Doctor refuses patient because of smoking

[mdvaldosta]

A smoker suffering from narrowed arteries in his legs has been told by surgeons to quit his habit before they will treat him. Frederick Smith was urged by his GP to visit a specialist about the potentially crippling condition, which could leave him in a wheelchair.

But he was stunned when vascular surgeon Andrew Lamerton said he wouldn't even see him until he kicked his 15-a-day habit for six months. Communicating only by letter, he told Mr Smith that smoking contributed to his condition, which would ease once he gave up.

The policy was supported by bosses at Lincoln County Hospital, who said it would help relieve pressure on their out-patient department. But the 60-year-old now fears he could lose a leg.

The decision comes in the wake of guidance issued by the Health Service drugs rationing body ten days ago to deny patients treatment on the grounds on their lifestyles. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence suggested they could be refused help if 'self-inflicted causes' of a condition would make treatment ineffective.

And last week, in a landmark judgment, a High Court judge ruled that tobacco smokers are 'negligent' and must take responsibility for damaging their own health.

Sourced from here.

What do you think? Is this fair?

 

[Mrs Behavin]

I think I agree with the Dr on this one. Mr Smith smoking is one of the risk factors that caused him to have claudication in his leg. Of course there are other risk factors also, but with him smoking 15-20 cigarettes a day, I would think his smoking was a big factor. Other risk factors for clauication are:

Smoking cigarettes or using other forms of tobacco
An abnormally high level of cholesterol
An abnormally low level of high-density lipoprotein
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Family history of coronary artery disease
Obesity
Physical inactivity

 

[dt3]

I smoke, and I would be pissed if they told me this. But I would also be smart enough to quit if it came to this. I agree with the doc in this case.

 

[horseshoeing]

The DR. should have to by law help anyone that needs it, If he can pay or not. Any Dr has a duty and he should fillful he duty or quit being a Dr.

 

[Tim]

I think the Dr. is wrong in this situation. I think it is his responsibility to inform the patient the dangers of smoking in this case, and strongly encourage him to stop, but he can't refuse care. Come on, this is a very slippery slope that we are treading on. If the courts say it's ok not to treat smokes because they are negligent, then it will be easy to say that people who eat too much fast food won't get the help they need if they have heart disease. Or a diabetic because they don't watch their sugar intake. Take a moment and make a list of all the things that people are treated for each day that are a result of negligence on their part. Now draw a line on that list as to whom we shouldn't treat. I know I can't.

 

[Mrs Behavin]

But see, the Dr didnt refuse him all together. He does not in any way investigate or treat claudicators while they smoke. Because his smoking is more than likely how he got in the situation he is in now. Being that he smoked 15-20 cigarettes a day. The Dr is telling him that in order to be treated properly that he needs to quit smoking.

 

[mdvaldosta]

Scenario #1 - Doctor has 20 people waiting for a heart transplant and the next one on the list is a chronic smoker. I say give it to someone who takes care of their body better.

Scenario #2 (this one) - Doctor is refusing an operation (no transplant) to someone who doesn't take care of themselves. I think this one is wrong, he's only hurting himself and if he (or his insurance) is gonna pay for it then let him do what he wants.

 

[artisan00]

6 months clean is a little drastic. what if something happens in that time period that the doc could have prevented?

 

[jeeb75]

This patient seems to have a disorder called TAO (Thrombo-angina Obliterans) also known as Buergers Disease. The only effective treatement for this condition is to quit smoking. If the patient quits smoking there will be no need to amputate his leg. So by refusing to treat the doctor is essentially giving the patient his only chance to save his leg by quitting smoking. Refusing to treat is better than taking money from the patient for treatment that wont save his leg from amputation.

 

[Mrs Behavin]

:agree Thank you. You said it much better than I did. I just couldnt get it to make any sense when I was trying to explain it.

 

[hhayes]

Re: RE: Doctor refuses patient because of smoking

I smoke, and I would be pissed if they told me this. But I would also be smart enough to quit if it came to this. I agree with the doc in this case.

:agree

 

[lemon]

the doc refused to take money :wtf





well, its better to stop smoking in any event.

 

[Bossman351]

I have to agree with the doc on this one. The man can save himself if he quits smoking and if the doc performs the surgery while the patent is still a smoker, he will just keep deteriorating. Now if it were something like a pimple on his ass, that has no relation to being a smoker, he couldnt refuse him because of being a smoker. That would be wrong.

 

[AtlanticBlue99]

very well said^^

 

[UncleBacon]

its a docs job to fix you when your sick....if a doc refused me I'd brake his legs and say I hope your doc refuses you

 

[artisan00]

Re: RE: Doctor refuses patient because of smoking

This patient seems to have a disorder called TAO (Thrombo-angina Obliterans) also known as Buergers Disease. The only effective treatement for this condition is to quit smoking. If the patient quits smoking there will be no need to amputate his leg. So by refusing to treat the doctor is essentially giving the patient his only chance to save his leg by quitting smoking. Refusing to treat is better than taking money from the patient for treatment that wont save his leg from amputation.

yeah i see what youre saying - but did the doc tell the guy that? or just tell him to quit. its not the same thing.

 

[horseshoeing]

Just cut the dam leg off. Who is the Dr ordering the guy to to stop smoking. Is he GOD?

 

[RedStangGT2000]

Id get a differant doctor :dunno

 

[rosco40]

If it were me,who paying who?Piss on the Doctor and find one who will.Its your money and thats that.

 

[Blackwater_GT]

I know that Some Surgeons want there patients to quit smoking for several months before they will operate on them. A person whos smokes and is in bad health has a greater risk of death during surgeory and in the recovery process versus a person who does not smoke.