Most doctors back wider smoking ban
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.DOCTORS are becoming increasingly hawkish over smoking, according to a survey by the British Medical Association's News Review, writes Nicholas Timmins.
Eighty per cent believe it should be banned in all public indoor places and almost a quarter believe patients with smoking-related diseases should get lower priority on the NHS.
Seventy-five per cent believe the age for legally buying cigarettes should be raised from 16 to 18 - and one-third believe the sale of cigarettes to children under 16 should be an imprisonable offence.
Nine out of 10 would like to see a rise in tobacco tax and nearly seven out of 10 favour increasing the price of cigarettes from the present pounds 2.50 or so a packet to pounds 4 to discourage smoking. The figures come from a survey of more than 900 doctors to which just under half replied, revealing a distinctly aggressive approach to persuading people to give up tobacco.
Almost a quarter said those with smoking or alcohol-related diseases should be given lower priority on the NHS and a still higher proportion said they should receive lower priority if they refused to give up after developing a smoking-related disease, or one that could be exacerbated by smoking.
The finding that a significant minority of doctors believe that those with smoking-related diseases should be given lower priority worried Dr Sandy Macara, chairman of the BMA's council, who said he was surprised.
'Treating patients according to their need is a matter of absolute principle and one that I would never compromise,' he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments