I P

Controversy exploding around physicians-for-peace movements

Milan Korcok

S ince its founding in 1980, there will be no adequate way to audiences to attention and gath- the physicians' move- care for its victims, and the few ered converts not only among the ment against nuclear who remain will face a nuclear medical and other professions, weapons has swept winter. but among political leaders and a through 41 countries, collected a That leaves one solution: bevy of consumer, church and and succeeded The Bomb must never be other groups as well. in convincing members and sup- dropped. It's the ultimate public In just 5 years this move- porters that after Armageddon, health strategy, and through ment has virtually carved out a medical care would become irrel- town hall-type meetings, televi- new specialty and an entire body evant. sion panel shows, press confer- of scientific literature devoted to Its message has been relent- ences and so on, the Internation- the medical consequences of nu- less and horrifying. This "last al Physicians for the Prevention clear war. epidemic" will have no cure, of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and its In graphic and grisly fashion national affiliates - including it has shown that there can be no Physicians for Social Responsibil- victors, and that casualties would Milan Korcok is a CMAJ contributing ity (PSR) in both Canada and the exceed any previous projections. editor. United States - have snapped The IPPNW initiative has

Lown (left) and Chazov: Their Nobel Peace Prize won them criticism as well as praise. CMAJ, VOL. 135, AUGUST 15, 1986 357 probably been one of the most government representative who as a member and participant." effective education programs ever has no option but to serve Krem- Bates was enunciating a fun- - and certainly one of the most lin interests. There's nothing sub- damental principle of IPPNW's controversial. In recognition of its versive about that - it's just a existence: that there is no greater achievements the Nobel Commit- fact of life in the USSR. threat than nuclear war, that tee in 1985 awarded its Peace When the prize was award- IPPNW must focus exclusively Prize to IPPNW's cofounders and ed, reporters jumped on evidence on disarming the potential com- copresidents, Dr. Bernard Lown, that Chazov was one of several batants, and that nothing must professor of cardiology at Har- Soviet doctors to publicly con- get in the way of keeping the vard School of Public Health, demn physicist dialogue open. and Dr. Evgeni Chazov, director- When IPPNW was being general of the USSR's National formed in 1980 after an exchange Cardiological Research Centre. of letters among Lown, Chazov The committee cited the and a handful of colleagues, one IPPNW's "service to mankind by of the key conditions was that spreading authoritative informa- the organization would not "di- tion and ... creating an aware- rectly support or attack the posi- ness of the catastrophic conse- tions of any government". It quences of atomic warfare. would not recommend how gov- "Such an awakening of pub- ernments should relate to their lic opinion as is now apparent citizens, and that decision limits both in the East and the West, in opportunities to talk about the North and the South, can human rights. give the present arms limitation Holding to such a fine line negotiations new perspectives has not been easy, especially and a new seriousness." after pressure from affiliates such Unfortunately, the awarding as PSR Canada to act on behalf of Nobel peace prizes tend not to of Sakharov and other detained be peaceful affairs, and this was scientists and physicians. PSR no exception. As impressive as Canada has been quite vocal in educational efforts of the physi- Bates: IPPNW must focus exclu- its criticism. It declares there is an cians' antinuclear-war move- sively on nuclear war. urgent need for positive educa- ment might be, the IPPNW, its tion on peace and disarmament leadership and North American in 1973. That action helped pro- and for balanced multilateral and affiliate groups would have little voke the tragic saga that persists verifiable , time to savour the moment. to this day. Ironically Sakharov, a and that Canadian natural and They had to deal with Nobel Prize winner himself, was industrial resources should not be charges that have clung to the not permitted to accept his used for fuelling the nuclear arms movement from its inception, award, although the Soviets did race, that cruise missile testing in and that keep re-emerging at the not object to Chazov accepting Canada should stop immediately most awkward moments: That his. and