Frederick Smith, who suffers narrowed arteries, was refused treatment by Andrew Lamerton, a vascular surgeon, until he gave up smoking for six months. The ailment may lead to the patient being confined to a wheelchair. The doctor also went on elaborate that smoking only aggravated Smith’s condition, and he would feel better after giving it up.
The Lincoln County Hospital supported the doctor, as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has already suggested that self-inflicted causes may be refused treatment wherein the treatment may be ineffective.Smith on the other hand feels he is being bullied into giving up the habit, as his condition may also be due to other factors like high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Smith insists upon being treated, as he is a taxpayer.
Andrew Lamerton had diagnosed Smith’s condition to be claudication, and suggested that the symptoms be referred to him after the patient gives up smoking for six months. Andrew Lamerton went on to add that there was no guarantee that a surgery will succeed, and there has been an improvement in the symptoms of 75% of the patients after they quit smoking.
Forest, a smokers' pressure group has termed this decision of the doctor ‘totally unfair’.
