Environmental Tobacco Smoke as Child Abuse or Endangerment: A Case for Expanded Regulation

Arguments favoring smoking bans for adults around children are examined. The author contends that these arguments are sufficient to show that smoking in the vicinity of children on private property should be prohibited, not on the grounds of physical child abuse or neglect as some would argue, but because environmental tobacco smoke can be clearly perceived to be a form of child endangerment. Hence, existing laws already provide a mechanism for classifying smoking as a form of endangerment that could be addressed in the same way that other endangerments are considered. Furthermore, if the political will is extant, then abuse and neglect laws can be easily modified to incorporate environmental tobacco smoke exposure as a prohibited activity. Adapted from the source document.