Sheriff Won't Hire Smokers

San Mateo Daily Journal ^ | March 1, 2004 | Dana Yates

[at bay]

Rising worker’s compensation and health care cost is prompting San Mateo County Sheriff Don Horsley to put a ban on hiring smokers.

“If your lifestyle contributes to a disability, I’m sorry about that. But I don’t think the taxpayers should pay.” said Horsley.

Since smoking is known to cause numerous health problems, Horsley said the decision to not hire smokers is an economical move that could save the county a lot of money in workers’ compensation costs each year.

The idea came to him after the Sheriff’s Department had to settle a $90,000 workers’ compensation claim with a retired employee. The retiree developed lung cancer…..

[realpatriot71]

Do you want to be a doctor, or a man of the cloth?

Christ's ministry was two fold on this Earth physical and spiritual healing. A physician continues in the healing tradition of God.

I think it's important that your patients know that the two are melded.

Any discusions of a religious nature in the patient/physician relationship are brought up by the patient first.

[Madame Dufarge]

I would not mention scripture in the physician/patient relationship unless the patient had let me know that was what he was interested in.

Wouldn't it be more honest to let patients know up front that your opinion was influenced by your religious viewpoint? I would think most patients would have an expectation of science, not religion.

For some patients, they may never know that I'll be praying for them, religion will never be mentioned.

How would you know which patients would be receptive to your religious point of view unless you brought the subject up?

[Madame Dufarge]

you need to get over it

I have nothing to "get over."

[Madame Dufarge]

I would not mention scripture in the physician/patient relationship unless the patient had let me know that was what he was interested in.

Your not mentioning it doesn't mean that your medical judgment isn't informed by it.

Wouldn't it be more honest to let the patient know about the merging of the two?

[realpatriot71]

Wouldn't it be more honest to let patients know up front that your opinion was influenced by your religious viewpoint?

My opinion on smoking does not need any religious viewpoint - it's toxic - its bad for you. It demonstartably obvious.

How would you know which patients would be receptive to your religious point of view unless you brought the subject up?

Patients often bring it up, you'd be surprised.

[Gabz]

Caffenine is just as addictive as alcohol and probably moreso than nicotine. But they are all legal.

You and your partners are hypocrites.

[Madame Dufarge]

My opinion on smoking does not need any religious viewpoint - it's toxic - its bad for you. It demonstartably obvious.

Which brings me back to my original point.

I believe most smokers will concede that smoking has risks associated with it. Your obligation as a professional is to state these risks.

Beyond that, your patients' choices are their own.

As a professional, your job is to be the mechanic and to fix things to the extent that you can, as you're being paid to do.

Would you treat your smoking patients with the same level of care that you would your non-smoking patients? If you would, I salute you.

If you wouldn't, you're a bad mechanic.

[Gabz]

M. DuFarge is correct in her statement that you have a reading comprehension problem.

You seem to have this need to put your own twist on the words of others who disagree with you. When you address the point made to you without twisting my words i will come back and address your questions.

[CurlyDave]

...has kept an ashtray in there because he will occassionally have a cigarette while working -- there has been absolutely no mold in there since.

Why doesn't he just inhale mold & mildew killer straight out of the can?

You can't be seriously touting one of the "benefits" of smoking as killing mold. In general, things that are toxic to lower life forms are also not healthy for humans. Otherwise we might all be drinking Roundup cocktails.

[realpatriot71]

Would you treat your smoking patients with the same level of care that you would your non-smoking patients? If you would, I salute you.

I course the same level of care is given to everyone - put a cop killer on my operating table and I'll make sure he lives to stand trial. It's the ethical duty of the physician to treat any and all patients without regard to their personal background. A patient is a patient.

[Gabz]

It was stated in another post that the anti-smokers would come out claiming I was doing just what you claim I was doing......which of course I was not.

Wake up and read what I said - I specifically stated I found it to be strange.

[Ditter]

I am so sorry you are still having this mold problem. For those of us who are bothered by it it is a TERRIBLE problem. Maybe you remember we sold our bay house, as is, because of toxic mold. I was made very sick by the mold, while my husband wasn't bothered by it at all, at least not in the small amount of time we would stay there. We decided to sell rather than remediate the mold.

[Great Dane]

I would assume people with obesity, and heroin addiction, and those with severe physical or emotional deformities are, too.

No, they are all politically correct sacred cows.

[metesky]

I was merely pointing out that smoking is immoral, a sin.

Bwahahahaha!

That's one of the smuggest, most smarmy statements I've read in almost six years on this forum.

Bwahahahaha!

[CSM]

"Homosexuality is proven to be a more dangerous and medically costly habit. Can the Sheriff discriminate on that basis as well?"

How about discrimination based on race? Certain diseases are statistically proven to occure much more frequently in certain races!

[CSM]

"If that be the case, how come my Dentist of at least 15 years was shocked when I told him I smoked, Dentists do get up close and personal."

Mine too. They were surprised. When they made the inquiry, I asked them why they didn't ask about chewing tobacco. I figured that chew would be more damaging to the teeth. They didn't have an answer and they found it interesting. I just pointed out that the societal demonization was working on them.......I asked where their kool-aid dispenser was.

My co-workers are usually surprised too!

[CSM]

You aren't paying a dime for smokers health coverage. #1 they pay a federal and state subsidy into the budget, for the state of Kookifornia that equates to $1,074,323,000 just for the state collections. #2 the individuals with health coverage ALWAYS pay a higher premium for that coverage. The smoker is paying for their own choice.

However, you have given in to the socialist mindset. As a result of these socialistic tax practices, we now have the ability to dictate personal behaviour. Your dream comes true.

Once again, please change your monikor. Real patriots support personal freedom and less government. Obviously, you are in opposition.

[CSM]

"Who's pointing a gun?"

Any government intrusion onto liberty or personal behaviour is done with the barrel of a gun! The only power the government has is with threats of enforcement, always aided by the use of guns! I would expect any "realpatriot" to know that!

[CSM]

Do you also break other laws about allowing breaks and allowing lunches? What is the name of your company? I want to make sure I never do business with a fascist!

[CSM]

"No, I'm speaking in the context of publicly paid jobs. I shouldn't be expected to take care of the consequences of a smoker's bad habit. You want to smoke - fine. If you want to be a cop, don't smoke - or wave your healthcare. I'm not stopping anyone from smoking."

Then we should also remove the proportionate amount of state funding that they receive from smoking taxes and the MSR! Smoke free mandated by government should also mean tobacco revenue free!