in sudden cardiac deaths, was not statistically significant. Curiously, however, the authors do not similarly argue that we can ignore the lack of statistical significance of this finding because of a small sample size. It appears that statistical significance only matters when the finding in question is an "unfavorable" one. But when the finding is a "favorable" one, then statistical significance can be ignored. In other words, it is quite clear that the investigators were "hoping" to find an effect of the smoke-free laws on sudden cardiac death and that - although I believe subconsciously - they slanted their interpretation of the data in order to favor such a finding. Despite this sleight of hand, the assertion that the smoking ban led to an immediate and dramatic decline in sudden cardiac deaths in Olmsted County is not merely a study conclusion, but is now a "fact." In other words, no further research needs to be done and the question is permanently settled. Furthermore, anyone who challenges this conclusion (like me) is out of touch with reality because they are challenging an established fact. There is no room for dissent. Anyone challenging this conclusion must be simply echoing a tobacco industry argument. Actually, the tobacco industry no longer argues that secondhand smoke is not a risk factor for heart disease. And to my knowledge, the tobacco companies aren't even challenging the contention that studies like Dr. Hurt's are invalid because they contain no comparison group. In fact, that the tobacco companies