ATKINS DIET - DR. ATKINS DEATH

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Robert Atkins slipped on an icy New York City sidewalk and after several days in a coma, sadly passed away on April 17th, 2003. His popular diet has helped millions of individuals lose weight since his first book was published in 1972. Unfortunately, some individuals with their own personal agendas have tried to tarnish Dr. Atkins reputation and his legacy.

One of the Atkins Diet's most intrepid adversaries is thePhysicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), the group that orchestrated the release of the medical information about Atkins medical condition at the time of his death. And the man behind the Washington, D.C.-based group is Dr. Neal Barnard, a psychiatrist originally from North Dakota who earned a place on the animal exploitation industry's most wanted list soon after he founded PCRM in 1985. Based on press accounts, Dr. Richard Fleming, a cardiologist and founder of the Fleming Heart and Health Institute in Omaha, Neb., obtained Atkins' autopsy report from the New York City medical examiner's office and gave the report to PCRM. Dr. Fleming simply filed a request via a form and sent it to the medical examiner's office. Fleming's lawyer contends that Fleming agreed to release the report to PCRM as long as the group used it only for research purposes. Dr. Barnard claims that Dr. Fleming was well aware that the report would be released to the press.

Based on press accounts, Dr. Richard Fleming, a cardiologist and founder of the Fleming Heart and Health Institute in Omaha, Neb., obtained Atkins' autopsy report from the New York City medical examiner's office and gave the report to PCRM. Dr. Fleming simply filed a request via a form and sent it to the medical examiner's office. Fleming's lawyer contends that Fleming agreed to release the report to PCRM as long as the group used it only for research purposes.  Dr. Barnard claims that Dr. Fleming was well aware that the report would be released to the press.

Dr. Fleming was well aware of the implications of releasing the autopsy report to the press. His intentions were to stop the promotion of the Atkins Diet while promoting his own diet and book. PCRM gave Atkins' medical report to the Wall Street Journal, which published a story on Feb. 10 reporting that Atkins was clinically obese at the time of his death even though his weight upon admission was below 200 lbs.

The Center for Consumer Freedom, a corporate-sponsored non-profit group created to challenge claims by animal rights and environmental organizations, issued an alert on Feb. 10 saying "PCRM has engaged in a long-term war against Atkins, using every trick in the book to tarnish his diet recommendations. "The industry group also said that PCRM is "a phony doctors organization that has been exposed as a front group for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and has been censured by the American Medical Association (AMA)".