Smoking outside a hospital - why?
Posted on Jul 17th 2007 8:45AM by Brian White
Although I've written on smoking bans extensively in the last few months, countries and municipalities are finally getting the picture worldwide. That is, the general public does not like exposure to tobacco smoke (mostly from cigarettes) and smoking in public places needs to be discontinued.To those that argue second-hand smoke poses no threat, I'd like to challenge that 'assumption' -- are there verifiable facts from credible sources that back up such a claim? If so, I'd love to investigate them.
It kind of pains me in the worst way when I see patients and employees (such as nurses, of all people) in and around hospitals and medical establishments smoking. And, smoking where other patients have to wade through the toxic mess that is cigarette smoke just to get into a place of healing. Sounds like an oxymoron. Stress can be beat in other ways (it's the common excuse I hear from smokers) -- like fitness and meditation. Hospitals should be one place where smoking should be tossed out the window. Agreed?












