Hospitals moving to bar psychiatric patients from smoking/Don't go nuts in Maine

Boston.com ^ | 18 July 2002

[SheLion]

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Thanks to the repeal of a state law, Maine hospitals are moving to prohibit psychiatric patients from smoking.

Maine Medical Center implemented a smoking ban in its psychiatric unit this month, a move that the hospital's interim chief of psychiatry said will help doctors take care of the patient's overall health.

[SheLion]

More cruel and inhumane treatment by Maine's Health Care Facilities.

DON'T TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITALS IN MAINE IF I GET SICK..........JUST SHOOT ME.

[SheLion]

You can't even smoke in your privately owned vehicle on the lots of the health care facilities in Aroostook County.

And health care wonders why it is failing! When they take away the legal rights of their patients, who the hell wants to go for treatment?

[Kevin Curry]

When they take away the legal rights of their patients, who the hell wants to go for treatment?

AIDS activists like to make the same argument. They play, we pay. It's the socialist way.

[Just another Joe]

AIDS activists like to make the same argument.

What libertys is health care taking away from AIDS patients?

[anniegetyourgun]

Surprised that 90% of the mentally imbalanced are addictive personalities? ; )

[Clovis_Skeptic]

Medical experts can give no clear explanation for why smoking is so common among the mentally ill,

You've been outed!!

"Got a Smoke??"

[B4Ranch]

They would rather prescibe addictive drugs than allow you to medicate yourself with a cigarette!

[SheLion]

They would rather prescibe addictive drugs than allow you to medicate yourself with a cigarette!

Isn't that the sad truth!

[B4Ranch]

Yep.

[RicocheT]

"They would rather prescibe addictive drugs than allow you to medicate yourself with a cigarette!"

Right on that, many of the psychotropic drugs are way harder on the patient than a cigarette. People in mental hospitals are way messed up and about the only calming thing in their lives is a cigarette. Take that away and you may as well issue broken glass and razor blades so they can end it all.

Let them smoke in a special area with good ventilation and they will recover faster.

[SheLion]

Let them smoke in a special area with good ventilation and they will recover faster.

It's really sad and cruel and inhumane treatment, IMHO.

Tobacco is legal. If an adult enjoys smoking and finds themselves in a mental hospital, I sure can't see any harm in helping the patient anyway possible to get them back on the right track.

By further "controlling" their behavior is in no way, a help to the sick person. This is really mind-boggling to me.

Sick people get wind of this, they will continue being sick before they subject themselves to that Hell Hole.

And we wonder why health care in Maine is failing?!

[ladyinred]

Okay folks, I have to put up with this abuse because Clovis_Skeptic is my little brother, but for the rest of you, he is fair game!

[ladyinred]

You can't even smoke in your privately owned vehicle on the lots of the health care facilities in Aroostook County.

Well Bingo......that explains why so many smokers go nuts! Shesh, why didn't they just say so! Now I get it!