UK News UK Smokers told to quit or surgery will be refused

[DM Cross]

if its a personal choice, keep it to yourself, and dont smoke anywhere near me, aka, in your house, no where else, period, I should not have to suffer for your ignorance

QFT. When I used to smoke, I used to be very aware of everyone around me. I kept the ciggarette as far away from anyone else as possible, and if the wind was blowing it to them, I would move around so that it wouldn't. It's a trait I picked up from my sister.

My father, on the other hand, does not care. He feels that if you don't like the smoke, then you should move yourself.

Naturally, I don't agree.

Woot woot, this reminds me: It's been over a year since I stopped smoking permanently ^.^

 

[johnnyfire]

if its a personal choice, keep it to yourself, and dont smoke anywhere near me, aka, in your house, no where else, period, I should not have to suffer for your ignorance

who smokes in their house? that a fire hazard. anyway did you read what you said keep it to yourself... so never smoke!?

car accidents may kill more people then smoking, however, second hand smoke alone kills more people then alcohol does

how do you measure the amout of people killed by secondhand smoke?
where are you getting your facts?
Read this!

Over 438,000 Americans (18.1 percent of all deaths) die because of smoking each year. Secondhand smoke kills about 50,000 of them. - from here
This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that approximately 75,766 AADs and 2.3 million YPLLs, or approximately 30 years of life lost on average per AAD, were attributable to excessive alcohol use in 2001. - from here
AAD is alcohol attributed deaths... that more than 50% more!
both of these are done by respected anti-smoke and alcohol organizations...

we are not talking about something these people were born with, as skin color, or heritage
nor are we talking about religous beliefs, where, although a conscious decision, holds no bearing in this current debate
we are talking about a conscious act by the patient which deliberatly inflicts harm where healing is trying to be accomplished, I consider is blasphemous for a patient to directly put them selves in harms way to simply fulfill their selfish desire

point... this is descrimination against the choices a person makes, if you choose to eat a lot without exercising would you want to be denied healthcare... if you chose to be a homosexual would you want to be denied healthcare... if you chose to drink would you want to be denied healthcare

point... telling smokers not to smoke while in the hospital is fine, but denying healthcare is somthing else

How can you live in a free country when you aren't allowed to make your decisions... this is nothing more than a bully move by non-smokers to impose their will on smokers.

 

[XXXconanXXX]

who smokes in their house? that a fire hazard. anyway did you read what you said keep it to yourself... so never smoke!?

A lot of people smoke in their houses. The three people I live with all smoke in the house and the place reeks because of it.

 

[johnnyfire]

That seems dumb, i wouldn't smoke in my house or car... but for me that's more about cleanliness than anything else.

 

[XXXconanXXX]

That seems dumb, i wouldn't smoke in my house or car... but for me that's more about cleanliness than anything else.

A lot of smokers don't care enough about their bodies or their living quarters enough to take a few steps into the backyard and smoke their cigarettes there.

 

[DM Cross]

C'mon, Con. Be fair.

It's not that they "don't care", it's mostly that they don't notice because they're so used to the smell, anyway.

Well, with most of the ones I know, anyway ^.^ My father doesn't smoke in the house simply because he knows we would throw him out until he was done

 

[Marduke]

You? In our hospital? Forget it, you're too expensive for the system. There's a statistical chance you might have to stay an extra day.

That's not health care, that's business talk.
Chain production.
You just created a two classes system, where both sides pay just the same, but one is allowed in and the other not.

Congratulations.
Welcome to a better world.

It's tax payer money, so I say who cares.

point... this is descrimination against the choices a person makes, if you choose to eat a lot without exercising would you want to be denied healthcare... if you chose to be a homosexual would you want to be denied healthcare... if you chose to drink would you want to be denied healthcare

point... telling smokers not to smoke while in the hospital is fine, but denying healthcare is somthing else

Give me a fucking break.

They're being asked not to smoke for a few weeks, not to quit permanently. All your examples are absolutely absurd and don't relate AT ALL to what they're actually doing.

how can you live in a free country when you aren't allowed to make your decisions...

Welcome to real world, kiddo.


Edit: And the whole "But we pay $_____ billion in cigarette taxes is dumb.
Ever think that it would be better to use the extra money on something useful rather than having to treat fucking addicts to an extended hospital stay?

 

[1JadedJen]

Ok rising health care costs...yes
Giving up smoking for 4 weeks before surgery to lower some serious risks is good. Not only good for the patient's health, but yes good for the bottom line.
We also live in a world where everyone wants to sue the health care industry. Said smoker could refuse to give up smoking, have major complications post surgery, and then file suit against the hospital for said complications.


There might not be a smoking clause in your insurance contract, but there is a patient responsibilty page in that contract, and you sure do sign a pateint responsibilty form before every procedure stating that you will follow the standards for your treatment set by your MD. And if you refuse to follow the quit smoking thing, they can refuse you the surgery. Doctors here can refuse to do surgery for whatever reason, and you are more than welcome to go find another doctor who is willing to do it. After all, if you die, it's the doctor's license on the line right? I think what they are trying to do in the UK is make this a standard across the board.

Alcoholics don't get liver transplants because they are bad candidates, people who don't follow their diet plan and lose X amount of pounds before their gastric bypass don't get the bypass because they are bad candidates, and maybe people who don't listen to their doctors and take unnecessary risks by not quitting smoking for 4 measly weeks are bad candidates.

 

[w/e]

Of course smoking is a personal choice, but why do taxpayers have to suffer. Not to mention secondhand smokers.

Originally Posted by emjlr3
if its a personal choice, keep it to yourself, and dont smoke anywhere near me, aka, in your house, no where else, period, I should not have to suffer for your ignorance

Agreed.

 

[Akatsuki]

One thing I hate is when there is an event after school and when it's done I see and smell someone smoking. For crying out loud it's a school. And I'm sure that where I live there are laws against smoking on school property.

Also I agree with what 1Jadedjen is saying. I'm very sure that this isn't to make people stop smoking but to prevent complications during the surgery. I heard a lot of stories from people from the 60's. They say that everyone was smoking but at the same time they didn't know what it really did to them.