is it ethical for docs to refuse to treat smokers?

[mopinko]

i just got treated like dog shit by a surgeon cuz i smoke.
just flat out told me he wouldnt operate, even when i said i was working on quitting. didnt ask how much, how long, nothing.
but also seemed to rly minimize my condition, and tried to convince me that the surgery wouldnt help anyway. that might b true, tho the doc that was already treating me sent me. seems like he wd have a clue if there wasnt any help.

maybe i’m over reacting. i’ve been in misery for 9 mos now, nothing is working. i’m rly starting to feel like, at 71, my life as an active person might b over.
but rly, the guy was colder than any doc i’ve ever met.

[Ritabert]

1. The Trump gang is trying to get to the point of letting doctors refuse to treat patients

Smokers, drinkers, drug users, pregnant women, patients with STDs, etc. Can you ask your other doctor for another referral?

[mopinko]

4. i plan to.

i need to cool off 1st. he was such an asshole about it.

[Ritabert]

7. He sure sounds like it.

[SheltieLover]

8. ...

[Abnredleg]

2. A lot depends on what you are being treated for

If smoking is not compatible with your treatment then he is within his rights to refuse treatment.

[mopinko]

3. minimally invasive spine surgery.

i survived 2 major surgeries last yr w no issues. the 1st was an emergency. the 2nd had a 6 mo lead up and it never came up.
he didnt ask how much, how long, or offer any help in quitting. didnt even ask if i thought i cd go 4 wks without. coldest doc i have ever had.

[Lochloosa]

6. I recently had back surgery and feel like a different person.

My Doc never even asked about smoking and was great. Find a new doc and report this one. That's a BS move on his part.

It took about 6 months to completely heal.

Good luck.

[whathehell]

9. Ex smoker here..

It certainly seems unethical.
He might, in fact, merit a report to the state medical association...My advice would be to fire this bastard as soon as possible.

[mopinko]

11. oh, i'm def never going back to him.

i just picked him cuz he’s at the local office. the rest r downtown, which is a bit of a pita.
he was such a dick about it…

[whathehell]

16. Yeah, I saw as much in your later post, but

it pissed me off so much I guess I just wanted to reaffirm your decision.

I smoked for 28 years and remember going through various hassles with people before quitting, but thankfully, was never treated that way by a doctor.

I can certainly relate to the difficulty of quitting. I tried several times, but finally succeeded and I'm so glad I did.
If you're having trouble quitting, I'll be happy to tell you what worked for me. We can discuss it here on the thread or you can pm me if you'd like.

[mopinko]

17. i've only been smoking a bit over 10 yrs.

a pack a day at most. long stretches of 1/2 pack. he didnt bother to ask about any of that.

i’m working on it, and making progress. i likely cd go a mo w/o. having an answer to the addictive voice is important. ‘so i can fix this fucking back’ seems like it might work.
i went a mo after my gi surgery and barely thought about it. wasnt in pain, just tired and didnt want to go get them.

[whathehell]

18. Hi Mo, sorry for the delay in getting back.

The fact of only having smoked 10 years, should make it easier, and it sounds like you're able to handle the physical addiction aspect of it pretty well.
It's interesting that you mention needing "an answer to the addictive voice", because I was the same..In my case, it was facing basic mortality, something made easier by the recent lung cancer death of a close-in---age cousin. I'd look at the cigarette in my hand, confirm my deep attachment to it, then ask myself if it was worth leaving the planet for. I decided it wasn't. It was still a struggle, of course, but the determination helped. Using the Nicotine Patch and Nicotine Gum helped a lot too.
That said, I wish you a lot of luck, both with finding a good doctor and kicking the habit..Keep us informed.

[Permanut]

10. Sounds like a violation of the Hippocratic Oath..

Which addresses in part the need for healers to respect their patients.

[hlthe2b]

12. I would find that unethical--it is an addiction after all. I would hope all would continue to try

to help with cessation. There is no one cure-all for all. That said, there are certain procedures that are not considered safe to perform if smoking continues or cannot at least be halted for a time for both the procedure and healing period. I don't know if that is an issue, but surgical procedures often fall into that category... But those situation can potentially be addressed with at least short term cessation.

That said, I feel differently about pediatricians who refuse to treat the children of parents who refuse vaccination--after going to extremes to educate, reassure, and bring others in to counsel the parents in multiple ways. Afterwards, to continue to refuse is a choice to be willfully ignorant and pose a threat not only to the child but every other child at their school, daycare, and in the pediatricians' own waiting room. Now, THAT, I do agree with.

[mopinko]

13. agreed.

[Nanuke]

14. My good friend was treated horribly by a new doc because she is obese. "Maybe if you lost some weight..."

[mopinko]

15. i get so tired of docs.

i’ve spent more than my fair share of time in doc’s offices. decent human beings r rare.