that there is no civil defence the IPPNW, some of its most The media reaction didn't against nuclear war. illustrious spokesmen and several surprise Chazov's colleagues in In 1983 a group of 20 Cana- of its affiliates - including those IPPNW, or its Canadian or US dian PSR members met their So- in Canada and the US - are affiliates. viet counterparts while on a tour much quicker to bash the US and As much as they wish Cha- of the USSR and raised concerns its allies than the USSR, and are zov had acted otherwise on the about Soviet dissidents, including being duped into undermining Sakharov issue, they understand Sakharov. Their concern was not the West. that he is part of the Soviet welcome, and they were told, Whether valid or not, government, and is therefore not angrily and firmly, to mind their sources within the movement as free as western representatives own business. admit the charges are occasional- to follow his . One of the tour leaders was ly troublesome and cause friction. Dr. Donald Bates, a professor Dr. Frank Sommers, a Toronto The awarding of the Nobel of the history of medicine at psychiatrist and founding presi- Prize to cofounders Lown and McGill University, Montreal, and dent of PSR Canada. He wrote Chazov, for example, brought a PSR Canada representative to about that encounter in a diary. into focus the cruel dilemma fac- the IPPNW, recently wrote in his "I asked how it can be that a ing this movement. While Lown newsletter Thoughts on Peace nation risen from the ashes of represents independent groups of and Security "Chazov's track re- 1917, that has managed to clothe physicians not aligned with or cord in human rights may be and feed and provide free medi- controlled by any governments, disturbing, but it is not relevant cal care and education for 270 Chazov is a member of the Soviet to the organization's [IPPNW] million people, is threatened by a Central Committee - in effect, a purposes nor to his qualifications Shcharansky or a Sakharov. I sug-

358 CMAJ, VOL. 135, AUGUST 15, 1986 gested this is an emotional issue Group for the Establishment of group has a far different playing for Canadians. Trust between the USSR and field, because independent peace "In reply, (Dr. Gregory) Lok- USA. groups don't flourish in the shin, secretary of the Soviet The group was formed in USSR the way they do in the Peace Committee, exploded. 'We 1982 to stimulate the flow of West. will not be lectured to. We will information on disarmament be- (When sailed not do things to please the peace tween East and West. It collects into Leningrad in 1982 and re- movement in Toronto. We are signatures for petitions to send to leased 2000 balloons saying not part of your country, we're the Soviet and US governments, "USSR Stop Nuclear Testing different, we believe in commu- holds seminars about the out- Now", the craft was peremptorily nism and a one-party system, like come of nuclear war and stages towed to sea for polluting the your religion.' On and on it went. harbour.) "I had the feeling we were Almost from the beginning hitting a brick wall. The emotions the Moscow group felt the heel of were tense. I felt more sad than the KGB; its leaders have been angry. When they said there is no repeatedly harassed and impris- place for ideological conflict in oned. Brodsky was charged with the movement against nuclear i*.:X. "malicious hooliganism" in Au- war, I flinched. ,.::: 1 gust 1985 and was subsequently "When they lectured us that sentenced to 3 years in a Siberian we should ask ourselves why the labour camp 5000 km from Mos- questions of human rights keeps cow for allegedly attacking a po- injecting itself into [the] East- liceman while on his way to a West peace dialogue, whose in- peace demonstration. The evi- terests does it serve, how it focus- dence was later found to have es attention away from the main been fabricated, and Brodsky was issue, I felt somewhat hopeless." told he would be released if he Though the human rights renounced his peace activism. He issue was immediately dispensed did not. with by the Soviet hosts, it would The Soviets have an- not go away for the visitors. It Sommers: "I had the feeling we nounced, after growing pressure still won't, and that has led to were hitting a brick wall." from PSR Canada, PSR US and disruption within the movement the IPPNW, that Brodsky is being itself. demonstrations to bring attention "favourably" considered for re- The emotional stresses to the futility of such war. lease. But at the same time Hel- caused by ignoring all issues but It is a much smaller organi- sinki Watch, an independent The Bomb become most apparent zation but the goals of the Mos- news service that monitors the in the matter of Dr. Vladimir cow group are not that different USSR, told CMAJ that on May Brodsky, a Soviet physician and from those of the worldwide 21, less than 2 weeks before the member of the Moscow-based IPPNW movement. But the statement about Brodsky was

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It's better to move behind while those "at the levers of Her young daughter was placed the scenes on such issues, he power" have more of a chance to in an orphanage. says, and he told CMAJ that's exercise "their own personal Helsinki Watch also reports precisely what PSR has been do- biases and colourings". Sommers that two more group founders ing. "We've said to Chazov spe- maintains these biases are de- were fired from their state jobs in cifically ... 'You guys have to cidely "in favour of the Soviet June - a move that often pres- Union". ages imprisonment. Dr. Jan Van Stolk, assistant Sommers sought to make the professor of psychiatry at the Brodsky imprisonment a key University of Alberta and current issue for PSR Canada with a president of PSR Canada, rejects letter-writing campaign, which that charge. He says a look at he hoped would also establish PSR's advisory panel, which in- the right to work for peace as an cludes 11 deans of medicine (five integral part of the physicians' others were not asked) and a antinuclear movement. The cam- smattering of professors and de- paign was supported by some partment heads, reveals the most prominent Canadians, including conservative lineup possible. Dr. Frederick Lowy, dean of Van Stolk notes that at the medicine, University of Toronto; 1985 IPPNW Congress in Buda- Dr. Vivian Rakoff, chairman of pest, "There were some very sub- psychiatry, University of Toron- tle propagandistic things going to; George Ignatieff, Canada's on . . . and I criticized the IPPNW former United Nations ambassa- that they were not more precise dor, and businessman Murray and allowed some of this anti- Koffler. American stuff to slip in to the In November 1985, Lowy Ragan: It's better to move behind meetings. I didn't like that at all. wrote to Chazov and told him the scenes. A lot of us didn't like it and we that the detention of Brodsky cer- wrote (to the IPPNW) about it." tainly didn't help the perception stop this stuff. This is one of the There was no such recur- of IPPNW or its affiliates in the things that affects progress on the rence at the 1986 congress in West. issue of nuclear disarmament'." Cologne, says Van Stolk. "I feel Sommers and his colleagues Ragan said it was Chazov's we need to be even more clear kept up the pressure, but when own quiet intervention that led to about the distinction that we do he took the Brodsky issue to the the announcement that Brodsky want to cooperate with the Sovi- PSR Canada annual meeting in would be freed, but Sommers ets rather than confront them Calgary in April - fewer than 50 believes his highly visible cam- right now, but that in no way do of the 3000 members attended paign was much more crucial. we want to apologize for some of he failed to get official support, However, as of July 29 Brodsky the ghastly things they're doing." as the PSR board stood firm remained in the camp; he has Bates, PSR Canada's representa- about maintaining a single focus. been placed in hard labour. tive to the IPPNW, agrees that Nothing, not even human rights, Though this affair may ulti- questions about pro-Soviet/anti- must get in the way of prevent- mately sort itself out, Sommers American bias have occasionally ing nuclear war. In line with that believes it shows that PSR Cana- nagged the organizations, and tight focus, PSR Canada will da "has lost it's heart. admits that PSR Canada does soon change its name to Canadi- "The right to live in peace appear to have been more critical an Physicians for the Prevention and the right to work for peace of the US than of the Soviets of Nuclear War. are two sides of the same coin. I especially since the Reagan ad- Dr. Edward Ragan of Otta- want my colleagues to recognize ministration arrived: "No ques- wa, medical director for the Bank that we cannot claim we are for tion but that a good deal of the of Canada and PSR's first vice- peace if we do not protect those criticism has been aimed directly president, defends the organiza- who are working for peace and and specifically at the United tion's stand. "People wanted us getting into trouble for their States", Bates says. to take a stand on the Brodsky work." Why? "To put it quite blunt- issue because he's a colleague. Sommers says PSR leaders ly, the United States deserves But what that