Victims

Victims of anti-smoking policies.

Elena Brennan

Shortly after 6am on 13th July 2011, Elena Brennan was discovered by a passing private ambulance driver dead, still in her dressing gown, from massive head injury she sustained after falling 20 feet onto a concrete ramp beneath her second storey flat (3rd floor in the US)[1]. The inquest found that she'd fallen from her window because she had been leaning out of the window to have a cigarette[2].

Jane O'Grady

In October 2011, it was reported that Ms O'Grady, a 97 year old, was threatened with eviction from her independent living facility. Her smoking wasn't a problem when she moved in in 2005[3], but in 2008, The Lakes at Pointe West implemented a no-smoking policy.

In a letter to the media in Feb 2012, The Lakes stated they wanted her to either stop smoking, or move to accomodation where she can be given mobility assistance to smoke outside because of the other 197 residents. Ms O'Grady wants neither.[4][5]

Jane died 20th Feb 2012[6]

Richard Read

On the 29th October 2011, Richard Read, 61, suffered severe burns, and subsequently died, after he accidentally fumbled with the Zippo lighting his pipe[7] while sitting in his parked car outside of his home. The dropped zippo caused the car to catch alight and subsequently explode.

It appears he had a stroke[8].