Day 254 - 22 May 96 - Page 70


     
     1
     2   Q.   But we cannot wait until that comes up before we announce
     3        to the world that smoking is bad for your health?
     4        A.  No; but, as I have already said to you, the evidence
     5        between smoking and cancer is so much clearer than the
     6        evidence concerning diet and cancer.
     7
     8   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Just take stock of where you are and see what
     9        else there is to ask.
    10
    11   MR. MORRIS:  No further questions.
    12
    13   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  No, thank you.
    14
    15                      Re-examined by MR. RAMPTON
    16
    17   MR. RAMPTON:  I think there is one question I would like to ask
    18        you, Dr. Arnott, and it is this:  Assume, for the moment,
    19        that I am a cigarette smoker, yes?
    20        A.  Yes.
    21
    22   Q.   If I continue to smoke cigarettes in any substantial
    23        numbers, do you think that I am creating for myself a very
    24        real risk that I will get cancer of the lung?
    25        A.  Indeed, yes.  If you -- it depends on the number of
    26        cigarettes that you smoke.
    27
    28   Q.   I know.  I am not asking for medical advice.
    29        A.  But there is a clear cut relationship between
    30        continuing to smoke cigarettes and the risk of developing
    31        lung cancer.
    32
    33   Q.   If I substitute in that proposition for cigarettes or
    34        cigarette smoking a diet high in fat and low in fibre, am
    35        I creating for myself a very real risk that I am going to
    36        get cancer of the bowel, if I am a woman of the breast?
    37        A.  I cannot say that because I do not think the scientific
    38        evidence is there for me to advise you in that way.
    39
    40   MR. RAMPTON:  Thank you very much, Dr. Arnott.
    41
    42   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Thank you for coming back, Dr. Arnott.
    43        Please leave the witness box.
    44
    45                       (The witness withdrew)
    46
    47   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I have come within an ace on several
    48        occasions of saying to witnesses on both sides "Please
    49        leave the dock", but I have managed to actually avoid
    50        saying that! 
    51 
    52   MR. RAMPTON:  I am a bit cautious about asking whether he can be 
    53        released even.
    54
    55   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think he certainly can, subject to
    56        Professor Crawford saying anything which leads you to say
    57        you want to be recalled.  But, obviously, I would like to
    58        avoid that unless it is absolutely essential, because in
    59        any case like this where there is quite complex evidence
    60        where one has to reach a conclusion at the end of the day,

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