According to an article written by Michael Weissentstein, A New York Jury awarded $20 Million in punitive damages to a smoker's widow last week (after a jury deliberation of over two days).

Per Mr. Weissenstein's report, Ms. Gladys Frankson sued Brown & Williamson (Lucky Strike Manufacturers) when her husband passed away in 1999. Ms. Frankson's husband had begun smoking around 1954 at age of 13.

Let's take a long and very deep perspective of grand effects this ruling may have on corporate America:

To any other, this may simply be an everyday case in National court system, but contrary to what one's opinion may be of cigarettes and cigarette smoking, phenomenal repercussion of this landmark decision may create extreme, adverse effects. Not to be misconstrued that we do not sympathize with Ms. Frankson's loss, as any loss of human life is a sorrowful hardship.

Why does this particular ruling have such profound consequences? Think about it. Since Ms. Frankson was awarded a sum for her husband's loss, would it not only be right and justifiable that ALL persons who have died from lung cancer due to smoking should be awarded equal amounts as well? Should this not mean that government should become main source of intervention and stop all production of tobacco products? What about people who have suffered from certain types of oral cancer, should not chewing tobacco manufacturers be called upon to halt ALL production of their chew products as well?

Furthermore, what about recent McDonald's case? Why not hold ALL fast-food restaurants and restaurants in general liable for persons suffering from type II Diabetes, for persons suffering unimaginable weight-gain related, health problems associated with their eating at these restaurants?

In addition to tobacco companies and local & National Food chains, I naturally would assume that we should also hold alcohol manufacturers, and distributors liable for liver disease, thousands of D.U.I.-related deaths, and even kidney dialysis. But we can't just stop there. Eventually, this ruling may even lead to auto and small engine manufacturing industries as well. After all, aren't automobiles, motorcycles, and lawnmowers leading culprits for smog and oxygen depletion; thus an indirect cause of ozone layer reduction?

Fundamental elements of life and aspects of cloning bring dramatic advancement to scientific and medical community; however, is this fast-paced artificial reproduction an intrusion of Nature or a doorway to infinite, medical cures?

In lieu of scientific developments in biological mainstream, human intervention of life and it's natural state are of utmost concern. Questions are being raised as to what constitutes life produced naturally into this world as opposed to man-made biocreationism. Current events depict a dangerously evolving senerio that will eventually lead to life altering, moral dilemmas.

The query here is whether we, as human beings, can justify birth of alternative life. Physicians of all fields excitedly anticipate what expectedly will stimulate medical achievements on a phenomenal scope.

If you can, imagine limitless possibilities. Heart transplant waiting lists would be a thing of past. Accident victims could eventually have limb replacements by way of simple, DNA extraction. The ideology that manipulated organs can be created on demand, will definitely expand human lifespans. This, in turn, will bare increasing weight on this already over-populated world.