Former Smoker Wins $28 Billion

[dr. freeze]

i don't think you understand the effects of eating unhealthily......i fully am aware and understand the effects of smoking.....obesity is the #1 killer in America.....ATH leads to 50% of the deaths in America -- if not more......also in many if not most patients an unhealthy eating style will kill them before smoking will....

my point is this: alcohol information is being suppressed right now for political reasons -- should this give the right to sue for alcohol related deaths? fast food chains have forever misled in terms of advertising.....should this give the right to sue?

Lawsuits are ruining our country.....granted, they protect people and are a necessity -- but the rampant sue happy mentality is absurd....people are responsible for their own decisions.....

also for you to insinuate that i am promoting smoking is ridiculous....i will defend truth though and the anti-smoking establishment is as guilty as the tobacco companies in promoting falsehoods about tobacco.....

 

[ozball]

Dr freeze,

Indeed I am keenly aware of the risks associated with poor lifestyle. I'm a family doctor of 13 years experience, working in a small community. I have a special interest in smoking cessation, and believe me we are both working on the same side here...

I wasn't insinuating that you promote smoking. My point is...patients have very selective hearing when it comes to the matter of their unhealthy addictions. As a doc, you can talk for half an hour about the risks of tobacco and the diseases it causes and if you mentioned once in that conversation that hamburgers are dangerous, or more specifically as dangerous as cigarettes, that will be the ONLY take home message they will hear. they'll keep on smoking, cut down the burgers, and their memory of the conversation will be that "cigarettes aren't that bad"

As for alcohol, if used in moderation is actually part of a healthy lifestyle. But again if that is too clearly stated, it gets taken to the one is good 10 are better level, plus there are people who cannot control their intake. The vast majority of the problems caused by alcohol are in its use to excess.

On the other hand, cigarettes are one of the only products that I can think of that, if used exactly as directed, will kill a large percentage of its users.

I agree on the lawsuits to some degree. There needs to be legal recourse in some circumstances, but it would seem that fear of litigation does hamstring the US, especially the medical system.

The epidemic of obesity needs to be addressed, as you suggest and I'm on your side there. What are your suggestions for getting that message out? It is very difficult to change these behaviours.

cheers

ozball