[jambutty]

Not by me but by someone else.

It was reported on the wireless this morning that there are moves afoot to charge patients for treatment that is not considered as curing an illness or the injury/illness is self inflicted.

Some examples put forward were varicose veins, believe it or not hip replacements, tonsillitis, alcohol abuse and the ant-smoking brigade have popped up with smoking related problems. Let me just make one point – when science can unequivocally state that a persons’ lung cancer has been caused solely by smoking or passive smoking then the anti-smoking bigots will have a case. Science cannot do that because there are many other factors involved not least of which is general atmospheric pollution from a variety of sources and the genetic factor. Some people are genetically predisposed to developing cancer if they come into regular contact with pollutants and some are not.

If this suggestion does come to fruition, not only will the treating doctor have to decide what treatment to implement s/he will also have to try and determine if the patient has caused the illness/injury and then the ability to pay for the treatment.

Someone please convince me that the powers that be are not trying to privatise the NHS by the back door.