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ASH Daily News

8 November 2001


Headlines

Judges allow woman to sue tobacco company
Cancer risk cut
George Harrison in hospital

Full Text

A widow whose husband died of lung cancer has become the first person in Europe to be allowed to sue a tobacco company for failing to warn of the dangers of smoking.

Margaret McTear, 56, was given permission to raise a £500,000 damages case against Imperial Tobacco. Her lawyer, Cameron Fyfe, said last night that the hearing in the Court of Session in Edinburgh could “open the floodgates” to thousands of civil actions by cancer victims and relatives.

Mrs McTear, has been trying for eight years to sue the tobacco firm and is said to be delighted that the judges rules that she has a case.

Her husband was a labourer and smoked 60 cigarettes a day and died in 1993 from lung cancer. He was 48.

A spokesman for Imperial Tobacco said: “We are not aware of any law suit against us at this stage.”

Source: The Daily Telegraph, 8 November 2001



Cancer risk cut

Exercise can halve the risk of bowel cancer, a study shows. After studies involving more than 100,000 patients, scientists from the Cancer Research Campaign and the Scottish Cancer Foundation concluded that exercise is effective even allowing for diet, obesity and smoking.

Source: The Times, 8 November 2001



George Harrison in hospital

Former Beatle George Harrison was reported last night to be in a very frail state in a New York hospital where he is to undergo what is thought to be revolutionary treatment for cancer.

Harrison, once a heavy smoker, was diagnosed with throat cancer three years ago – which was treated successfully. In December 1999, he suffered a punctured lung when he was attacked with a knife by a 34 year old schizophrenic. Earlier this year, the star was found to be suffering from lung cancer which has spread. He is now to undergo surgery for a brain tumour.

His wife and son are with him.

Source: Daily Express, 8 November 2001



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