So Is This The Thin End Of The "self Inflicted" Wedge?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-37265752
I see where they are coming from but as soon as you start restricting treatment based on the "self inflicted" parameter you pretty soon find you can apply that to almost everything.

[ToraToraTora]

did you read my question gromit? I am 10000000000000% against rationing of care based on some arbitrary judgement, even for smokers.

[jackthehat]

Are your shreddies a bit tight today, TGT?

You seem a little tense even by your usual standards.....

Rationing treatment does seem to be the thin-end of the wedge and this particular story is based on restricting it due to large BMIs. As I said, I'm not sure quite why you think mentioning it spoils your carefully crafted thread.

[Gromit]

Apologies TTT.

Guilty of not reading the question :-(

Hey, so we agree for once :-)

[ummmm]

Looks like TTT has ruined yet another of his own threads!

[Mamyalynne]

I'm not a fan of 'tick box' medicine which is sort of where we are, I feel each patient should be assessed individually.

There's no doubt that in some cases lifestyle issues including weight may need to be addressed before surgery but not via a graph or pie chart.

[wolf63]

My BMI is twice what it should be and I would never think of approaching my doctor for non-urgent surgery. It would risky for me, expensive for the NHS and my cats would have to go and live with my brother if I died.

I have seen women of my size moaning in the press that they have been turned down for boob reduction operations.

The NHS is stretched as it is and it is not going to improve unless we all accept its limitations.

I have always had excellent service from my GP and his practice, my psychiatrist is approachable. I may just be lucky in that everything is much better north of the border (that was a joke).

I have excellent service from my vet too but that costs lots of money. I currently pay £50 per month in insurance for two moggies, as one is asthmatic and has an ongoing claim I can't change to another company. Maybe that is the way that the NHS may be headed in.