CAC 1981
SMOKING AND HEALTH
RECENT SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS
AND THE ROLE OF GROUP RESEARCH
Earlier CAC's considered the stance and
credability of the
industry:
- recognising the need for some changes to
overcome our "presumption of guilt"
cf FIGURE 1 [UICC 19811
A snapshot of the scene might be:
little known about "chain of events* between
health and disease
virtual impossibility of ever proving/disproving
causation
mountains of well documetated evidence "against"
no clear exposition of what Industry has actually
done in past 25 years
no vehicle/forum for industry to counter even
unjustified attacks
an al>Ysmal lack of knowledge by doctorsp
consumers
(and employees ...... ?)
I believe we now have a much better basis
more epidemiological support for low deliveries
more acceptance that legislation is not the answer
C:)
cf FIGURE 2 [World Sales Forecast] I'D
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BATCo document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 20
April 1999


Perhaps "Panorama" provided the key
No milage in trying to flog the issue:
"causation is not proven"
"experts disagree - genuine controversy"
"we are not doctors"
Better route is slowly/carefully develop a
platform(s) for
communicating what Industry has done/is doing
- realistic discussion of "controversy"
- reference to 3rd party views
Clearly the main issue has been the legal
implications of
.causation"
- not just the USA cf EEC
We must find a way through
- Millbankajid B&W Lawyers have made advances cf
FIGURE 3 (Communications re S&H]
- B&W comment
Much progress has been made in past year by
PA/R&D/Legal
- BMA Doctors
- R&D Brochure
- Staff booklet - in preparation
- My Talks on S&H -- Vid?a
- Royal Society o General Practitioners
- *11JHO - Pt"VIACO/V~S;,J7
In all cases, strong support for the seemingly
more open stance. C=>
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LTI
BATCo document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 20
April 1999


Finally, my talk on "Medical And Scientific
Aspects of S&v"
- We believe we now have a credible approach
- albeit a hard road ahead
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BATCo document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 20
April 1999