Czech Republic
Kozak
Jiri Kozak's father smoking in his garden ten years
before his death
Tobacco and its use affected me very seriously in my life. My father,
the general practitioner and a heavy smoker, died from lung cancer in
his 69 years of age. In the same year my father-in-law died from lung
cancer as well. My close friend, we studied together at the faculty of
medicine, died from lung cancer in his 69, and his brother, the medical
doctor as well, from myocardial infarction in his 54. Both were heavy
smokers. Another of my friends, the cardiologists, whom I am thankful
for saving my life, died from myocardial infarction in his 58. He smoked
all his life. Can anybody be silent to such victims? These were reasons,
that as a chest physician I tried to be engaged in smoking restriction
in my country and in helping smokers to quit.
Jiri Kozak
Czech Republic
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