I just can't wait for that universal health care we're being promised by all of the Dem presidential hopefuls. A recent story from the UK gives us a taste of things to come on this side of the pond. Via Drudge:
Smokers told to quit or surgery will be refused
Smokers are to be denied operations on the Health Service unless they give up cigarettes for at least four weeks beforehand.
Doctors will police the rule by ordering patients to take a blood test to prove they have not been smoking.
The ruling, authorised by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, comes after medical research conclusively showed smokers take longer to recover from surgery.
It is thought that 500,000 smokers a year will be affected.
However patients' groups argue that the move is about the NHS saving money rather than improving patient care.
They claim that health trusts do not want to operate on smokers because they stay in hospital longer, blocking beds and costing more to treat.
The ruling applies to routine operations such as hip replacements and heart surgery for conditions that are not immediately life-threatening.
If smokers refuse to give up, they are still likely to be treated but may have to wait longer.
Today it's smoking. What will it be tomorrow? Alcohol consumption? Obesity? It's only a matter of time. I guess "freedom of choice" only applies to abortion.
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