WebMD News from HealthDay
March 20, 2014 -- A new survey finds that nearly half of American adults believe that cover-ups about a wide range of health issues are being carried out by companies, the federal government or both.
The online poll of more than 1,300 adults found that 37 percent believed that the Food and Drug Administration is keeping "natural cures for cancer and other diseases" under wraps due to pressure from drug makers, USA Today reported.
It also found that 20 percent of respondents believe that doctors and health officials promote child vaccines even though they "know these vaccines cause autism and other psychological disorders," and 20 percent believe that health officials are concealing evidence that cell phones cause cancer.
Smaller percentages of people believed conspiracy theories about the deliberate infection of blacks with HIV, genetically modified foods, and fluoride, USA Today reported.
The poll also found that 49 percent of respondents believed at least one of the conspiracy theories they were asked about and 18 percent believed at least three.
The findings published this week in JAMA Internal Medicine show a "a very low level of trust" in government and business, study co-author Eric Oliver, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago, told USA Today.
source : Many Americans Believe Health Conspiracy Theories: Survey
