, the home has expansive decks and a swimming pool with a waterfall

Healthy eating advocate Macpherson has had her own share of marital strife recently after divorcing the billionaire Jeffrey Soffer in 2017, reportedly walking away with a $53m in cash and $26m worth of property. 

But the supermodel known as ‘The Body’ appeared to have put those troubles behind her as she cozied up to Wakefield, clutching his arm and kissing him tenderly at Glaser’s Farm organic market in Miami on Friday.

‘He’s kind of a jackass,’ the friend said of Wakefield. ‘He’s not friendly at all. He hasn’t got any charisma. 

‘It amazes me he’s dating Elle Macpherson. I cannot imagine what she sees in him. She needs her head examined.’

A former doctor and researcher, Wakefield became notorious for fuelling the anti-vaccination movement with his widely debunked research claiming the MMR jab caused autism and bowel disease. 

He was banned from practicing in the UK in 2010 but relocated his family to the U.S. when he continues to promote his controversial approach to medicine.

Neither Wakefield, nor Macpherson have commented publicly on their relationship status, while Carmel is believed to be outside the U.S. visiting her 24-year-old daughter Imogen, who studies abroad. 

Her brother Finbar O’Donovan told DailyMail.com this week however, that he had spoken with his sister and she was both ‘shocked’ and ‘amused’ by her ex-husband’s PDA.

O’Donovan suggested the estranged couple, who also have three sons named James, 29, Samuel, 27 and Coren, 21, had only confirmed they were separating in April and were yet to initiate divorce proceedings. 

‘She feels let down because it would seem that they got together soon after she and Andrew split, which was only a few months ago.

‘It is very soon after a marriage breakdown,’ he said, adding that he no longer speaks to his brother-in-law. 

‘They had to move to America, his career was in ruins here, and my sister was always one of his biggest supporters professionally.’

As well as the spacious open kitchen, the Tuscan-style villa in Texas features a beautifully finished family room

As well as the spacious open kitchen, the Tuscan-style villa in Texas features a beautifully finished family room

The 4,910 sq ft home in Austin also has  bonus air-conditioned basement with a gym, workshop, and game room

The 4,910 sq ft home in Austin also has  bonus air-conditioned basement with a gym, workshop, and game room

The property in an upmarket suburb of Austin, Texas, boasts two bedrooms, and two suites with walk-in closets and private bathrooms

The property in an upmarket suburb of Austin, Texas, boasts two bedrooms, and two suites with walk-in closets and private bathrooms

The family room inside the lavish home is pictured furnished with a large coffee table and comfortable couches

The family room inside the lavish home is pictured furnished with a large coffee table and comfortable couches

An en-suite bathroom attached to one of the bedrooms in the property boasts a marble-finished sink and walk-in shower

An en-suite bathroom attached to one of the bedrooms in the property boasts a marble-finished sink and walk-in shower

A lavish bathroom in the Tuscan-style villa - worth $1.4million - features a luxurious deep soaking tub and two sinks 

A lavish bathroom in the Tuscan-style villa – worth $1.4million – features a luxurious deep soaking tub and two sinks 

Rolling Hill Country views are framed in nearly every room of this gorgeous home, according to the property listing

Rolling Hill Country views are framed in nearly every room of this gorgeous home, according to the property listing

While Wakefield embarked on lecture tours of the U.S. painting himself as the victim of a global conspiracy Carmel produced her own stream of YouTube videos highlighting problems faced by parents of autistic children.

The couple’s first home was a five-bedroom, 5,000 sq ft ranch in the western Austin suburbs, worth in excess of $1.4m with a pool deck, Jacuzzi and waterfall overlooking a rolling hillside.

They later snapped up a plot of land further along the same road and in 2015 began building a Tuscan-style, three-bed villa with terracotta roof tiles, ornate rock gardens and a large guesthouse.

Property websites value the three-bedroom property at $1.4m but locals say it could be worth considerably more.

Carmel is believed to developing at least one other local property as well as hosting a radio show playing classical music.

She also works under her maiden name, O’Donovan, as a voiceover artist, describing her style as ‘British, authoritative, educated, calm, chatty, wry.’

A web page promoting her work says she specializes in pronouncing medical terminology as she is a medically qualified doctor.

