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June 2002, Vol 92, No. 6 | American Journal of Public Health 892
© 2002 American Public Health Association

LETTER

JUNK SCIENCE, TOBACCO, AND AGENDAS

Pat Hagen

Pat Hagen is president of FORCES (Fight Ordinances and Restrictions to Control and Eliminate Smoking) Canada, Delta, British Columbia.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Ms Pat Hagen, FORCES Canada, 11913 Baker Place, Delta, British Columbia, Canada V4E 2V8(e-mail: forcescan2{at}aol.com).

A more appropriate title for the November 2001 commentary "Junking Science to Promote Tobacco" would be "Junking Science to Promote Pharmaceuticals and Service an Agenda." When the World Health Organization partnered with drug companies to push the smoke-free agenda, it lost what little credibility it had with ordinary citizens who think. Everything the organization has to say on the subject now needs to be held up to the light of a pharmaceutical bottom line.

Concerning the personal attack on Martha Perske, it's noticeable that the substance of her critiques is not addressed; the tired old antismoking gambit of an ad hominem attack is resorted to instead. Scientific backgrounds aside, it would be very interesting to see an effort made to provide an evaluation of her work; that at least would have some merit. Also, the critique referenced in note 40 of Yach and Bialous' commentary does not "grossly misstate" the work of the World Health Organization; the organization is not even mentioned. What that document does contain are some pertinent questions about media reporting of a Health Canada study and the alleged "proof" of the dangers of environmental tobacco smoke.

This commentary leaves the reader with one conclusion. The authors are determined to inculcate the thought "Anti-tobacco, good guys, honest scientists, selfless motivation; pro-tobacco, bad guys, dishonest scientists, for profit." Nothing is that black and white, and any organization taking advantage of the public's credulity in this manner deserves to be placed under a microscope itself.

Reference

1. Yach D, Bialous SA. Junking science to promote tobacco. Am J Public Health. 2001; 91:1745–1748.[Abstract/Free Full Text]





This Article
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Right arrow Health Policy
Right arrow Other Tobacco

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