I think your position is a reasonable one.
Do you think that some private hospitals would permit smoking if they could? I ask that because there seems now to be a perception (whether that perception is right or wrong) among a large percentage of the population that second-hand smoke is very unhealthy. Changing that perception represents a very steep climb up a big hill, doesn't it?
Maybe not inside, or only in certain designated areas, but at least out doors.
When Delaware first banned smoking in all state facilities the state long term care facility buitl, at taxpayer expense, a seperate pavillion for their residents to smoke. Everyone was happy. When the total smoking ban went into effect last year - it prohibitted smoking even in the seperate smoking building. The hospital administration sought a waiver for the pavillion - it was denied.
It was denied by the same Department of health that had authorized the construction of it to begin with. And the same DOH that employees the hospital administrators.
Changing that perception represents a very steep climb up a big hill, doesn't it?
Yes it does, primarily because of money. As She Lion points out lots of grants and other funding are made to hospitals from the RWJFoundation to ban smoking. These grants also go to state created anti-smoking groups that then run million dollar advertising campaigns to get the word out.
As you pointed out in a previous post - She Lion has done her homework - as have a lot of other folks just like har - on their own time and dime. But most of the information never gets any publicity because folks like SL and myself are immediately branded as paid tobacco mouth peices (we're not) and once that is said, many people just tune out what is trying to be said.
I could go on and on and on, but I hope you see my point. I've been involved in this issue in one way or another for 15 years and so have seen first hand exactly what has happened. It's not a happy memory.
I think your position is a reasonable one.
Thank you.