Tobacco Documents Online

United Press International carried the Berkson report to client newspapers and repetition of the-AhiA''s "neutral"'position in the controversy, carried as an .also asked the American Medical Association for comment. The query drew a ' " to the wire story. "add The American Medical Association declined to comment on Berkson's statement. tr An AMA spokesman said the organization never has taken an official position on the relationship between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. The AMA Journal has published both pro and con articles on the subject. Columnist and telecaster Walter Winchell referred to the Berkson state- ment in the first of a new series of network broadcasts, October 2. The Walter Winchell Show WABC-TV'& ABC Television Network MAYO AUTHORITY DOUBTS SMOItIVG-LUIr1G CANCER LINK TFiE TELr'~VISICY SCREEN SHQWID WALTER WINCHELTSEATED AT A DESK. WINCHELL: Rochester, Minnesota: -- here is good news for smokers and the cigarette companies. "'The top authority on medical statistics at Mayo Clinic is Dr. Joseph Berkson. He is quoted as stating that he does not believe in the figures linking cigarettes and lung cancer. "f In fact,' says Dr. Berkson of Mayo's, ' It is very doubtful that smoking causes lung cancer.'"