Doctors - The Final Arbitrator?

There have been various other discussions here on the role of doctors in our health and welfare service. But the way I understand it doctors do have a final say in 'fit for surgery' [and the doctor can also be the surgeon]. At one time in OZ there was a debate [probably testing the water] on whether specialists and surgeons should refuse treatment to heavy continuing smokers.

Should they be the last arbitrators or should be all be entitled to the same treatment regardless of our own attention to health?

for example:

should diabetic people who continue to eat sugar and junk food get treatment?

should alcoholics who won't stop drinking get treatment?

smokers and over-weight persons?

we can all have a degree of ill-health and poor habits but what's the limit?

Re: Doctors - The Final Arbitrator?

What about sportsmen and women who get hurt ? If it's clinically possible to treat people they should be treated regardless.

Re: Doctors - The Final Arbitrator?

Of course they should Alan, couldn't agree more.

Re: Doctors - The Final Arbitrator?

but surely these are fit, healthy specimens who give us a great deal of leisure pleasure? whilst the heavy smoker, junk food eater and alcoholic are all addicts and make no significant contribution to society apart from the actors Oliver Reed and Richard Burton!

Re: Doctors - The Final Arbitrator?

I think the more serious argument is: with health costs escalating all the time we can probably no longer afford a universal free NHS and therefore either the consumer must pay and pay big time or those who just neglect their bodies whilst others take more care should get to the back of the queue?

if smokers, alcoholics and junk food eaters have pots of money and can afford private consultation, specialist and surgeons then I have no problem - go for it but don't get in the way of my free treatment options. For every heavy smoker, alcoholic and junk food eater in the health queue the queue gets longer and the rest of us may just be a the back

Re: Doctors - The Final Arbitrator?

I would have thought you would have been more concerned about the state of Medicare, than the state of the NHS.

Re: Doctors - The Final Arbitrator?

Now adays you have to go to the hospital and have blood test to deem if your fit to be operated its not down to your doctor.
Whereas part of me agree's with what your saying the other part thinks if they have paid there taxes all there life then they are entitled like any one else. The rest is personal choice I suppose if you want to smoke , be over weight or drink to much then its your choice as long as they have all the imformation about how its going to affect there health in old age and how it could shorten your life.

Re: Doctors - The Final Arbitrator?

I care about the state of the whole world spittie!

incidentally each State in OZ has it's own SHS.

Medicare is something a bit different and covers the whole of OZ. So for example the last time I was in hospital in my State Medicare covered some of the costs and my private health care body covered others

Re: Doctors - The Final Arbitrator?

which part agrees with which nobaggage? - don't quite follow!

Re: Doctors - The Final Arbitrator?

If we start to discriminate about who gets treatment and who doesn't we are on a slippery slope.
Where do we stop? Any one who doesn't take regular exercise, any one who takes part in dangerous sports, any one who does anything to jeopardise their health and well being in any way.
We already have ridiculous health and safety regulations, it's not the way to go in my opinion.

After all, who wants to live forever without any of life's pleasures