Day 022 - 12 Sep 94 - Page 53


     
     1        population and imperfect measurement of fat intake.  Also
     2        it must be because of the time span as well, yes ---
     3        A.  Yes.
     4
     5   Q.   -- of the study, and also the fact they only studied
     6        people over the age of 35, 34.  So, as far as the
     7        conclusion with the evidence between dietary fat and
     8        breast cancer from this study, it does not take us much
     9        further.  Obviously, we can go through other studies --
    10        I have finished with that study -- but we have a sort of
    11        problem really if we are trying to identify the causes of
    12        cancer; sooner or later someone has, you know, to make a
    13        decision about what are likely to be the causes and make
    14        recommendations.
    15
    16        Obviously, we have talked about the World Health
    17        Organisation and governmental bodies, various institutes,
    18        whatever, who seem to have made fairly strong conclusions
    19        that diet and cancer are linked, quite reasonably, but
    20        maybe it is a prudent approach.  The problem is all the
    21        methodology seems to be fraught with difficulties.  So,
    22        what approach does the reasonable person take, that if
    23        there is some evidence, this is something that should be
    24        made known, is that the general line of, say, the US ---
    25        A.  Yes, I think what they are saying -----
    26
    27   Q.   -- recommendations?
    28        A.  Some reports have suggested there might be a
    29        relationship.  Therefore, because the relationship of fat
    30        and heart disease is much clearer, it seems only sensible
    31        to recommend to people, who are not medical, who do not
    32        have a lot of scientific knowledge, that they should
    33        reduce their fat intake.
    34
    35        You know, I think one has to be very careful that there
    36        comes a time, you said, there comes a time when you have
    37        actually got to say something; one has to be sure that you
    38        are actually saying the right thing.  You cannot just
    39        say: "Well, I think that fat causes cancer".  It may do;
    40        we do not have the scientific evidence to show that it
    41        does.  I think if you start then arguing without good
    42        scientific evidence, then you can be actually doing the
    43        scientific community, as well as the general public, a
    44        disservice.
    45
    46   Q.   So, to say a bland statement "X causes Y", you have to be
    47        -----
    48        A.  I go back to -----
    49
    50   Q.   Really, you have to have lights flashing in every kind of 
    51        methodology used? 
    52        A.  You have to have a consistency of results. 
    53
    54   Q.   But, presumably, before you get to that stage it is
    55        because people generally feel that this is the case, but
    56        there is not the hard, solid guaranteed evidence to say
    57        "this causes this", but that people anyway should know?
    58        A.  No.
    59
    60   Q.   That this is what the general feeling is?

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