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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ban will 'eradicate lung cancer' | Ban will 'eradicate lung cancer' |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Lung cancer could be virtually wiped out in Scotland as a result of the smoking ban in public places, according to the chief medical officer. | Lung cancer could be virtually wiped out in Scotland as a result of the smoking ban in public places, according to the chief medical officer. |
| Dr Harry Burns said lung cancer rates would be reduced to just a few hundred cases a year in the future. | Dr Harry Burns said lung cancer rates would be reduced to just a few hundred cases a year in the future. |
| In 2005, there were 4,000 recorded deaths from lung cancer in Scotland. | In 2005, there were 4,000 recorded deaths from lung cancer in Scotland. |
| His annual report also said there were other signs of improving health, including increased life expectancy, breast feeding and immunisation rates. | His annual report also said there were other signs of improving health, including increased life expectancy, breast feeding and immunisation rates. |
| Dr Burns said: "Imagining Scotland with no lung cancer is not trivial speculation. | Dr Burns said: "Imagining Scotland with no lung cancer is not trivial speculation. |
| "In the 1960s, one in 100 men died of lung cancer. | "In the 1960s, one in 100 men died of lung cancer. |
| All the signs show that Scots are starting to take action to help the nation's health turn the corner Dr Harry BurnsChief medical officer | All the signs show that Scots are starting to take action to help the nation's health turn the corner Dr Harry BurnsChief medical officer |
| "Today, rates are falling all the time and thanks to the smoking ban, I expect the reduction in deaths to accelerate until dying from the disease becomes a rare occurrence. | "Today, rates are falling all the time and thanks to the smoking ban, I expect the reduction in deaths to accelerate until dying from the disease becomes a rare occurrence. |
| "Anecdotal evidence shows that since the smoking ban, there has been a surge in the numbers of smokers seeking help to give up." | "Anecdotal evidence shows that since the smoking ban, there has been a surge in the numbers of smokers seeking help to give up." |
| However, Neil Rafferty, from the Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco (Forest), accused Dr Burns of being irresponsible and painting a "completely misleading picture". | However, Neil Rafferty, from the Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco (Forest), accused Dr Burns of being irresponsible and painting a "completely misleading picture". |
| "The evidence from other countries shows that smoking bans have no significant effect on smoking rates," he said. | "The evidence from other countries shows that smoking bans have no significant effect on smoking rates," he said. |
| "Secondly, there is no conclusive evidence that lung cancer is caused by second hand smoke. | "Secondly, there is no conclusive evidence that lung cancer is caused by second hand smoke. |
| "We should really expect better of Dr Burns than to go around making such ludicrous claims." | "We should really expect better of Dr Burns than to go around making such ludicrous claims." |
| We should really expect better of Dr Burns than to go around making such ludicrous claims Neil RaffertyForest | We should really expect better of Dr Burns than to go around making such ludicrous claims Neil RaffertyForest |
| Mr Rafferty said that by claiming such good results from the policy, the public could be misled into entrusting politicians with more power over people's lives. | Mr Rafferty said that by claiming such good results from the policy, the public could be misled into entrusting politicians with more power over people's lives. |
| Dr Burns said the smoking ban and other public health measures outlined in his annual report were also helping to reduce the incidence of heart disease and strokes. | Dr Burns said the smoking ban and other public health measures outlined in his annual report were also helping to reduce the incidence of heart disease and strokes. |
| The latest figures showed that deaths from heart disease fell by 5.2% between 2004 and 2005 and the overall incidence fell by 25% in the past 10 years. | The latest figures showed that deaths from heart disease fell by 5.2% between 2004 and 2005 and the overall incidence fell by 25% in the past 10 years. |
| He said: "All the signs show that Scots are starting to take action to help the nation's health turn the corner." | He said: "All the signs show that Scots are starting to take action to help the nation's health turn the corner." |