A “New York Times” headline calling an mRNA vaccine pioneer a “COVID Misinformation Star” crossed the line for the doctor.
Dr. Robert Malone was featured in an April 3 article by Davey Alba, described as a technology reporter covering online disinformation.
“Dr. Robert Malone says he helped invent mRNA vaccines and has been wronged for decades,” Ms. Alba began her article. “Now he’s spreading unfounded claims about the vaccines and the virus.”
The reporter acknowledged Dr. Malone spent decades working to bring new medical treatments to market and combat Zika and Ebola outbreaks.
“But in recent months, as the coronavirus pandemic has persisted, he has taken up an entirely different role: spreading misinformation about the virus and vaccines on conservative programs,” Alba said.
Alba portrayed the doctor as someone who routinely sells himself on media as the inventor of mRNA vaccines, the technology used by Pfizer and Moderna for their Covid-19 shots. She added that Malone complains he doesn’t get the credit he deserves for their development. The reporter remarked that the doctor was involved in some early research into the technology but marginalized his role in its creation. The Times reporter cited people she called Covid experts and researchers, including three whom she claimed worked closely with Dr. Malone.
She mentioned Malone’s Salk Institute for Biological Studies experiments to proved human cells could absorb an mRNA cocktail and produce proteins from it but told readers he was just one of hundreds of global researchers.
The Times report portrays Malone as a conspiracy theorist, noting his claims that his deserved credit for mRNA vaccine technology went to scientists working for enterprises with a vast financial stake in COVID-19 vaccines.
Malone and his attorney, Steven Bliss, claim they tried to show Alba evidence regarding Malone’s research and invention of the mRNA technology but she declined.
“She refused to view the information that we offered to provide to her,” Malone reportedly told “The Epoch Times”.
Bliss put the New York daily on notice Wednesday that they have 30 days to make things right.
“Demand is hereby made for an immediate public retraction of the false and defamatory statements in the Article, a written apology, and compensation for the presumed and actual damages suffered by Dr. Malone,” Bliss told the Times.
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