Well into the 1950s doctors promoted cigarette brands and study after study, sponsored by tobacco producers „proved“ there was no link; that smoking was not only harmless, but good for our health.
A neighbour of mine who was born around 1939 smoked until her dying day. She died of lung cancer about 10 years ago. She thought her doctor was wrong to suggest she stop smoking as she had been told, when she was a young woman, that smoking was good for her - she was encouraged to smoke through pregnancy to calm her nerves. She believed that doctor from the 1950s and mistrusted the ones that told her it was the fags that caused the cancer. The power of the man in the white coat!
Fantastic post, I love a good solid analogy! I hope to share this as much as I can (given the fingers in ears and la la-ing going on) thank you!
A neighbour of mine who was born around 1939 smoked until her dying day. She died of lung cancer about 10 years ago. She thought her doctor was wrong to suggest she stop smoking as she had been told, when she was a young woman, that smoking was good for her - she was encouraged to smoke through pregnancy to calm her nerves. She believed that doctor from the 1950s and mistrusted the ones that told her it was the fags that caused the cancer. The power of the man in the white coat!
The power of early indoctrination. She didn’t believe the white coats later on.