Six major tobacco companies in United States won the law suit against the hospitals seeking compensation for patients with illness related to smoking.
The Thirty-seven hospitals in the state of Missouri in United States claimed that the tobacco companies produced an “unreasonably dangerous” product which is the cigarette.
Hospitals asked more than $455m (£272m) reimbursement for the treatment of the uninsured smokers who had not paid for care.
The hospitals are treating non-paying patients. As part of their medical ethics, it is required for them to treat people who are in need of their care and service, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay.
In the said case, hospitals claimed that the companies misrepresented the health effects of smoking and manipulated the nicotine content in cigarettes. But their claim was rejected by a jury in St Louis.
According to Murray Garnick of Philip Morris “The jury agreed with Philip Morris USA that ordinary cigarettes are not negligently designed or defective,”
“Compelling evidence was presented to the jury, including testimony from hospital witnesses, that confirmed the hospitals were not financially damaged as they (–foul word(s) removed–)erted.” said by an official from Lorillard, another company in the case.
From a report, published in Chemical Research in Toxicology, it shows that chemicals that promote cancer form rapidly after smoking.
The Scientist study serves as a stark warning to people that are considering smoking.
Long term impact of smoking may lead to heart disease to a range of cancers. The study suggests that the damage begins just the moment right after the first cigarette is smoked.