This article is a few months old but it was being debated over the radio a few days ago yet again. Smokers are now being refused IVF treatment altogether in some areas as it reduces the chances of IVF succeeding, but also, it was claimed by some health care workers that smokers should not be allowed to have IVF as the state is funding the birth of children that will be open to birth defects due to mothers smoking whilst pregnant. Some others claimed that it was a form of 'abuse' since children born to parents who were smokers would be breathing in second hand cigarette smoke.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jun/22/nhs.health
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-505467/Smokers-drinkers-obese-beware-fit-risk-losing-NHS-care.html
The second article deals with 'self inflicted' health issues such as smoking, drinking and obesity and whether patients who smoke, drink or eat excessivley should be refused certain treatments.
As an ex smoker, there is an argument that we pay our taxes and as such should be free to smoke or drink or eat excessively and not have to worry about the NHS not fixing us up when things go wrong. But then most would argue that it's unfair on everyone else to have to pick up the bill for someone else's self inflicted illnesses. In other words, 'If you smoke and get cancer as a result, tough shit. It was your choice, you knew the risks, why should I pay?' The same can be said of the rapid rising number of grossly obese patients. They put as much burden on the NHS as they do on their own bodies.
If you're 20st in weight, eat less and walk more. If you smoke, cut down or stop. But at least make some effort. Maybe it's time to get tough with patients who make no effort to lose weight or stop smoking.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jun/22/nhs.health
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-505467/Smokers-drinkers-obese-beware-fit-risk-losing-NHS-care.html
The second article deals with 'self inflicted' health issues such as smoking, drinking and obesity and whether patients who smoke, drink or eat excessivley should be refused certain treatments.
As an ex smoker, there is an argument that we pay our taxes and as such should be free to smoke or drink or eat excessively and not have to worry about the NHS not fixing us up when things go wrong. But then most would argue that it's unfair on everyone else to have to pick up the bill for someone else's self inflicted illnesses. In other words, 'If you smoke and get cancer as a result, tough shit. It was your choice, you knew the risks, why should I pay?' The same can be said of the rapid rising number of grossly obese patients. They put as much burden on the NHS as they do on their own bodies.
If you're 20st in weight, eat less and walk more. If you smoke, cut down or stop. But at least make some effort. Maybe it's time to get tough with patients who make no effort to lose weight or stop smoking.
