Posted on 04/03/2009 11:35:09 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Most U.S. Navy medical personnel in the Pacific — military and civilian — will be banned from smoking or chewing tobacco anywhere during duty hours and while in uniform, in accordance with a recent Navy instruction.
Capt. Kevin Moore, commander of U.S. naval health care facilities in Japan, South Korea and Diego Garcia, said during a phone interview Friday that he and his staff are taking the instruction seriously and have begun enforcement.
"I was once asked, ‘How can you call yourself a health care organization when you’re allowing people to kill themselves in front of you?’ " Moore said. "It’s a really good question and I think this policy is really helpful in us saying we’re not going to support self-injuring behavior."
According to the Navy instruction, the Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery shall "prohibit military personnel from using tobacco products while in the presence of patients or while in uniform when representing Navy Medicine."
Moore said specific guidance regarding enforcement with the civilians is still being sought.
"We as health care providers have to be held accountable to being good role models," he said.
Branch health clinics at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Sasebo Naval Base, Negishi Housing Area in Japan and Chinhae Naval Base, South Korea, are following suit.
"We’re in the process of educating people about the no-smoking policy," Moore said. "We have the chiefs patrolling the areas reminding our folks about the instruction."
The Navy medical community on Okinawa, which falls under a separate command, is also following the general guideline.
Kiyomi Williams, spokeswoman for the U.S. Naval Hospital on Okinawa, said medical staff have been prohibited from smoking during their workday since January. But the policy is enforced only on the hospital grounds and is based on the honor system, she said.
When asked how the ban might affect staff performance given the possible unpleasant withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking, Moore said he’s not expecting any issues.
"Some of the inpatient wards that I’ve worked at in the past have gone smoke-free, and surprisingly, there was very little impact," he said. "We are going to be concerned, though, because it is a very difficult substance to give up, and I don’t want to minimize it and just say just quit."
The hospital offers such products as nicotine gum and patches to help people quit smoking, Moore said.
The Yokosuka hospital also plans to start tobacco cessation classes for staff in the future. Patients now are being referred to their primary care managers.
The smoking ban has one key beneficiary in mind — the patient.
"As a patient, it’s very distracting and not a pleasant experience to be around someone who’s been smoking," Moore said. "More importantly, though, I don’t think it’s a good thing for their health."
Some hospital patrons agreed.
"I think it’s a great idea," said Maria Diaz, a Navy spouse in Yokosuka. "I don’t like smelling cigarettes, and especially not in the hospital. It doesn’t give you the impression that they’re creating a healthy environment."
But Chantal Sheehan, a Navy employee from Atsugi who works at Camp Zama’s orthodontics department, said she doesn’t agree with the Navy’s position. Sheehan, a smoker, says it’s indicative of a broadening anti-smoking bias on the part of the military.
Sheehan pointed to base stores raising the prices of tobacco products as an example of that trend.
"Well, if they’re going to do it for tobacco, then they have to do it for alcohol, fatty foods, everything else that’s bad for you," said Sheehan.
"They can’t just do it to smokers."
Moore said the hospital plans to release its final official tobacco policy on May 31 during World No Tobacco Day.
U.S. Navy officials on Guam, queried early in the week, were unable to comment on their smoking policies by deadline Friday.
This subject got brought up in the office this week (we work on a military base). The general attitude is that smokes at the BX and commissary will likely double within five years, and it’ll be practically impossible to smoke just about anywhere on base. Currently, you have to leave the building and walk about five minutes around the corner. There are rumors that they are thinking about adding another five-minute extension onto this walk and make it more difficult. For guys who used to take two breaks in the morning to smoke....it’ll be impossible to find that much time available.
Having watched this for thirty years....where my first boss smoked at his desk every hour of the day....its amazing to view the current trend.
Snus
From Marlboro and Camel are taking over.
It is a spitless chewing tobacco in pouch form.
I am seeing a large growth in it’s use.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snus
https://www.tobaccopleasure.com/dtclogin.aspx?brand=CSN
https://www.marlborosnus.com/snus/secure/login_input.action
Don’t worry, soon you can smoke pot at your desk all day long.
I wished they would be men about it, this harassment and death of a 1000 cuts, screw with your head approach is maddening and degrading and sits somewhere between fascistic and infantile on the part of the people that keep slowly doling out this exercise in control.
Ban it or stop at some simple restrictions about smoking indoors, but don’t keep bleeding this thing to death.
sidebar comment here- Has Oflubbo found a Surgeon General yet?
Yes they can. Tyranny isn't required to be reasonable.
You can chew, but not swallow.
When you take the oath you agree to be tyrannized.
Banning the use of chew? Are they concerned about the dangers of second hand spit now?
1) “Well, if they’re going to do it for tobacco, then they have to do it for alcohol, fatty foods, everything else that’s bad for you,” said Sheehan.
“They can’t just do it to smokers.”
Just wait honey - just give them time...
2) ONly medical personla may not smoke on duty/in uniform?
BAck in my dy that would have been a “vague or arbitrary and capricious order” as it singles out a small group of the whole.....
Article 138 UCMJ (Current) Right of Redress
The wrong may consist of either action or inaction that affects the complainant directly and personally and that, for example, is:
· in violation of law or regulation;
· beyond the legitimate authority of that commander;
· arbitrary, capricious, or an abuse of discretion;
· clearly or materially unfair.
An Article 138 complaint may only be made by an individual complainant against a single superior. Article 138 complaints can not be made for:
· general policies of the Service or the DoD;
· seeking disciplinary action against another;
· decisions of the general court-martial convening authority involving an Article 138 complaint, except for failure to forward the complaint;
· acts not ratified by the commanding officer named in the complaint;
· acts that are not final;
· situations where procedures exist that provide the individual notice of an action, a right to rebut, or a hearing and review by an authority superior to the officer originating the action. (This includes nonjudicial punishment and actions of a courtmartial or administrative board.)
A complaint made more than 90 days (or, in the Air Force, 180 days) after discovery of the alleged wrong may be denied solely because of untimely filing.
Smoking is legal on base/post and outside the gate. The CO is past reaching - no matter his/her “good intentions”.
Guess that it’s good thing I retired back in the day.
YMMV
Sigh
All - please pardon the mis-spelling. No breakfast.
The more unreasonable the tyranny the fewer will sign the oath.
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