This organization is nothing more than a front with an official sounding name attempting to legitimize some extremely violent groups that actively advocate, support and commit acts of Terrorism!
In fact, the American Medical Association (AMA), which actually represents the medical profession, has called PCRM a "fringe organization" that uses "unethical tactics" and is "interested in perverting medical science." The PCRM is nothing more than a collection of medical disinformation. The group has argued, with a straight face, experiments involving animal subjects will "interfere with new drug development." Their real agenda is nothing more than a fringe Animal Rights and Vegan group that has nothing really to do with anything medically related.
Over the years, many highly respected physicians have used their fame and reputations for the financial gain and benefit of others and in this celebrated tradition, Dr. Neal Barnard appears on the infomercial for Marilu Henner's Total Health Makeover.
To give you an idea what a sham this group really is, they actively discourage donations to actual health charities such as the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, and the American Red Cross. All because they support research that requires animals in order to cure human diseases. They even rail against the March of Dimes, which includes loud and directed protests at March walkers, volunteers, and donors.
From the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) website:
Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is a nonprofit organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research, and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research.
Dr. Neal Barnard, the founder and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), is not a nutritionist, a dietician, or a biochemist. He is a non-practicing psychiatrist.
A spokesperson from the PCRM has stated that the group has no relationship with PeTA. This is somewhat strange because until 2005, Neal Barnard ran The PeTA Foundation, which as the organization's letterhead states, "... is an operating name of the Foundation to Support Animal Protection." He presided over the institution that owns People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals corporate headquarters, pays its biggest salaries, and operates its fundraising. Until 2004, the PeTA Foundation managed PCRM's finances as well.
The PeTA Foundation also shares a mailing address with PeTA. Ingrid Newkirk, PeTA's president, is listed as an officer of the same foundation. Over the years, PeTA has given PCRM over $850,000, most of it going through FSAP. Neal Barnard is also PeTA's Medical and Scientific Adviser.
This foundation is a project of Ingrid Newkirk (PeTA president) and Neal Barnard (founder and president of the PCRM).
PeTA Foundation
A.K.A. Foundation to Support Animal Protection (FSAP)
501 Front Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
Tel: (757) 622-7382
It has been alleged by opponents of the PCRM that this group acts as a "front" for other, more violent groups. The PCRM considers this an unfounded and defamatory claim. There is, however, a direct association with groups such as the Animal Defense League (ADL), the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), and SHAC-USA.
A business card collected from SHAC-USA president Pamelyn Ferdin, describing her as an employee of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). The address listed on this business card does not belong to PCRM but to the Animal Defense League of Los Angeles (ADL-LA). This is a protest group run by Pamelyn Ferdin, Jerry Vlasak, and PeTA in-school lecturer Gary Yourofsky, a convicted felon belonging to the ALF.
Dr. Jerry Vlasak former Spokesperson & Scientific Advisor for the PCRM, has also publicly spoken on SHAC's behalf. In 2004, Vlasak co-founded the "Animal Liberation Front Press Office" to speak on behalf of terrorist groups such as the Animal Liberation Front amongst other Domestic Terrorist groups.
Yet the PCRM still maintains that the PCRM being a front for other extreme terrorist groups is "an unfounded and defamatory claim."
"It won't ruin our movement if someone gets killed in an animal rights action. It's going to happen sooner or later. The Animal Liberation Front, the Earth Liberation Front - sooner or later there's going to be someone getting hurt. And we have to accept that fact. It's going to happen. It's not going to hurt our movement. Our movement will go on."
-- Jerry Vlasak, spokesman for the ALF and PCRM and a physician in Los Angeles
