Evidence Suggests HPV Caused Smoker’s Mouth Cancer, Says Defense in Tobacco Trial

Kenneth Reilly argues that medical evidence, including the “fingerprint” for human papillomavirus, shows Carmenza Merino’s oral cancer was likely caused by HPV rather than smoking. Merino, a smoker for more than 30 years, is suing Reilly’s client, Philip Morris, claiming its concealment of smoking’s hazards, led to her nicotine addiction and cancer.