Day 033 - 10 Oct 94 - Page 48


     
     1   MR. MORRIS:  So, they reached the point, is that true, where
     2        the evidence becomes so compelling, even if there are
     3        holes, that recommendations start being made; is that
     4        correct?
     5        A.  Yes.  In spite of the fact that there are (and will
     6        remain) people who are sceptical of that association,
     7        they, in my judgment, are a minority, an ever shrinking
     8        minority, but they do exist and they certainly have a
     9        right to their opinion, even though it is not shared by
    10        others and even though for me (as a physician) I feel that
    11        it would be irresponsible for me and dangerous for me to
    12        ignore this overwhelming information, because patients and
    13        individuals will not have their diets controlled by other
    14        people.  They have to make choices.  They have to make
    15        choices on the basis of the best available evidence.
    16
    17        That evidence is, in my judgment, quite compelling.
    18        I agree with those other -- virtually every American
    19        research organisation has already gone to the point of
    20        issuing recommendations based on that evidence.  To fail
    21        to inform the American public, as I mentioned early in my
    22        statement, we found that only 20 per cent of American
    23        women even were aware that there might even be a link
    24        between high fat diets and breast cancer.  The other 80
    25        per cent had absolutely no basis whatsoever for making
    26        modifications in their diet. They did not have any
    27        knowledge base whatsoever.
    28
    29        So, I have felt that it is very important, as a physician,
    30        to get the message out to individuals, even though there
    31        are sceptics who remain, even though, admittedly, there
    32        are some holes in what we know, the case is long past the
    33        point of being good enough; the dietary recommendations
    34        are not only justified but I would say absolutely
    35        essential.
    36
    37   Q.   I want to take you through another document while we are
    38        on this subject.  It seems a suitable time while I think
    39        of it.  It is document No. 3 in the miscellaneous
    40        supplementary list.  You have not seen this document.
    41        (Handed)  This document is from the European Journal of
    42        Cancer Prevention, 1991.  It is the title:  "We have a
    43        duty, as scientists working on cancer prevention, to give
    44        dietary advice to the whole population rather than simply
    45        to high-risk groups."   That is by Dr. Wheelock, I think
    46        now Professor Wheelock.  He puts the case for that.  Would
    47        you agree, first of all, with the title, with the premise
    48        in the title?
    49        A.  Yes, I would.
    50 
    51   Q.   If we look at the paragraph on the right-hand side of that 
    52        first page, the main paragraph in the middle, do you want 
    53        to read that to yourself?  What are your thoughts on that
    54        paragraph?
    55
    56   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Tell me why you are asking this witness
    57        about it.
    58
    59   MR. RAMPTON:  My Lord, what is written there would be common
    60        ground in this case.

Prev Next Index