In a strong action according to a controversial guidance it has been proposed that overweight, smokers and people who drink could have to forgo treatment on the NHS.
This comes from a government watchdog but criticised by other agencies. As the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) had the opinion that doctors should avoid discriminating against patients with such conditions.NICE said: "If the self-inflicted cause of the condition will influence the likely outcome of a particular treatment, then it may be appropriate to take this into account in some circumstances."
This report is the aftermath of a situation some time back that obese people will not be entitled to hip and knee replacement surgery on the NHS in East Suffolk.
The ruling came as part of a series of measures to be taken by the three primary care trusts in the area in an attempt to save money locally for the NHS.
The reason cited is that the risks of operating on obese patients are higher and the treatment may be less effective, with replacement joints wearing out sooner. So the statement is partially in favour of people’s health as well as an attempt to dissuade them from getting into the habit of smoking or drinking and being overweight.
