Post by Ann on Aug 11, 2004 13:38:57 GMT -5
Cigarette Company Mentality
The following is an excerpt from an editorial called "Tilting At Windmills" by Charles Peters, Washington Monthly Magazine, Jan/Feb 1994, Page 6.
The mentality of the cigarette companies' leader was recently revealed by a transcript of depositions taken in a case brought by airline flight attendants who contend that their exposure to cabin smoke caused them to develop cancer and other illnesses. The first question by the flight attendants' attorney was directed to William I. Campbell, the president of Philip Morris:
Q: Does cigarette smoking cause lung cancer?
A: To my knowledge, it's not been proven that cigarette smoking causes cancer.
Q: If somebody is a two-pack-a-day smoker for 20 years, and they get lung cancer, and every medical person is satisfied the reason that the person got lung cancer was because he smoked, you are saying it is not proven?
A: That is correct. That is what I am saying.
Q: Can you name a single scientist or medical doctor who has-who today will publicly say that he or she doesn't believe that it's been proven that cigarette smoking causes cancer? Somebody not employed by the tobacco industry, or never got money from the tobacco industry?
A: I can't answer it.
Andrew H. Tisch, the chairman and CEO of Lorillard, was asked:
Q: Does cigarette smoking cause cancer?
A: I don't believe so.
Q: Based on what?
A: Based on my understanding of the scientific and statistical evidence that's been presented.
Q: What is your understanding of the scientific and statistical evidence that's been presented?
A: There's been no conclusive scientific evidence that's been presented that convinces me that cigarette smoking causes cancer.
Q: As far as you're concerned, Mr. Tisch, as chairman and chief executive officer of Lorillard, this warning on the package which says that smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease and emphysema is inaccurate? You don't believe it's true?
A: That's correct.
Q: Because if you believed it were true, in good conscience you wouldn't sell this to Americans, would you, or foreigners, for that matter?
A: That's correct.
And then Bennet S. Le Bow, head of the company that owns Ligget, was quoted:
Q: Is it fair to say, then, that since you're satisfied that you have a legal right to sell cigarettes, you have never really explored or studied the issue of whether or not cigarettes cause disease?
A: That is absolutely correct.
Q: If I asked you, does smoking cause lung cancer ...
A: I don't know.
Q: O.K., and you really don't care because you're selling a legal product?
A: Correct."
found on As3 archive
The following is an excerpt from an editorial called "Tilting At Windmills" by Charles Peters, Washington Monthly Magazine, Jan/Feb 1994, Page 6.
The mentality of the cigarette companies' leader was recently revealed by a transcript of depositions taken in a case brought by airline flight attendants who contend that their exposure to cabin smoke caused them to develop cancer and other illnesses. The first question by the flight attendants' attorney was directed to William I. Campbell, the president of Philip Morris:
Q: Does cigarette smoking cause lung cancer?
A: To my knowledge, it's not been proven that cigarette smoking causes cancer.
Q: If somebody is a two-pack-a-day smoker for 20 years, and they get lung cancer, and every medical person is satisfied the reason that the person got lung cancer was because he smoked, you are saying it is not proven?
A: That is correct. That is what I am saying.
Q: Can you name a single scientist or medical doctor who has-who today will publicly say that he or she doesn't believe that it's been proven that cigarette smoking causes cancer? Somebody not employed by the tobacco industry, or never got money from the tobacco industry?
A: I can't answer it.
Andrew H. Tisch, the chairman and CEO of Lorillard, was asked:
Q: Does cigarette smoking cause cancer?
A: I don't believe so.
Q: Based on what?
A: Based on my understanding of the scientific and statistical evidence that's been presented.
Q: What is your understanding of the scientific and statistical evidence that's been presented?
A: There's been no conclusive scientific evidence that's been presented that convinces me that cigarette smoking causes cancer.
Q: As far as you're concerned, Mr. Tisch, as chairman and chief executive officer of Lorillard, this warning on the package which says that smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease and emphysema is inaccurate? You don't believe it's true?
A: That's correct.
Q: Because if you believed it were true, in good conscience you wouldn't sell this to Americans, would you, or foreigners, for that matter?
A: That's correct.
And then Bennet S. Le Bow, head of the company that owns Ligget, was quoted:
Q: Is it fair to say, then, that since you're satisfied that you have a legal right to sell cigarettes, you have never really explored or studied the issue of whether or not cigarettes cause disease?
A: That is absolutely correct.
Q: If I asked you, does smoking cause lung cancer ...
A: I don't know.
Q: O.K., and you really don't care because you're selling a legal product?
A: Correct."
found on As3 archive
