smoking ban for operation

[robdaisy]

i have been funded by the pct to have excess skin removed from my eyelids which blocks/ impares my vision but the plastic surgeon at one of my local hospitals has refused to do the proceedure because i smoke. is there antything i can do to get this decision overturned or as i have had the funding agreed can i go elsewhere to have the proceedure. i must add that i am hiv+ and have ain which entails a eva every 3 months and have never had a reaction.

[mree]

You could always quit smoking? Sounds like you have enough health problems without creating more for yourself!

[pompeyfaith]

Mree as much as i agree with you its not our business to tell her that she has to make that decision herself being forced to stop smoking will make the task a lot harder she has to do it herself when she is ready too and in the right frame of mind.

 

Regards

 

Pompeyfaith

[robdaisy]

she is a he but thanks for your comment. to the other reply, yes i could give up but i dont want to, it should be my choice if i smoke not anyone elses.

[Madamfluff]

I would challenge the surgeon and ask for his reasons in writing - he may feel that you may have complications as you smoke, but you should be given a reason and ask to see another Dr, after all you pay enough tax

[gizmo111]

I think it's pretty standard that they ask you to stop smoking before operations. As it is not an emergency or life threatening condition I think they are probably in their rights to assess the risk and refuse to operate.

 

Some info on the reasons why here

 

 

Smoking: Should I Quit for Surgery and Anesthesia?

[Gixxergal]

Some Doctors are MORE anti smoking than others --I think they are at liberty to make decisions like this (also it is NOT life threatening op, or I am certain the Surgeon would operate) If you cannot get satisfaction --- see your Gp / Pct and ask for a refferal to a different Dr.

 

 

Smoking is NOT reccomened before ops as any chest irritant can cause choking/ vominting --in *some* cases .....

[poppynurse]

Smoking also caused long term skin damage - so perhaps the surgeon feels that if you continue to smoke it will negatively impact on the effectiveness of the surgery and the healing process.

 

Not to mention the increased risks of anaesthesia in smokers.

 

The surgeon should have explained why he was not willing to operate unless you stop smoking though.

[DrTeeth]

she is a he but thanks for your comment. to the other reply, yes i could give up but i dont want to, it should be my choice if i smoke not anyone elses.

 

I know it's an old thread but I agree with you 110%. The risks of having post anaesthetic problems due to your smoking are not significant IMHO. It is just a sign of political correctness. Just find another surgeon who is interested in treating people and not slabs of meat.

 

Have a cig for me...I gave up 4 years ago. I'm waiting until I either reach 70 or get diagnosed as terminal then I'm starting again .

 

DrT

[68904]

Smoking is a filthy dirty smelly habit, if I were the surgeon I would insist on the same.

Use your head, smoke and you may not be here much longer the choice is yours

[DrTeeth]

Shall we ban gay people if you disapprove of their lifestyle too?

[Maggie_moo]

I'm a smoker myself, but I agree it is a dirty, smelly habit!

 

However, smoking is a choice, nobody chooses to be gay, it's not a 'lifestlye' choice!

[DrTeeth]

Smoking is not exactly a choice. Nicotine is MORE addictive than heroin and is very difficult to stop.

[Maggie_moo]

Irrelevant really, everyone who smokes chooses that first cigarrette, no-one is born with one in the mouth, so to speak.

[Guest Old_andrew2018]

Hi robdaisy

 

any update? have you decided to ask for a refel to another hospital

Edited September 11, 2009 by old_andrew2007

[68904]

If a person who smokes flies to the USA, they cant smoke on the flight.

If you can stop smoking for 8/12 hours you can stop forever.

I think the anti smoking laws are the best thing this Government has done.

No matter what you say its still a filthy, dirty anti social habit, and should be banned everywhere.

[MRSWESTHAM]

Surgeons and such like are extremely busy people, why would you request they waste their time giving you thier reasons in writing when really you should be thinking yourelf lucky you have got a cosmetic procedure for free as the rest of your nhs care. Good Luck with your operation and smoke if you want to but dont sue the surgeon if their were complications. Your call isnt it.

[hightail]

you should be thinking yourelf lucky you have got a cosmetic procedure for free

 

The NHS may be supposedly free at the point of need but I do object to the attitude that we should all be humbly grateful for something we DO pay for.

 

Would the surgeon perform the operation if the OP was a private patient? If the answer is no then fair enough, the decision is based on medical reasoning. If however the answer is yes then the decision must be based on personal prejudice.

[MRSWESTHAM]

I dont think we should be humbly grateful BUT i do think we should appreciate the fact that we can get half decent care (most of the time!) without having to pay extra for it like you would if you were in different country.

 

If a person can pay for their own treatment its their money they can do what they like with it. If the OP is lucky enough to get a procedure that normally they would have to pay for I cannot understand why they would quibble over the smoking ban.

[mjc007.5]

Hiya,

 

Just to add my two pence worth

 

Firstly, best of luck with the surgery.

 

In regard to the smoking - it is of course a personal choice and like any personal choice as long it does no harm to anyone else along the way then good luck to you. It is of course preferable that you stop, at least for a period before the op and ideally completely. Your anaesthetic risk is signficantly raised by smoking and the post operative recovery is equally more prone to complications. Except for life saving procedures your surgeon is able to make reasonable stipultation about behaviour that would be in your best interest and as such I do not see the message itself (the smoking ban) as being unreasonable. Having said that how the message is delivered can often be an issue and a number of surgeons out there have very good surgical skills but lack somewhat in the communication deparment!

 

For all the tired old things about taxes, paying for services etc (I have been told again tonight that someone pays my wages, by another person that they are entitled to whatever they feel is appropriate because they pay their taxes!) A percentage of all of our taxes do pay for the NHS, it is far from perfect in many ways but I wish folk would stop considering it as a service like a bank, supermarket etc. We do get it wrong and in many ways can do better but one of the biggest strains on the NHS is the public's expectations which are often far from realistic!

Edited September 16, 2009 by mjc007.5
layout

[mjc007.5]

P. S

Before anybody wonders I am on a break

[zippygbr]

I would challenge the surgeon and ask for his reasons in writing - he may feel that you may have complications as you smoke, but you should be given a reason and ask to see another Dr, after all you pay enough tax

 

increased anaesthetic risk

 

slower , less efficient wound healing

 

are the two reasons that will be given and are very hard to challenge