How It Passed: National Cancer Act of 1971
How It Passed: National Cancer Act of 1971
Vincent DeVita, M.D., former NCI director, discusses how philanthropist Mary Lasker and columnist Ann Landers used their influence to help pass the National Cancer Act of 1971, against the recommendations of the American Medical Association (AMA), most of academia, and NIH leadership. Despite his initial reservations, Dr. DeVita recognizes that the National Cancer Act "was good in the end."