London GP Questions Passive Smoking Propaganda At Conference On Choice

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 04 Mar 2005 - 11:00 PDT

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As a new study claims that passive smoking kills more than 11,000 people per year in the UK, DR MICHAEL FITZPATRICK, GP and author of the books 'MMR and Autism: What Parents Need to Know' and 'The Tyranny of Health: Doctors and the Regulation of Lifestyle', argues that such claims should be carefully scrutinised.

Dr Fitzpatrick is speaking at the session 'Is Britain becoming a nanny state?', at the London conference 'WHOSE CHOICE IS IT ANYWAY?: QUESTIONING THE NEW CONFORMISM' on FRIDAY 11 MARCH 2005, where he will say:

'Despite the growing consensus about the dangers of passive smoking, there is a failure to distinguish between relative and absolute risk. The alarming estimates of deaths attributable to passive smoking result from multiplying miniscule risks of dubious validity by vast population numbers - an effective propaganda device. The intense moral fervour and political commitment now driving the campaign against passive smoking has created a climate inimical to serious scientific inquiry.'

NOTES FOR EDITORS

'WHOSE CHOICE IS IT ANYWAY?: QUESTIONING THE NEW CONFORMISM' is taking place at:
9am-5pm
Friday 11 March 2005
Savoy Place
London WC2R 0BL

Further details of this conference, including full programme and booking details, can be found on the spiked website at:
http://www.spiked-online.com/choice

SANDY STARR
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7269 9234
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7269 9235
Email: Sandy.Starr@spiked-online.com