Surgery for Smokers...

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We pay about $3.50 for a pack of cigarettes, so that's what, a little more the 2 Euro? Of course, that's besides the point - we don't have free healthcare in the U.S. So any type of medical treatment you require would have to be either paid by you, or through your insurance company, which would require you to pay the deductible.

 

Humm, then there's the additional costs that don't show up anywhere. The health costs of passive smokers and the ecological costs.

But yes, the problem is that as long as smoking is legal they have to get creative otherwise to disencourage people from smoking. I wouldn't mind banning smoking completely.

However, this is agreeably a poor way to divide the healthcare costs, when what they should be doing is increase the money on healthcare so that they wouldn't try to rely on this kind of chicanery. Shoot, they'd have to put more money on education as well and to educate healthier lifestyles to people. Governments are all about imposing their views to the people. This being a case of imposing a view that is for the good of the individual and for the good of the society, I don't see why this is such a bad thing. The results of people quitting smoking would be less revenue from taxing tobacco, but more income from more productive citizens who live longer.

I can't sympathize with smokers even if I'd be one myself. And this isn't that bad, what are smokers losing by signing up for a quit smoking program? Most likely they'll save up money themselves if the program's succesful and they'll be healthier. It's not like anyone has a right to kill themselves off slowly and painfully. It's an option, but it's not a right.

 

Okay, now that is unfair. Still no sympathy from me, though.

 

The operations are still wasted on people that willingly risk their lives for such an expensive habit. Let them go private, since they have so much money to waste

 

It's still about freedom of choice in my eyes. Refusing to admit people for surgery IMO is just plain blackmail and (Here comes the conspiracy theory) how long then before the same becomes true of drinkers, drug abusers, the connotations are scary. And who's to say it will stay as hip and knee surgery?

[ November 14, 2006, 20:52: Message edited by: Jan Jansen ]