In UK survey, doctors support denying treatment to smokers, the obese

msnbc.com ^ | April 29, 2012 | msnbc.com staff

[John W]

A majority of doctors in a United Kingdom survey supported measures to deny non-emergency medical services to smokers and the obese, The Observer newspaper reported Sunday.

Although the survey by the networking website doctors.net.uk was a self-selecting poll, the site's chief executive called the response "a tectonic shift" for the profession.

The results feed into a British debate about "lifestyle rationing" by the National Health Service, the Observer reported.

[ecomcon]

We should be more like Europe. What could go wrong?

[Principled]

Whaaa?

Besides the obvious - doesn’t denying early care just create bigger expenses in the long run? Isn’t that what “they” say?

[The Working Man]

Interesting... Perhaps the Police and Firefighters and other professionals should decide to withhold their services from these “doctors”.

[Iron Munro]

What about denying costly medical treatment to homosexuals with AIDS?

Or just to homosexuals in general because of their high risk sexual proclivities?

If smokers and fat people are at risk so are homos.

[jmcenanly]

Even if it is help with smoking cessation or weight loss? It isn’t healthy people who need a doctor, but those who are sick.

[drbuzzard]

Honestly this is all just an inevitable consequence of people being able to make health decisions with other having the pay for the results. Something has to give.

[Gay State Conservative]

I could possibly support disincentives for smokers regarding health care (higher health insurance premiums,for example) and might support similar disincentives for people who are obese without a good excuse (disabilities that make exercise difficult or impossible,for example) but denying care is crazy.BEYOND crazy!

[muawiyah]

Actually there are substantive studies out there that prove little or no advantage to 'preventative care' ~ it's a fraud and sham.

After all, if you are healthy you are healthy ~ and subjecting you to extensive testing and evaluation doesn't change that, nor do they find anything about which you should be concerned.

Knowing that the doctors are simply reporting the obvious ~ quit treating healthy people who are overweight or who smoke. There's nothing to be gained until they actually get sick.

[3catsanadog]

So what happens when everyone turns to healthy lifestyle living? Everyone quits smoking, loses weight to below BMI, stops drinking, drugging and promiscuous sex? Everyone drives at the speed limit? Stops engaging in dangerous hobbies?

Maybe the doctors will have to get a part-time job at Walmart or McDonald's to help keep the lifestyles they have become accustomed to.

[wolfman23601]

This is why I have never told any of my doctors that I am a smoker. It will come to this.

[Hans]

Lucky to be British in a post Christian land. Have the Doctors given any thought to what will happen to them when they grow old?

[trailhkr1]

I could possibly support disincentives for smokers regarding health care (higher health insurance premiums,for example) and might support similar disincentives for people who are obese without a good excuse (disabilities that make exercise difficult or impossible,for example) but denying care is crazy.BEYOND crazy!

. Pretty much what I believe. I'm sick and tired of paying higher insurance premiums to fatties who eat themselves into the ground. I have a client, 51-52 years old who needs a hip transplant because he weighs 325+ lbs and he wore out his hips.

Smokers and obese are the 2 highest drivers of our out of control health care cost. Record Type 2 diabetes, joint problems, HBP, sleep apnea, om and on related to obesity.

I don't want the gov't to get involved but the private sector to clamp down with these people with incentives to control their diet and weight.

[wolfman23601]

Smokers cost the medical industry less than nonsmokers. They don’t live as long.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Interesting... Perhaps the Police and Firefighters and other professionals should decide to withhold their services from these “doctors”.

Love it.

Along with a whole lot of other 'obese' people the doctors might need service from.

[Hans]

Since I am a fat smoker the doctor will just have to kill me.

[tbw2]

This is euthanasia by omission rather than commission.

[Gabz]

‘Nuff said.......

[humblegunner]

I'm sick and tired of paying higher insurance premiums to fatties who eat themselves into the ground.

Maybe you should learn how to properly route payments and pay the premiums to your insurance provider instead.

[trailhkr1]

Actually there are substantive studies out there that prove little or no advantage to 'preventative care' ~ it's a fraud and sham.

No, it is not. Every insurance carrier out there have been pushing for preventive care for at least the last 10 years. I work for a Fort500 company and the health insurance carrier is constantly sending us mailers at home to remind us to go in for physicals and such.