The Brown and Williamson documents: the company's response
Article Abstract:
Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corp. (B&W) responds to information contained in confidential documents that indicate for decades the company has been aware of the health dangers and addiction associated with smoking. According to B&W, the documents were copied from company files by a paralegal who had been fired. B&W is fighting to keep the documents from the public because it says they are protected by attorney-client privilege. B&W further asserts that nicotine is not addictive because more than 40 million Americans have quit smoking, many without professional assistance. However, Stanton A. Glantz, who analyzed the documents, said that many heroin and cocaine addicts also quit without help. B&W claims that tobacco use does not cause disease. In its lawsuit against the former employee, B&W states that the paralegal has received from his lawyers a $100,000 house, two cars and a boat for turning over the documents, which could be used to bring a products liability suit against B&W.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
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Does smoke get in your eyes?
Article Abstract:
Smoking increases the risk of nuclear cataracts and may be responsible for 20% of all cases of cataracts in the United States. The risk of cataracts is twice as great for smokers as for nonsmokers. New studies show that smoking is also associated with an increased risk of usually rare posterior subcapsular cataract. The risk of cataracts go down in smokers who quit as does the risk of other smoking related diseases such as lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. Posterior subcapsular cataracts can also be caused by excessive exposure to the sun and steroid and alcohol use. Vitamin supplements may offer some protection. Cataracts are the primary cause of blindness.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1992
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