Challenging the Telegraphs reporting
On March 8th 1998 the Sunday Telegraph published a front-page headline report accusing the World Health Organization of suppressing a study that the newspaper claimed showed there was no link between passive smoking and lung cancer. The Sunday Telegraph headline was: "Passive smoking doesn't cause cancer - official".
ASH immediately contacted the Sunday Telegraph requesting a withdrawal and correction. When it refused, ASH concluded there was no alternative but to make a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC).
This page brings together the various pieces in the story (pdf files).
ASH Letter to the Editor of the Sunday Telegraph regarding passive smoking and WHO study
Letter by ASH to the Sunday Telegraph regarding their reporting of the World Health Organization study on secondhand smoke. Appendix 14. Published : 27/10/1998
Sunday Telegraph articles of 25 October 1998
Articles by the Sunday Telegraph: "Complaint over article on passive smoking is rejected" and "when scientific fashion goes up in smoke". Appendix 13. Published : 25/10/1998
Press Complaints Commission Adjunction
An adjunction by the Press Complaints Commission. Appendix 12. Published : 24/10/1998
Journal Article: Multicenter Case - Control Study of Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Lung Cancer in Europe
Study by the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer on exposure to secondhand smoke in Europe. Published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 90. No. 19 October 7, 1998. Appendix 9 Published : 07/10/1998
ASH Press Release: WHO passive smoking study - tobacco industry and Sunday Telegraph disinformation nailed Published : 06/10/1998
ASH Letter to Press Complaints Commission: critique of the Sunday Telegraph defence
Letter to Tim Toulmin of the Press Complaints Commission responding to arguments raised by the Sunday Telegraph. Appendix 8. Published : 29/05/1998
Sunday Times defence against the complaint by ASH to the Press Complaints Commission
Response by the Sunday Telegraph to the ASH complaint to the Press Complaint Commission on their reporting of the World Health Organization study. Appendix 7. Published : 21/05/1998
ASH Letter to Sunday Telegraph Editor responding to their press statement
ASH letter to Dominic Lawson, Editor of the Sunday Telegraph in response to the Sunday Telegraph press statement regarding the ASH complaint to the Press Complaints Commission. Appendix 6. Published : 16/04/1998
ASH Letter to Press Complaints Commission on Sunday Telegraph's reporting on passive smoking
ASH sent a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission in response to an article published in the Sunday Telegraph which attempted to dismiss any link between passive smoking and cancer. Published : 25/03/1998
Sunday Telegraph Press statement attacking ASH
Press Statement by Dominic Lawson, Editor of the Sunday Telegraph in response to a complaint made to the Press Complaints Commission by ASH. Appendix 5. Published : 27/03/1998
ASH report: How the Sunday Telegraph and BAT got it wrong
ASH report: how the Sunday Telegraph and BAT got it badly wrong on passive smoking and why SCOTH and WHO agree. An explanation of the simple statistical errors made. Appendix 4. Published : 11/03/1998
ASH report: How the Sunday Telegraph and BAT got it wrong
How the Sunday Telegraph and BAT got it badly wrong on passive smoking and why SCOTH and WHO agree. An explanation of the simple statistical errors made. Appendix 4. Published : 10/03/1998
WHO and IARC Press Release condemning Sunday Telegraph
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) press releases condemning the Sunday Telegraph report as 'false and misleading'. Appendix 3. Published : 09/03/1998
Sunday Telegraph reports on passive smoking
Articles and editorial from the Sunday Telegraph regarding passive smoking. Appendix 1. Published : 08/03/1998
Extract from PCC Code of Conduct
Extract from the Press Complaints Comimssion Code of Conduct. Appendix 2. Published : 26/11/1997
