CHAPEL HILL, N.C.-Lobbyists for many health organizations double up for the tobacco industry.
A University of North Carolina survey found that in 1994 lobbyists for 24 medical centers and societies, 24 hospital groups, 23 health-care corporations, and 20 pharmaceutical firms also had ties to tobacco. The Illinois, Ohio, and Virginia state medical societies were among the groups.
Of 450 tobacco lobbyists working at state levels, 220 also lobbied for a health-care group. The health groups were in 45 states, and some were aware that their lobbyists also worked for tobacco interests-primarily Philip Morris, the Tobacco Institute, RJR, and the Smokeless Tobacco Council-Dr. Adam Goldstein reported in the American Journal of Public Health.
Yale-New Haven Hospital said a firm it uses for lobbying also lobbies for the Smokeless Tobacco Council. St. Louis Children’s, also cited by Dr. Goldstein among the 303 health groups in the survey, declined to comment.
One of the Wisconsin Hospital Association’s lobbyists is a former WHA staff member who also works for Philip Morris, and she is “monitored for conflict of interest on a case-by-case basis,” says the WHA. The University of Miami says a tobacco company is one of many clients of lobbyists the medical school has long used at the state level.
The Illinois State Medical Society responded indirectly when asked whether lobbyists it hires also work for tobacco firms, or whether that’s ethical. “We have experienced no conflicts between those contractors’ outside work and ISMS’ strong legislative advocacy efforts to end tobacco abuse in Illinois,” said Dr. Sandra Olson, the president.
The Ohio State Medical Association said it no longer uses outside lobbyists. Allen Goolsby, a lawyer for the Medical Society of Virginia, confirmed his law firm does work for Philip Morris.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.-Lobbyists for many health organizations double up for the tobacco industry.
