Tobacco Documents Online

THE MOUNT SINAI COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER CARLOS DOMINGUEZ, MD, F.A.C.P. MEDICAL DIRECTOR December 23, 1994 Ellen Merlo, Vice President PHILIP MORRIS COMPANY 120 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 Dear Ms. Merlo: In the summer of 1994 I wrote a letter to you explaining my total opposition to the unfair "Hate the Smoker" campaign being conducted by many politicians in North America, presumably because they feel that they can gain some votes with this position. In that letter I specifically explained the arguement that Governor Lawton Chiles of Florida had to pursue the approval of a state law that would allowing suits against the tobacco companies for expenses the State of Florida has taken care of for smokers is totally invalid and ridiculous. As I explained, it assumes that the person who does not smoke will be healthy and live happily forever without suffering any other disease. To the contrary what will happen is that that person instead of dying of lung cancer or coronary heart disease in his 50's or 60's, will live to be 75 or 85 only to die of some other illnesses, (other kinds of cancers not related to smoking such as colon, breast, pancreas or prostate cancer, etc.). At that time obviously the State of Florida and the Federal Government will also have to spend the money to take care of the patient and in the meantime the patient lives an extra ten to twenty years as a retired person, collecting retirement benefits and not paying taxes. So, therefore in the long run, smoking is cheaper for the Government. To my deli ht in a recent issue of the weekly magazine, NEWSWEEK, ~December, 1994), there is a report that the Professor of Economy, Kip Viscusi of the most prestigious Duke University came out with the same conclusion. 4300 ALTON ROAD • MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33140 •(305) 535-3310 A CO•VENTURE BETWEEN MOUNT SINAl MEDICAL CENTER AND SALICK HEALTH CARE, EVC.

RE: ELLEN MERLO, Vice President Page Two PHILIP MORRIS COMPANY With best regards, I remain, CJD:rjd cc: Honorable Lawton Chiles Governor The State of Florida The Capitol Tallahassee, Florida 30399-0001 Thomas Humber, President NATIONAL SMOKERS ALLIANCE 901 North Washington Street Suite 400 Alexandria, Va. 22314