[CaptainCanada]

health care for patients with self-destructive vices -- overeating, smoking, drinking or drugs. More and more doctors are turning them away or knocking them down their waiting lists

We are fortunate to live in a society where even brain dead people
can not only survive, but have a pretty good life (we have lots of
evidence of that here).
However in a world of ever increasing scarce resourses, decisions
need to be made as to how they should be allocated and who these
scarce resourses should go to.
Those who are intent of committing suicide by overeating or
drinking themselves to death, then I personally have no problem with
having them placed on lower priority then someone who wants to live.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

"Those who are intent of committing suicide by overeating or drinking themselves to death, then I personally have no problem with having them placed on lower priority then someone who wants to live."

To a certain extent, I agree with you -- there are caveats though:

(1) If the public health care system intends to deny a person, or category of persons, service; then those affected should have the option of opting out of the system. They should not be required to continue to support a system, which will not help them -- and, they certainly should not be prohibited from buying health care insurance from any company willing to actually care for their health.

(2) Anyone setting the priorities must so so on the basis of absolutely proven health statistics. For instance, very recently the CDC revealed that the actual number of deaths caused by obesity is less than 1/4 of the number they were using previously. Similarly, small amounts of red wine are good for you -- should total teetotalers be denied care?