By David Baker
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Treatment ban: Some doctors have called for non-emergency treatments to be banned for those who are obese
More than half of doctors across the UK have backed controversial measures to withhold treatment to smokers and the obese.
According to a new survey around 54 per cent of those who took part said the NHS should have the right to deny non-emergency treatments to those who fail to lose weight or kick their smoking habits.
Members of the networking website doctors.net.uk were asked 'Should the NHS be allowed to refuse non-emergency treatments to patients unless they lose weight or stop smoking?'
And although the poll was optional 593 of the 1,096 doctors who participated answered yes.
It is believed that some procedures are less likely to work on those with unhealthier lifestyles and medics say they should not use their already limited resources for such work.
In some parts of England smokers and the obese are already being rejected IVF treatment as well as hip and knee replacements by private clinics but patient groups have reacted angrily to calls for the NHS to follow suit, saying it denies them their basic human rights.
Speaking to The Observer Dr. Tim Ringrose, doctors.net.uk's chief executive, said the shift in attitudes is a result of the need to make huge cut backs.
Unhealthy: Smokers should not be entitled to the same medical care because of their habit, according to some doctors
He said: 'This might appear to be only a slim majority of doctors in favor of limiting treatment to some patients who fail to look after themselves, but it represents a tectonic shift for a profession that has always sought to provide free healthcare from the cradle to the grave.'
Dr. Clare Gerada, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, also told the paper: 'Clearly, giving up smoking is a good thing, but blackmailing people by telling them that they have to give up isn't what doctors should be doing.'
Pulse magazine has already reported that around 25 of 91 Primary Care Trusts in England have imposed some treatment bans since April last year.
A move to help save the £20bn, expected by the Government, before 2015.
But treatment bans of any kind were slammed by Dr Mark Porter, chairman of the British Medical Association's consultants committee, who added: 'There are occasions where a doctor may advise an obese person to lose weight before surgery can safely go ahead.
'But treatment bans are wholly unacceptable.'
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Where's my opinion on here!!!
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This should also include drinkers because that is worse than most things and it just completely rots your insides and drug users. So I imagine that will shrink the NHS required budget.
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I FEEL THIS IS VERY FAIR. I was obese, slightly, and have lost 2.5 stones and am now in size 10/12. I'm 74. If I can do it, anyone can do it. I'm enjoying being able to buy nice clothes in charity shops now. Also feel sooooo much better. I've virtually lost about 15 bags of sugar I had 'tied' round my body. Now I skip up the stairs instead of going up on hands and feet like a child, or hauling myself up by rails. Go for it, you can do it!! I don't see why people needing life saving surgery, have to wait whilst those who, through their own fault, are taking up time and money on the NHS. We all have to do our part.
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If they're allowed to get away with this, how long will it be before they 'refuse' treatment to people who can't prove they eat their 5 a day, or who eat red meat, or who eat white bread?
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What about alcoholics and drug addicts? They equally hold unhealthy lifestyles...
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Quite agree! And no treatment for accidents involving sport, or the guilty party of a traffic accident, or the hundreds of thousands of health tourists who use our health service.................yes lets start with those who have not paid into the system shall we?
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and yet if everyone gave up smoking the government would lose tens of billions in tax and the NHS would have less money...
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Awesome. So if someone can't exercise because they have a bum knee, they can't get their knee fixed until they've jogged their extra weight off. That's sensible. Oh wait...
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why when it has done so much good?
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Exactly what would the National Health Shambles do without all of the extra funding that they get from the duty on tobacco based products? Let's get the whole country to quit smoking, then see how much revenue both they, and the chancellor will lose.
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