Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My question is for Mr. Adams.
Your association brings together several organizations that represent millions of patients with a range of illnesses. During the first meeting, Mr. Clark suggested before the committee that many patient organizations don't want to develop an independent perspective because they are indebted to the companies that support them:
… there's a lot of research out there to show that, when you take money from someone, it—even implicitly, without your knowledge, subconsciously—impacts your views. There's definitely a correlation, and a pretty strong one, between where patient groups stand on these reforms and the extent to which they accept funding from industry.
In your brief, you lamented the fact that the patients were pushed aside. You say it is unfortunate that the concerns and lack of patient participation in this process have not always been reflected.
Don't you find Mr. Clark's statement to be somewhat contemptuous and bordering on defamation?