George Davey Smith declaration of no competing interests
Professor George Davey Smith wrote the cautious editorial
accompanying the now-famous article by Enstrom and Kabat on passive
smoking (1) (2). While one of the latter authors admitted some link to
the tobacco industry, Professor Davey Smith declared none. However,
George Davey Smith was a grantee from the Council for Tobacco Research (on
cervical cancer and human papillomavirus) in 1993 (3). The connection may
be remote; yet I find puzzling that an epidemiologist of his standing
would declare, in the face of current and overwhelming evidence, that
"controversy still exists."
(1) Enstrom J, Kabat G. Environmental tobacco smoke and tobacco
related mortality in a prospective study of Californians, 1960-98. BMJ
2003;326:1057-61.
(2) Davey Smith G. Effect of passive smoking on health [.] More
information is available, but the controversy still exists. BMJ
2003;326:1048-1049.
(3)"CTR Grant Application Cards (Alphabetical)." 3 June 1993. www.tobaccodocuments.org. Bates No.: 60135419-60136530, at -5736. Accessed
27 May 2003.
Competing interests:
I am a paid consultant to the World Health Organization on tobacco industry documents
Rapid Response:
George Davey Smith declaration of no competing interests
Professor George Davey Smith wrote the cautious editorial
accompanying the now-famous article by Enstrom and Kabat on passive
smoking (1) (2). While one of the latter authors admitted some link to
the tobacco industry, Professor Davey Smith declared none. However,
George Davey Smith was a grantee from the Council for Tobacco Research (on
cervical cancer and human papillomavirus) in 1993 (3). The connection may
be remote; yet I find puzzling that an epidemiologist of his standing
would declare, in the face of current and overwhelming evidence, that
"controversy still exists."
(1) Enstrom J, Kabat G. Environmental tobacco smoke and tobacco
related mortality in a prospective study of Californians, 1960-98. BMJ
2003;326:1057-61.
(2) Davey Smith G. Effect of passive smoking on health [.] More
information is available, but the controversy still exists. BMJ
2003;326:1048-1049.
(3)"CTR Grant Application Cards (Alphabetical)." 3 June 1993.
www.tobaccodocuments.org. Bates No.: 60135419-60136530, at -5736. Accessed
27 May 2003.
Competing interests:
I am a paid consultant to the World Health Organization on tobacco industry documents
Competing interests: No competing interests