Bloke in Cornwall has bad ankle and needs op. He's in great pain and has been prescribed morphine. He smokes and has been told he has to stop before the hospital will operate. The hospital say he is at risk from the operation because of his smoking?
In the meantime, the bloke says he's worried he'll get addicted to morphine if this goes on for much longer.
What are your views?
2007-09-15 09:21:18 · 25 answers · asked by Dame Washalot 2 in News & Events ➔ Current Events
Hi Scarlett: Yes, you sound like an ex-smoker,
2007-09-15 11:36:36 · update #1
I don't think this is right unless the smoking is specifically going to effect the results of the operation or the operation itself. I am not a smoker, but I think smokers are penalised enough as it is, without being refused medical treatment that they are PAYING FOR through their taxes already.
2007-09-15 09:30:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I stopped smoking 69 days ago so I could have an operation. I have smoked for 37 years and because I was so desperate to have my operation I would have done anything. I haven't cheated once either! I've been taking Zomorph tablets for nearly 5 years so I don't think this bloke should worry too much. If he really wants the operation then he will stop. Simple as that! I'm not saying it was easy for me cos it wasn't, there was never a moment when I didn't think about smoking.
p.s. I had my surgery on 13th August and I haven't started again, mainly because I know I need further surgeries in November, but, I've become accustomed to not smoking now so it doesn't bother me anymore.
2007-09-15 09:36:19 · answer #2 · answered by dozyllama 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If he has no complications already from smoking yes, he should be allowed the operation. Smokers pay their taxes like anyone else and the revenue the government make from smokers far exceeds what smokers cost the NHS for treatment etc. I am a smoker and will give up when I am ready and won’t be forced in to it by anyone. If the NHS decides to stop smokers having treatment it will only open a floodgate for them to stop anyone with a weight problem or someone with diabetes and the list is endless.
2007-09-15 09:31:00 · answer #3 · answered by scorpionbabe32 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I dont know all the details. Usually the hospital would not refuse, but offer cessation advice and patches for the duration of the hospital stay.
he may have other health problems that would prevent wound healing, just being a smoker is not good enough grounds to be refused an op.
2007-09-15 09:42:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably . The doctoes are right though.. the risks in an operation and rate of healing are affected by smoking. If anything goes wrong it is the surgeon who gets the blame... He is trying to give the patient the best chances of a good recovery., which is his job. The sooner everyone stops smoking the better ( and I smoked for many years myself).
2007-09-15 09:58:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As much as I detest smoking, I don't understand why the hospital are not allowing him to have the operation. I could understand if it was for something cosmetic, but this is something he needs.
It has never been a problem before if a patient smokes, so why should it now. It seems it's all down to the PC brigade again!!
2007-09-15 09:31:58 · answer #6 · answered by Sonia B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A smoker is more likely to get an infection after an operation. Plus, smokers take longer to heal than nonsmokers.
I'm a smoker and I've been through the same thing. Unfortunately, I took up the habit again, after being released from the hospital.
2007-09-15 09:29:39 · answer #7 · answered by maginethat 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's all part and parcel of turning us all into an amorphous mass. Nobody must be different from anyone else. We musn't smoke, we must all have the ideal body weight, we must all have the same sense of humour, or preferably, no humour at all in case someone is offended. We must all be Labour and green, whether we believe or not. We can't be English either, because the English no longer exist on census forms. We must definitely all be the same.
2007-09-15 10:36:47 · answer #8 · answered by Beau Brummell 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
52 % of smokers who undergo surgery have adverse outcomes from their operations. Doctors DO NOT like those statisitics. He should stop for 2 or 3 weeks before the operation.
I pray that he can stop long enough to get help.
2007-09-15 10:09:57 · answer #9 · answered by correrafan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's very sad that the hospital is correct. Complications could be drastic, so the hospital will avoid that.
The poor man must manage to stay off smoking until his more urgent condition is settled.
Best wishes for his speedy success.
2007-09-15 09:26:52 · answer #10 · answered by Zeera 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