ProCOR Policy Statement

When ProCOR was launched in 1997, the intent was to promote a dialogue with professional colleagues globally about the mounting epidemic of cardiovascular disease (CVD)in developing countries. The aim was to stimulate understanding of the contributing factors to the emergence of CVD in poor countries, identify the predisposing social forces, and recognize as well as help mobilize adequate medical as well as community-based counter measures. This remains our exclusive objective and our sole preoccupation.

Through email and the Internet, ProCOR provides a locus for insightful commentaries and foremost an electronic chat-room for an interchange of diverse experiences and differing opinions.

From the very outset we faced an editorial challenge. Will we serve as gatekeepers guarding the propriety of the content being presented by ProCOR? It was evident that an open door to all opinions would dilute our mission and even distort who we are and what we are after. On the other hand, for us to demand an admission ticket would engender the stuffiness of a fraternal order and impose censorship on the free flow of ideas. Of course this problem is not unique to our group.

Our answer was to permit the free flow of ideas as long as they are not libelous, are not hewing primarily to a political agenda, are not blatantly unscientific, or are unrelated to the stated mission of ProCOR. The only politics we wish to embrace is that which will enable us to contribute to diminishing those multiple biological, psychological as well as social risk factors that contribute to CVD. For those who wish to air broader political issues, the Internet affords endless opportunities for unrestrained self-expression. We hope our many colleagues from around the world will help us maintain a website respected for its integrity of purpose as well as for the high standard of its scientific and humanitarian content.

Bernard Lown, MD
Founder and Chairman