Pou Result Disappoints Cancer Society

3 May 2006

Pou Result Disappoints Cancer Society

The Cancer Society said it is deeply disappointed and saddened by today’s verdict in the Pou case in which Justice Lang has decided not to award compensatory damages to the family of Janice Pou.

Mrs Pou’s children, Brandon and Kasey Pou, sought $310,000 from British American Tobacco and WD and HO Wills after their mother Janice Pou died of lung cancer in 2002.

Cancer Society Tobacco Control Advisor Belinda Hughes said the decision
appeared to be a willingness to let companies profit from the death and misery caused by their products.

“Tobacco companies have been aware that smoking causes cancer since the early 1950s. However rather than admit the connection, and suffer financially as a result, tobacco companies chose to respond by deceiving the public about the harm of smoking and obstructing efforts to regulate their product and industry,” Ms Hughes said.

“Now they want poor smokers to pay the price.

“It’s time that we got serious about tobacco control. It’s not acceptable that tobacco companies make money out of a product that kills people. The Maori Party’s calls to ban tobacco are a welcome wake-up call that we need to start taking this epidemic seriously.”

ENDS

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