Four Groups File Complaints Against Carmona's 2006 Report; Scientific Misconduct as Reasons for Complaint Against Ex-Surgeon General.

In June, 2006, then
Surgeon General Carmona released his report titled "The Health Consequences
of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke". Since that date, his report has
drawn criticism from Scientists and Epidemiologists worldwide.

Four separate groups have filed complaints with the Office of Research
Integrity, Health and Human Services against Ex-Surgeon General Carmona's
2006 Report.

Opponents of Ohio Bans filed a complaint against the scientific
misconduct (manipulation of research) of the economic assessment/impact of
smoking bans. According to Carmona's report, smokefree policies do not harm
business. Two thirds of the studies in Carmona's report were either
authored or co-authored by Stanton Glantz, Director of the Center for
Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California San
Francisco School of Medicine, who is not an economist. He and his
university have profited heavily by anti-tobacco funding and grants.
Absolutely no studies or reports conducted by economists or trade
organizations were cited in Carmona's report, although many sources were
available at the time. For example, the highly regarded Deloitte and Touche
reported a study for the National Restaurant Association study (2004), the
Ridgeway Economic Associates New York Nightlife Association/Empire State
Restaurant and Tavern Association Study (05/12/2004), and Terry L. Clower,
Ph.D. & Bernard L. Weinstein, Ph.D. completed a study for Dallas Restaurant
Association Study (10/01/2004). "This is a glaring and obvious attempt to
stack the deck in favor of anti-tobacco versus the real damage done to the
hospitality industry. How was it even possible that the highest medical
authority in this country got away with this?" asks Pam Parker of Opponents
of Ohio Bans.

The Hawaii Smokers Alliance filed a complaint against the public
statement "there is no safe level of exposure". In addition to violating
the basic tenets of toxicology, this actually crosses the line of
fabricating results because the SG is the highest healthcare authority in
the United States of America and his press release to announce the results
of his meta-analysis truly is his report to the American public. "We are
committed to holding those who have chosen to misinform or misrepresent
information to the general public accountable for such reckless and
egregious behavior. Such misrepresentations are solely responsible for the
destruction and incalculable financial harm to businesses both large and
small across the nation," states Jolyn Tenn of Hawaii Smokers Alliance.

Ban the Ban Wisconsin's complaint cites the haphazard use of RRs or
"relative risks". Coupled with the fact that the larger studies not
included in Carmona's report would have diminished the already unacceptably
low RRs, questionable studies inflated the appearance of RRs. Moreover, the
relative risks don't appear to be discussed with respect to absolute risks.
In the ORI's terms, this is a significant departure from accepted practice
in the relevant field. Early in Carmona's report, a brief subsection stated
that, "The quantitative results of the meta-analyses, however, were not
determinate in making causal inferences in this Surgeon General's report."
Clearly, in the absence of hard evidence, the Surgeon General chose to
pontificate according to his pre-determined results. Carmona couldn't have
deviated any further from accepted practice in the relevant field without
stepping in something.

Citizens Freedom Alliance's complaint is centered on "changing and
omitting data". The data for a meta-analysis is the studies collected from
the body of research, but the SG's meta-analysis omits relevant studies
such as the Enstrom/Kabat study, belittles other large relevant studies,
includes highly questionable studies, and relies heavily on the thoroughly
discredited 1992 EPA report (which was not only discredited by a Federal
Judge, but by three congressional committees). By omitting relevant
long-term, large studies as well as relying heavily on discredited reports,
the Surgeon General both changed and omitted data in his meta-analysis of
research on secondhand smoke (SHS)/environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), which
did indeed ensure that the research is not accurately represented in the
research record. He, therefore, committed "research misconduct" as defined
by the "falsification" according to the "Public Health Service Policies on
Research Misconduct". According to Gary Nolan, U.S. Regional Director for
Citizens Freedom Alliance, "Americans should be angry about this waste of
tax payer dollars. I truly believe this study was released for purely
political reasons and is an insult to every honorable scientist in the
world. The result of Carmona's ETS study was to needlessly ruin business,
cost jobs and harm the economies of local communities and states across the
country. He should be ashamed of his actions."

Dr. Michael Siegel is a prominent doctor specializing in Preventative
Medicine and Public Health. From his commentary on Carmona's 2006 report,
he is quoted as saying, "The Surgeon General is publicly claiming that
brief exposure to secondhand smoke increases risk for heart disease and
lung cancer. But there is absolutely no evidence to support this claim.
Certainly, no evidence is presented in the Surgeon General's report to
support this claim. And certainly, the Surgeon General's report draws no
such conclusion." http://tinyurl.com/5fq7r6

Many researchers and prominent organizations have written about the
powerful influences of the anti-tobacco activists. Dr. Carl Phillips,
University of Alberta School of Public Health, Edmonton, Canada wrote
"Warning: Anti-Tobacco Activism May Be Hazardous to Epidemiological
Science". http://www.epi-perspectives.com/content/pdf/1742-5573-4-13.pdf .
Other articles such as "Science and Secondhand Smoke: the Need for a Good
Puff of Skepticism" by Sidney Zion (Skeptic, Volume 13, Number 3, 2007),
"Where's the Consensus on Second Hand Smoke?" by Joseph Bast of Heartland
Institute, and "Did Carmona Read His Own Report?" by Jacob Scullum with
Reason Magazine 06/29/2006 http://www.reason.com/blog/show/114497.html are
but a small representation of the articles that give a glimpse of how
damaging the epidemic of anti-smoking is.

The fact is, the Surgeon General title is one that is held in highest
esteem. It is the medical authority in this country. When, for whatever
reason, that position is compromised into producing a report that wreaks
the damage his report has had on this country, that authority should be
held accountable. Carmona's 2006 report is the sole reason given for
several smoking bans, Ohio's ban for one. These bans have had devastating
financial impacts on businesses. The worst offense is the offense against
the American People and the Scientific Community. People will no longer be
able to trust the word of the person holding the Surgeon General title. The
damage to the science of Epidemiology is irreversible. The good news is
many ethical doctors and scientists can no longer remain silent about the
abuses of Epidemiology and are starting to speak out. "Because they've
committed a huge fraud on the American public. And because they should be
held accountable for that. They should be held accountable to the same
rules of corporate and individual behavior as everybody else. It's very
simple." This is a quote by Stanton Glantz during a PBS interview about Big
Tobacco. Shouldn't the same apply to the Surgeon General?

Related Web site: http://www.opponentsofohiobans.com