Wakefield (above, with Elle Macpherson in the background) was banned from practicing medicine in the UK because of unethical behavior

Wakefield (above, with Elle Macpherson in the background) was banned from practicing medicine in the UK because of unethical behavior

The photos of her estranged husband with the model are said to have stunned 61-year-old Carmel, a voice actor, radio host and longtime supporter of his discredited work linking the MMR vaccine to autism

The photos of her estranged husband with the model are said to have stunned 61-year-old Carmel, a voice actor, radio host and longtime supporter of his discredited work linking the MMR vaccine to autism

Macpherson is a well-known devotee of alternative medicine and has spoken about her use of acupuncture, natural remedies and a daily alkalizing supplement

Macpherson is a well-known devotee of alternative medicine and has spoken about her use of acupuncture, natural remedies and a daily alkalizing supplement

She can also perform a range of accents including ‘Irish, French, Spanish, African (Oxford educated) and Exotic Arabian.’

Macpherson and Wakefield were both guests at the Doctors Who Rock Awards, a black tie gala held last November in Orlando, Florida to honor leading exponents of ‘integrated medicine’.

The unconventional approach to healthcare mixes conventional science with holistic medicine and alternative therapies ‘to heal the body, mind and spirit’, according to its exponents. 

Wakefield was the recipient of one of the 20 to 30 prizes, according to a coordinator for one of the organizers, the nonprofit United Intentions Foundation.

Another recipient was Dr. Joseph Mercola, author of The No-Grain Diet and The Great Bird Flu Hoax, who has attracted controversy for criticizing a reliance on vaccines, prescription drugs and surgery to treat diseases. 

WHAT IS MMR AND HOW DOES THE VACCINE WORK?

Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) are highly infectious conditions that can have serious, potentially fatal complications, including meningitis, swelling of the brain (encephalitis), and deafness.

They can also lead to complications in pregnancy that affect the unborn baby, and can lead to miscarriage.

The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective combined vaccine that protects against the separate illnesses in a single injection. The full course of MMR vaccination requires two doses.

It contains weakened versions of live measles, mumps and rubella viruses and works by triggering the immune system to produce antibodies against them.

If you or your child then comes into contact with one of the diseases, the immune system will recognise it and immediately produce the antibodies needed to fight it.

Since the MMR vaccine was introduced in 1988, it’s rare for children in the UK to develop these serious conditions.

But outbreaks happen and there have been cases of measles in recent years, so it’s important to make sure that you and your children are up-to-date with the MMR vaccination.

There has been some controversy about whether the MMR vaccine might cause autism following a 1998 study by Dr Andrew Wakefield.

In his paper published in The Lancet, Dr Wakefield claimed there is a link between the MMR vaccine and autism or bowel disease.

But his work has since been completely discredited and he has been struck off as a doctor in the UK.

Subsequent studies in the last nine years have found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism or bowel disease.

Source: NHS 

Mercola is currently promoting a video entitled: POWER UP! How to Improve Your Mitochondrial Function with Diet and Light to Prevent and Treat Disease. 

In his now notorious 1998 paper, Wakefield – who was born in Berkshire, England – speculated that being injected with a ‘dead’ form of the measles virus via vaccination causes disruption to intestinal tissue. 

As a result of his dire warnings, the UK’s vaccination rate fell from 92 per cent to 84 per cent by 2002. 

Recorded cases of measles also soared from 56 in 1998 to 449 in 2006. In the US, meanwhile, researchers have estimated that as many as 125,000 children born in the late 1990s were not given the MMR vaccination because of Wakefield’s spurious claims. 

His message has also been blamed for spikes in measles rates elsewhere in the world. 

The shamed clinician was banned from practicing medicine in the UK however he continues to promote his theories in the US, where admirers include President Donald Trump (pictured with Wakefield in August 2016)

The shamed clinician was banned from practicing medicine in the UK however he continues to promote his theories in the US, where admirers include President Donald Trump (pictured with Wakefield in August 2016)

Wakefield’s theory was found to have been based on false evidence and it was retracted by the leading medical journal, The Lancet, in 2010. 

The shamed clinician was banned from practicing medicine in the UK three months later however he continues to promote his theories in the US, where admirers include President Donald Trump.

Wakefield met the President along with four other anti-vaccine campaigners in the summer of 2016 as well as attending an inauguration ball after Trump’s election victory. 

Macpherson is a well-known devotee of alternative medicine and has spoken about her use of acupuncture, natural remedies and a daily alkalizing supplement she uses to combat aging made from Chinese herbs and mushrooms. 

The Australian beauty is currently based in Miami, having relocated from London with her sons Flynn, 19, and Aurelius, 14, to live with her second husband, the billionaire real estate developer Jeffrey Soffer. 

They married in 2013 at the exclusive Laucala Resort in Fiji but divorced four years later.

 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk