Tobacco Documents Online

paSe 59 HT®00330i I1IM-CALL HULLETIN San Francisco, California June 25, 1964 AMA Filters Its Stand On Cigarets and Bias By George Dusheck ~ • T h e American Medical &is.cocialion has t a k e n a aemi-firm stand -in the role ,)f cigaret smoking in lung Ancer and other diseases. On racial discrimination, aiso, the AMA H o u s e of flelegates Wednesday adopted a policy not firm enough to he called vigor- ntj>z and not soft enough to I called evasive ~ Surprise Vote Picks Dr. Ward Dr. Donovan F. Ward of Dubuque. lowa, today K'ds named preaident- e l e c t of the American Medical Association in a surprise move. Dr. Raymond M. Mc- Keown of Coos Bay, Ore., had been considered an overwhelming favorite. - fornia resolution that 8nth poliries fell short of tl~e etands urged b}• Califor- e a delegation to the 113th ~tnuaI AMA convention, meeting here this week. FOR ERAMitLE, Colifor- nia urged the AMA to recog- nize there "is a dose rela- tionship between smoking, pgperially excessive cigaret >;mnking, and c e r t a i n dis- eases eases including cancer of Ihe lung" and to "commend Luther Terry, surgeon gen- eral of the United States Health Cervice and his com- mittee for their extensive and objective study of the matter." The language finally ap- proved by the AMA dele- Rates said the AMA "does recogn ixe a significant rela- tionehip between cigaret fmoking and the incidence of lurg cancer. . ." and "rec- ngttises the contribution of the surgeon general's com- mittee in its comprehensive report.'• This is not the clear, suc- (warned that the public has misgiving- about the accept- lance of $10 million by the AMA from six major tobac- co companies for research. This, caid the California delegation. "raises certain qucstion,9 about the proprl- ety of auch an action in view of current recognition I of ... the harmful effects of cigaret cmokinl; .. ;" Instead, the compromise ~ ~resolution said the AMA cincl and vigorouxsland'takes "great pride in the many doctors had cwiled for, eRtablishment of the re- Including S a n. Francisco's ~ search program .." Dr. John Cliae, a former AMA president. SAID DR. CLINE Wednesdav before the com- mittee considering the ciga- ret issue: "The evidence is so clear it cannot he denied. We have no choice. We must take a strong stand now." Nevertheless, Dr. Cline said he is satisfied with the compromise resolution: "We are on the record as clearly acknowledging that cigaret smoking causes lung cancer." he said. "I could wish the statement ware shorter and more direet, but it says what I wantee it to say." THE AMA delegates Wednesday rejected a Call- Similarly, on racial c!s- crimination, the AMA re- jected a California proposal that a nationwide survey of discrimination suffered by Negro physicians be under- taken, as well as a Wiscon- sin proposal that state and county societies •arhich bar Negroes or give them sec• ond-class membership be thrown out of the American Medical Association. T H E DELEGATLS d i d resolve that they are "in- alterably opposed to denial of membership, privileges, and responsibilities in coun- ty medical societies and atate medical associalions to any duly licensed physician because of race, rnior, reli- gion, ethnic affiliation or national origin:" Califnrnia's Dr. Samuel R. Sherman said this "meets the dejsire of California for a forthright and clear stand aRainat discrimination."