Brochure - Human Rights and Health: Persons Exposed to Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke

HEATHER’S DEATH

Heather never smoked.

But for 40 years, Heather worked as a waitress in a restaurant where smoking was allowed. She worked hard, keeping long hours in an effort to make ends meet and provide a decent life for her daughter and herself. She recalled that the air in the place was always blue from patrons’ smoke. But Heather never thought she was in danger. After all, even 15 years ago the tobacco industry maintained that second-hand smoke had no harmful effect.

Then Heather got sick, sick enough that she could no longer work. When she went to the doctor, she was told that she had lung cancer—a smoker’s tumor. Heather was dying of second-hand smoke.

In May 2006, Heather died of lung cancer.