The American Medical Association (AMA) has broadly endorsed the US$ 368.5 billion settlement with the US tobacco industry but called for wideranging modifications to meet the objections of public health advocates

A report by the AMA, one of the country’s most influential professional organisations, said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should have greater authority to regulate tobacco than is laid down by the deal, which limits the industry’s exposure to liability claims in return for payments of US$ 368.5 billion over 25 years. The AMA called for an increase in the financial penalty which the industry would have to pay if targets for reducing the number of under-age smokers were not met. It said restrictions on advertising should apply to all publications, not just those aimed at children, and that the price of cigarettes should be raised by US$ 1.