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,
