AMEIUCAN ME NICAL ASSOCIATION (5 HORT DEARBORN REE + CHEIGO, LNG atte + PHONE BI} G4biGOD + tmx mO221-cm0 uly 26, 1990 Neal Bamard, 4.0. Preaident, Mysiciane Comitces for Responsible Medicine P.0, Box 6322 Washington, DC 20015 Dear Dr, Barnard: The Physietans Committee for Reoponsible Medicine (PCR) occupies = prominent position ancng anina) "rights" organizations speaking out againat the uae of animals in tionedical research. Occasionally Gtrectdy and often by iaplication, your organization purports to speak for 4 majority of physicians although your nenbership conetituter Less than half of one percent of the total physie‘an population in this comtry. Even the nene of your organization is misleading, especially im view of the fact that, sctoréing fo your om admission, bonafide Physicians constituce leis than ten Dercent of your total membership. The general approach used by PCRM cakes selective data and quotations, often out of context, to inply thet experiments requiring aninals are souehow inapproprisce and are alvays cruel, inhumane and unecessary, in public statenents PCA ignores completely the paucity of information available on causes and treatment for a host of clinteal problene including sudden infant death eyndrone, arthritic, theumatisn, schizophrenis, lupus, manic-depressive illness, multiple sclerosis, Alzheiner's disease, various genetic disorders and many others. Surveys ve have conducted on physician opinion about the use of aninale dn dlonedical research and education refute conpletely public statenents made by PCRM about the critical role animals play in the Fesearch pracess, Physicians shev overvhelming support for snimal use im basic and clinical research, drug testing ané medica1 education. The positions your organization pronotes contribute to public contbeien and misunderacanding about the medical research proce:Joly 26, 190 Barnard, M.D. Page Tyo In response to a Resolution pi juse of Delegates necting, the Anerican Medical At upon the Physicians Comittee for Responsible Medicine to immediately Rerminate tha dnappropriate and unethical tactics your organization uses to manipulate public opinion. Tae Physictane Committee for Responsible Medicine does not represent substantive body of physietene and your promotional materiels and pablic statements should We urge an inmediate change in your tactics and Sincerely, ‘Janes $. Todd, M.D. ast vas