becomes is an caved in on the issue, but per- more criticism on the issue of ideological stand and it chal- haps the membership would disarmament at the present time 362 CMAJ, VOL. 135, AUGUST 15, 1986 than the does", secretary-general and former ad- says Bates. viser to Soviet Foreign Minister Asked for clarification, he re- Andrei Gromyko) as "part of a plied that since IPPNW was troika of the most familiar Soviet born, "the Soviet Union has pur- faces appearing in the West sued policies that are very much whenever the Kremlin needed to closer to what IPPNW has es- influence public opinion there". poused than has the United Dr. Marat Vartanyan, deputy States. Therefore it looks, in re- director of the Institute of Psychi- trospect, as if the US is being atry, USSR Academy of Medical unilaterally criticized". He also Sciences, also tours North Ameri- said that Canada is in a position ca in support of PSR. He was to exert more influence over the instrumental in leading the Rus- US through public opinion, and sians out of the World Psychiatric thus the Americans receive more Association in 1983 after charges criticism. Shouting about Soviet that Soviet mental hospitals are injustice from Canada isn't likely being used to "treat" dissidents. to get much space in the Soviet They were about to be expelled, media. in any case. Bates describes the current The University of Toronto's state of affairs as "an accident of Rakoff recalls one encounter with history", but such "accidents" Vartanyan at a Toronto PSR ~.... have not earned IPPNW or its meeting. affiliates high marks in Washing- Rakoff, although not a PSR ton. Bates, who has characterized member, had been asked to sum- western leaders Reagan, Thatcher marize the comments of various and Kohl as the "unholy trio" for speakers. However, when it was what he claims were attempts to discovered he and several other have the IPPNW Nobel award prominent physicians had inde- withdrawn, feels there is some pendently sent a message to Var- substance to speculation that tanyan asking about the psychi- high levels of the US government atric fate of Dr. Anatoly Korya- are trying to do IPPNW in. gin, a prominent physician being There is plenty of evidence detained in a labour camp, PSR that the USSR considers the organizers became decidedly ner- IPPNW valuable. The Soviets vous about what he might say. support the organization and It was clear, Rakoff told have assigned high government CMAJ, that PSR members did not officials to encourage it, and want to. offend the Soviets "by there are indications that IPPNW bringing up issues they wouldn't has some clout in the Kremlin. want to hear". Several PSR sources told Rakoff remembers Vartan- CMAJ that it was Lown and Cha- yan: "A big, bluff man, beautiful- zov, in direct conversation with ly dressed, exuding warmth", Soviet leader who offered to go with him to THE NEW at the end of 1985, who urged meet Koryagin should Rakoff extension of the moratorium on choose to visit Russia. LOOKt nuclear test explosions. It was When he turned the conver- extended. sation to the banishment of a When IPPNW held its much Russian poet to a Soviet death RELIABILITY heralded first international con- camp during the Stalin years, gress in Virginia 5 years ago, it "Dr. Vartanyan was whisked New identification was the highly polished and away. The conversation had gone same proven formula well-placed Georgy Arbatov, di- in a direction they (the meeting rector of the Institute for the didn't want." Fiorinal contains ASA, caffeine organizers) and butalbital. It has the potential Study of the United States and Speaking of that meeting, for being abused and should be Canada, who held centre stage and the difficulty of splitting dis- avoided in chronic pain states for the Soviet delegation. armament from human rights, requiring continuous daily use for Arbatov, whose institute is Rakoff recalls: "It slowly [be- a prolonged period. cited as having close came] apparent that peace con- frequently SANDOZ CANADA INC. Dorval, Ouebec H9S 1AI ties to the KGB, has been de- sists of hammering the West. Not SANDOZ scribed by Arkady Shevchenko a single criticism of the Soviet ,vyvv (former United Nations under Union is permitted. When a Sovi- IPAABP-MA-l ETM ICC'P}AC M Prescribing information available on rques et emigre asks a question it's as Asked about connections be- Guilfoyle of Hamiota, Man., rep- though he spat in the commun- tween the KGB and Arbatov's resented PSR at one alliance ion wine. institute, Bates said he had no steering comittee meeting, and "When a question was asked specific knowledge that they ex- subsequently endorsed PSR