Day 254 - 22 May 96 - Page 40


     
     1
     2   Q.   But the point I am putting to go you is that although it
     3        may say 'may', it is not just a some kind of unlikely
     4        possibility, it is what they seriously consider is a risk
     5        factor, and it is just that right now if there would ever
     6        be there is not 100 per cent conclusive proof?
     7        A.  I am not sure I understand fully what you are saying
     8        but I do not know that you can actually put words into
     9        these people's mouths.  What they are basically trying to
    10        do is to exclude from their analysis variables which have
    11        been reported in other studies, so that ----
    12
    13   Q.   I am not talking about the study this morning, I used as an
    14        example the fact that some people have proposed, because
    15        those variables or made adjustments or some people have
    16        proposed a link to ----
    17        A.  Social class.
    18
    19   Q.   Well, to graduation, whatever it is.
    20
    21   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I thought affluence.  Are you distinguishing
    22        social class --  it occurred to me that graduation,
    23        certainly I see that one is going past graduation, so that
    24        they are doing postgraduate studies at university or
    25        college, largely American studies, but that to some extent
    26        went in some degree with affluence as well?
    27        A.  Yes, I was using social class in a loose way as well in
    28        relating that to affluence.
    29
    30   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  'May' must mean 'may'?
    31
    32   MS. STEEL:  It might mean 'may', but the point is there is never
    33        100 per cent proof of anything.
    34
    35   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  But 'may' is a possibility rather than a
    36        probability.  As I read these articles that is what it
    37        normally means.  Sometimes, I have to say, through years
    38        and years of experience of sitting in consultation with
    39        doctors they are not the best at distinguishing between
    40        possibly's and probables?
    41        A.  That is correct.
    42
    43   Q.   Which are a lawyer's bread and water.  The distinction is
    44        vital to a lawyer.  It is not always to a doctor.  But do
    45        you have any reason to believe that in the reports you have
    46        made 'may' has been used less than 'advisedly'?
    47        A.  No, my Lord, I would say that 'may' has been used very
    48        carefully in these reports.
    49
    50   MS. STEEL:   The reality is that these bodies are making these 
    51        recommendations because they consider that it is a serious 
    52        risk not because it is a vague possibility. 
    53        A.  I do not think that you can actually say that, because
    54        you are putting an interpretation on what the body feels,
    55        and I do not know what they feel.  What they are trying, I
    56        believe, to do is to give general advice to the population
    57        at large which is sensible advice.  No more than that.
    58
    59   MR. MORRIS:  Can I say, I do not think 'may' in scientific terms
    60        is the same as 'may' in a court of room.

Prev Next Index