[Gabz]

what justification was there for the ban on smoking in hospitals?

Second hand smoke can aggravate some pre-existing conditions and as hospitals being "health care" facilities it is understandable for them to impose restrictions - but still does not justify government mandated bans.

[longtermmemmory]

not to mention burning cigaretts and oxygen use don't mix.

[Scenic Sounds]

Second hand smoke can aggravate some pre-existing conditions and as hospitals being "health care" facilities it is understandable for them to impose restrictions - but still does not justify government mandated bans.

I see. So, the restrictions on liberty here need to be weighed against the health issues (aggravation of some pre-existing conditions) that would be faced by some hospital patients.

I take it, though, that you don't see it as a legitimate function of government to weigh these factors, am I right? Are you saying that these decisions should be left to private hospitals and doctors' offices to decide for themselves?

[SheLion]

but still does not justify government mandated bans.

Gabz! The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation working with the AMA started all of this. The more states they have in their pockets who ban smoking on hospital grounds, the more grant money the hospitals receive.

We all know how most hospitals are hurting for money, but this doesn't make it right for the medical community to take away even the outside cigarette recepticals. It just isn't right what they have done to us.

My one Doctor is a surgeon. When he comes to talk to you, (even in the hospital), he reeks of smoke. So.....that tells ME that the DOCTORS have a little hide-away to grab a break, but heaven help the rest of us.

This is a map from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The states in blue are the ones in the pocket of the RWJ.

This is an old map, and some more states have been added to their blood money list.

There are 48 states to date that "belong to the RWJ Foundation."