The China Study by Thomas Campbell

334 THE (HINA STUDY

enter into patent and royalty arrangements, agree to be the listed

authors of articles ghostwritten by interested companies, promote

drugs and devices at company-sponsored symposiums and allow

themselves to be plied with expensive gifts and trips to luxurious

settings. Many also have equity interest in the companies.

Dr. Angell goes on to say that these financial associations often sig-

nificantly "bias research, both the kind of work that is done and the way

it is reported."

Even more dangerous than the threat of fraudulent findings is the

fact that the only type of research that is funded and recognized is

research on drugs. Research on the causes of disease and non-drug

interventions simply doesn't occur in medical education settings. For

example, academic researchers may be furiously trying to find a pill

that will treat the symptoms of obesity, but not be devoting any time

or money to teaching people how to live a healthier life. Dr. Angell

writes^15 :

In terms of education, medical students and house officers, under

the constant tutelage of industry representatives, learn to rely on

drugs and devices more than they probably should [my emphasis].

As the critics of medicine so often charge, young physicians learn

that for every problem, there is a pill [my emphasis] (and a drug

company representative to explain it). They also become accus-

tomed to receiving gifts and favors from an industry that uses

these courtesies to influence their continuing education. The aca-

demic medical centers, in allowing themselves to become research

outposts for industry, contribute to the overemphasis on drugs and

devices."

In this environment, is it possible for nutrition to be given fair and
honest consideration? Despite the fact that our leading killers can be
prevented and even reversed using good nutrition, will you ever hear
about it from your doctor? Not as long as this environment persists in
our medical schools and hospitals. Not unless your doctor has decided
that standard medical practice as it is taught does not work, and decides
to spend a Significant amount of time educating himself or herself about
good nutrition. This takes a rare individual.
The situation has gotten so bad that Dr. John McDougall said, "I
don't know what to believe anymore. When I read a paper that says I