Doctors pay to case against tobacco industry – NOS

Doctors will significantly help to pay on a criminal case that is filed against four tobacco companies that are active in the Netherlands. The association Dutch Journal of Medicine writes that the financial support to the lawsuit. “A unique point of view for a magazine and an association of doctors”, says the organization. It is going to be around 100,000 euros that will be used for the costs of the process.

The association further writes that political support will be needed to really be successful in the fight against smoking. In the coming time, the association every two weeks, publishing articles to the dangers of smoking to bring attention.

the Netherlands is running according to the doctors behind other countries in the anti-smoking policy. They hope that after the parliamentary elections a government that tougher measures will be taken against smoking.

Lawsuit

Lawyer Benedicte Ficq september did report the case to the Public Prosecutor on behalf of Foundation Rookpreventie Youth and two people who have become ill due to smoking. They blame the four tobacco companies that they intentionally substances in cigarettes have been added that make the product more addictive.

The plaintiffs are supported by the organization Sick or Tuxedo, made by one of the patients is established. They call people on the website to also report the incident. The goal is not compensation allows Sick or Smoking, but to the practices of the tobacco industry to establish as criminal offences.

Hopeless

The opinions on how promising the matter is, are divided. According to Peter Tak, professor emeritus of criminal law at the Radboud University in Nijmegen, thinks the case hopeless. “You will need to demonstrate that the tobacco industry purposefully make people sick will make or death want to let go,” says Branch. “Tobacco addiction remains the responsibility of the person who is knowingly the stuff.”

Pulmonologist Wanda de Kanter of the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek hospital is excited. “In civil procedures, the tobacco industry has often been wrong, that gives confidence for this criminal case,” said Kanter, when the declaration was announced. According to her, is it not rather to a criminal case because there was not previously a patient was that such a thing dared to go.

Philip Morris

The ceo of Philip Morris, one of the companies mentioned in the declaration, recently announced that he quit the old-fashioned cigarette. He called the authorities in to help.

The company says is an alternative to have figured out that much less is unhealthy. “Philip Morris is aware that regular cigarettes are harmful. The only good answer is with a responsible alternative that is less harmful,” said the tabakstopman.

Philip Morris also asked the Dutch government to the law so that the alternative cigarette through advertising under the attention can be brought. State secretary Van Rijn does not intend the ban on advertising to adapt. “The tobacco act is to protect people from the dangers of tobacco and smoking,” says Van Rijn.