The whole issue of the NHS treating peoples so called self inflicted illnesses has been a recurring theme this last week or so. As a nurse, I have always considered it part of the job to try not to discriminate against people because they are fat, smoke, drink, have unsafe sex etc. Just because I don’t think I would ever consider abortion for myself, doesn’t mean I haven’t been present and assisted people having abortions (I know that abortion is contentious and pregnancy isn’t an illness). Just because I don’t smoke, doesn’t mean I haven’t bandaged the amputated legs of people who lost their legs through smoking, or who have had heart attacks due to smoking and obesity.

If we stopped caring for people who had contributed to their disease in some way, perhaps hospitals would become a more pleasant place, as they would pretty much be empty. People are becoming increasingly self righteous on these matters but I would challenge the idea that discriminating against people on the basis that they are too fat for a hip replacement or that because they have been smokers in the past and might relapse they shouldn’t be given the chance of heart surgery. Actually it is not as simple as that, it pretty much never is. People go on about ‘lifestyle choices’ but are these actually choices? Who chooses to kill themselves though alcohol abuse, cigarette smoking, drug abuse, unsafe sex? Ok so some people do lead pretty reckless lives, but who are we as healthcare providers and members of the public to judge the behaviour of others? It seems to me that judging is something we have become pretty good at, and often we do it without giving a thought to our own lives.

I am not so naive as to think that some rationing does not need to take place, but it is time for people to recognise that each case should be taken on it’s merit rather than making such blanket statements such as the one made in Suffolk this week (link above).

NHS
Healthcare rationing