According to a survey, done by Doctors.net.uk, a professional networking site, 54% of doctors is in favour of denying non-emergency treatment to patients because of their smoking habits or obese. Already 25 of 91 primary care trusts (PCTs) are applying treatment bans. Bedfordshire PCT, for example, does not perform a knee or hip surgery on obese patients unless they are willing to lose 10% of their weight. Senior doctors and patient groups have protested strongly against the ‘lifestyle rationing’ and describe the measures as a denial of human rights towards patients.
A society should not mix up medical care with lifestyle judgment. What will be next? ‘Dear patient, how many minutes do you spend on physical activities per day?’ Medical care must be available for anyone, disregarding food or smoking habits, or any other habit. Of course, it is true that the smokers and the obese have increased risks to health problems, but this issue should be addressed by good advice and education and not by withholding medical treatment. In the case of overweight, however, it can be reasonable to advice patients to lose weight before getting surgery, because operating a fat person is too risky. Finally, I think it is up to the patient to decide whether he wants to take the risk or not.
Doctors back denial of treatment for smokers and the obese / The Guardian 29 April 2012http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/28/doctors-treatment-denial-smokers-obese?INTCMP=SRCH
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