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Physicians Committee for Responsible MedicineThe Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is a non-profit organizationbased in Washington, D.C., whose stated purpose is to promote preventive medicine, conduct clinical research, and encourage higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research. Founded in 1985by nutrition researcher and author Neal Barnard, M.D., PCRM promotes a low-fat vegetariandiet, opposes unethical human experiments, and promotes alternatives to animal research. The organization's advisory board includes T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., of Cornell University, Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., M.D., of The Cleveland Clinic, Henry J. Heimlich, M.D., and John McDougall, M.D. PCRM says that its membership includes more than 6,000 physicians, as well as scientists, nutritionists, and laypersons. Its critics point out that only 5 percent of its membership are actually physicians. [1][2] Being a physician is not a prerequisite for joining, and level of membership depends on level of donation. PCRM may be best known for its opposition to low-carb diets. The American Medical Association has registered its concern about PCRM and its claims about the scientific validity of animal research.[3] PCRM runs a website that collects reports of adverse health effects experienced by people on these popular weight-loss plans. PCRM also argues that consuming dairy productsis unhealthful and advocates for improving the food served in school lunchrooms. In addition, PCRM runs The Cancer Project, a program for cancer prevention, research, and nutritional assistance to cancer patients. PCRM's Research Department promotes alternatives to the use of animals in education and research. The organization's official position paper on animal experimentation argues that the scientific and medical communities must move decisively to replace animals: "The exploration and implementation of nonanimal methods should be a priority for investigators and research institutions and should take advantage of a wide variety of viewpoints to ensure progress toward scientific, human health, and animal protection goals." The organization's nutrition director, Amy Lanou, Ph.D., has frequently criticized the U.S. Department of Agriculturefor promoting allegedly unhealthful foods, including cookies and cheese. PCRM has been criticized by the American Medical Associationfor misrepresenting facts about animal research and for advocating vegetarianism. However, in a statement issued on February 10of 2004, the AMA retracted its critical comments about PCRM's dietary recommendations. The AMA published one of Dr. Barnard's research articles in the Archives of Family Medicine in 1995 and has used various PCRM physicians as quotable experts in American Medical News. PCRM's founder, Dr. Neal Barnard, is a psychiatristby training, not a nutritionist. However, Dr. Barnard has published dozens of peer-reviewed scientific papers on nutritional topics in such leading journals as The American Journal of Cardiology and the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.PCRM has been accused of being a front group for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. PCRM does partner with PETA on some issues of common interest, including a campaign to eliminate animal use in toxicity testing. PCRM and PETA would appear to be independent organizations, PETA being based in Norfolk, Va., and PCRM in Washington, D.C. However, there exists a third organization called Foundation to Support Animal Protectionhoused out of the same address as PETA. This organization's board consists in part of PCRM founder and president Neal Barnard, MD and PETA's cofounder and president Ingrid Newkirk.[4] The IRS form 990s filed for FSAP confirm that from 1998 through 2000 PCRM was a supported organization.[5]Since 2000, FSAP has declined to itemize its supported organizations. [6] FSAP board of directors: Neal Barnard, MD, President; Ingrid E. Newkirk, Secretary PCRM board of directors: Neal Barnard, MD, President PETA board of directors: Ingrid Newkirk, Director, Secretary The ties between PCRM, PETA, and FSAP have received criticism from consumer and professional watchdog groups; including ActivistCash.com[7]and The American Physiological Society[8]. For the other side of the issue read the PCRM website (http://www.pcrm.org/news/release050628.html). The bulk of the criticism of the PCRM comes from The American Council on Science and Health and The Center for Consumer Freedom. These two organizations have ties to chemical, meat, dairy, alcoholic beverage industries, food product manufacturers, and fast-food chains.
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Categories: NPOV disputes| Articles lacking sources| Non-profit organizations| Nutrition| Vegetarianism
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