PCRM and the Truth About 'Responsible Medicine' An Open Letter by Stuart Trager, MD, Chairperson, Atkins Physicians Council


NEW YORK, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- In matters of important scientific and medical consequence, there is perhaps no greater responsibility than that involved with the collection and handling of important information to assure that accurate data is obtained and reported in an unbiased manner. Whether through institutional review boards or the peer-review process, the highest priority must be given to assure preservation of integrity. Within the medical community, it is well understood that these safeguards are what protect patients from the unscrupulous who would be tempted to advance their own agenda through attacking evidence-based scientific viewpoints. Physicians who get into the business of making emotional appeals that are in defiance of science may have been acceptable in other centuries and in other countries but have no place in a society that should be focused and dedicated to the health and well being of its population.

In the most recent headline-grabbing attempt by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), it is extremely troubling that this group of physicians, would act so irresponsibly, attempting to use sensationalism rather than science to advance their own vegan agenda. How other than irresponsible would describe the unscientific presentation of information about a nutritional approach that has been helping many to combat an epidemic of obesity currently costing 300,000 lives, telling half truths and avoiding the scrutiny of peer review?

There is perhaps no greater example of this than the emotional and sensational exploitation of individuals with co-morbidities to shamelessly support a viewpoint without subjecting the data to a controlled or statistical analysis to clarify statistical significance. Clearly, Dr. Neal Barnard and his vegan associates, cannot resist the opportunity to promote their own nutritional philosophy even if it means ignoring credible research emanating from major universities and published in peer-reviewed journals, exploiting the emotionally vulnerable victims of personal tragedies and misleading an American public that is suffering from a dire obesity and diabetes epidemic.

Surely this "responsible" physician is aware of the recent published studies like that of Dr. Eric Westman at Duke University that found nearly twice the amount of weight loss at six months with a low carbohydrate diet as compared to a low-calorie, low-fat diet, as well as work supported by the American Heart Association conducted by Dr. Bonnie Brehm at the University of Cincinnati that found twice the weight loss and also twice the body fat loss after six months on a low carbohydrate diet as compared to a high carbohydrate diet.

Dr. Barnard must also be aware of the recent study by Dr. Fredrick Samaha, et. al., that showed more than twice the weight lost, five-fold improvement in triglycerides and increased insulin sensitivity in overweight women following the Atkins Nutritional Approach (ANA) versus those following a low-fat diet. And how "responsible" is it to ignore the statistically significant increase in weight loss demonstrated at both three and six months in the NIH-funded multicenter study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, that also showed greater decrease in triglyceride concentration and greater increase in HDL in those following the low carbohydrate approach?

Did Dr. Barnard not have access to the widely publicized studies recently out of Tufts University and Harvard University that further confirmed the safety of Atkins? And the new study just published by the Mayo Clinic demonstrating the value of the role of saturated fats in the ANA for heart disease? Did he read some of these studies and fail to notice the repeated findings that not only confirm the cardioprotective benefits of Atkins, but some of which suggested that Atkins is better for the heart than low-fat diets? Finally, speaking of "responsible", what about presenting the large number of studies that demonstrate the health risks associated with elevated triglycerides (an independent risk factor for heart disease) when eating diets high in carbohydrates? And all the studies that actually show that regular meat intake doesn't impair normal kidney function, increase the risk of breast cancer or cause osteoporosis while in fact obesity itself creates the higher risk?

While the PCRM wastes their time trying to fight those whose views of healthy eating differ from the vegan lifestyle they support, it is time for the rest of us to unite, demanding that our policy makers in medicine and in government rely on evidence-based science, rather than preconceived beliefs and philosophical ideology, and that they, above all else, act responsibly. We can only wonder why the media hasn't exposed and condemned PCRM's deeply irresponsible approach to science and the well being of the American public.

This group of radical vegans and animal rights advocates abusing their medical degrees and masquerading as concerned and "responsible" physicians must be held to the same standards that all scientists must adhere to, and to cease this practice of sensationalism.

For further information, please contact: Gina Mangiaracina, WWR Public Relations, 212-714-0300.

Source: Atkins Health and Medical Information Services

God Bless you Dr. Trager - You've said what we all know is true.

And shame on the MEDIA for not revealing who these quacks really are.

Wow!

What a well-articulated response to a most offensive and non-science-based diatribe by the PCRM. And *we're* the ones "on the fringe"??!! ha

start 09.01.03 @225
current 200
goal 130ish

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." ~ Thomas Jefferson

Go get 'em Dr. Trager. Have you ever noticed that most people who practice a LC WOE spend their time supporting each other while those against it spend all their time attacking our WOE - rather than supporting their WOE?

225/195/170?

“I can conscientiously assert I never lived so well as under the new plan of dietary, which I should have formerly thought a dangerous, extravagant trespass upon health.” --William Banting (Thanks Lez)

A-MEN!!!

Char

Don't squat with yer spurs on!

Right on

Thanks LCandrea! I was disgusted when I found out the medical group was vegan and pro-animal. I am so disgusted by people who put animal life over human life!

-WRITE GIRL

Thanks to Dr. Trager for taking the high road against this group of self serving buffoons. I agree with Andrea; they are getting desparate. Maybe they should look at their own name; the R stands for RESPONSIBLE. It is totally irresponsible for any 'medical' association to put information out there without studies or proof to what they are stating. I have posted many comments about this group, as well as their 'sister' group, the CSPI. Both of these groups should be investigated. I am willing to bet they are backed by some sect of big business.

Stay the Course.

Steve