in- about what Soviet doctors did ist, although they would not sur- volvement in the movement with about Soviet policy [they also prise him. "I could well imagine a statement in PSR's quarterly make bombs], the surgeon from it. I don't know why not." newsletter. the Soviet Union said doctors Several PSR officials told In May, however, PSR presi- there had no reason to protest CMAJ that the organization does dent Van Stolk wrote to the alli- because they agreed with their not benefit by being branded a ance saying PSR was not to be government's policy. And he peace group, because such considered a member. "I have then enunciated their well- some misgivings about the orga- articulated anti-Star Wars posi- nization which were shared by tion", said Rakoff. the board. I think they are from "How come it is only North politically left parties; more so American missiles that are than I feel comfortable with", he wicked?" he asked. told CMAJ, adding: "We are a "As far as I can see", Rakoff professional group. We should says of PSR, "the essential thing not be dragged down by all these this group has to demonstrate is numerous peace groups. I'm not that it's possible to talk about even sure we are a peace group. difficult things without invoking We are specific against nuclear war. In a sense, by never talking war." about difficult issues, you've al- (The Canadian Peace Alli- ready submitted to nuclear black- ance seeks to have Canada de- mail, which says, 'Don't upset us clared a nuclear weapons free or we will drop the Bomb'." zone, to end the export of nuclear He continued: "I really think techology and radioactive fuels that innocent ... sincere, decent that may be used for nuclear people with a very valid point of weapons, to dissolve all military view are being used in a situa- Rakoff: "How come only North blocs and to assert an independ- tion, the implications of which American missiles are wicked?" ent Canadian foreign policy for they don't fully understand. peace.) "They (the Soviets) use good groups are often perceived as By focusing more precisely people, excellent rhetoric in the leftist. on the prevention of nuclear war, service of a very old-fashioned "I have a problem with the and by distancing itself from the power struggle. The people they ", said Ragan. "I peace movement, PSR Canada send abroad are all practiced, don't consider ourselves to be a hopes to provide a clearer image government-type apparatchiks. peace movement. If you work for of what it stands for, and by "I'm worried about that", peace [it appears] that there's an doing so hopes to add to its said Rakoff, "because it's a way adversarial paradigm, that you're ranks. of covering up real inquiry." opposed to those who appear to A newly established Ottawa Sommers, who has watched be working ... for war. I don't headquarters and the hiring of a the evolution of PSR and IPPNW believe that the American admin- permanent executive director can from the start, agrees that some istration is working for war." be expected to give it a neater members "are rather wide-eyed As a result of this concern, organizational structure than it and naive about official Soviet the PSR board decided to cut its has had, and to improve a flawed functioning. I don't think they relationships with the fledgling, communications system. realize that Dr. Chazov clearly Toronto-based Canadian Peace But there's more to PSR and has no room to maneuver. He's Alliance. the IPPNW than neat organiza- carrying out policy, the Central The alliance, originally seen tion and high visibility. There's Committee's policy. That's obvi- as a networking mechanism for above all the mission - prevent- ous. He is government." various peace groups, held its ing nuclear war. Will that be But Bates denies outright any founding meeting in November achieved by narrowing the suggestion that PSR or IPPNW 1985. One of the invited speakers sights? Or by widening them? members are being unwittingly from PSR was Dr. Perry, Those may very well be the manipulated. Many maintain a Sr, professor of pharmacology at most important questions of the healthy skepticism, he said: It's the University of British Colum- 20th century.- only safe to assume, for example, bia and former Canadian dele- that any high-level Soviet dele- gate to the IPPNW, who wel- Editor's note: The 1987 IPPNW gation will bring with it "some comed the alliance's existence. conference will be held in Mos- kind of connection with the PSR has not paid any mem- cow. The 1988 conference will be KGB". bership dues to it, but Dr. John in Montreal.

364 CMAJ, VOL. 135, AUGUST 15, 1986 For prescribing information see page 402 -