Don't Let the Patient Smoke
Abstract
Better a pointy head than an empty head. Let me beginwith the obvious. Philosophers treat no padents but do occasionally treat confusions, and Dr. Cohenâs are several. First, I never alleged anybody has a night to smoke. It is Dr. Cohen, notin England there are hospitals that allow patients the luxury of a been with their evening meal. Mortality and morbidity tables have yet to show the practice a medical embanrassment.In all, Dr.CohenâsI, who is apparently addicted to the language ofnights. Whatl argued wasthat the typical reasons advanced for banning smoking by hospitalized psychiatric patients are without merit. Readers who think there ought to be reasons for restricting the liberty of patients will sympathize with my position, since no good reasons for banning smoking in psychiatric hospitals have been offered. Second, as anybody who bothered to read my letter knows, I necognized that smokers should not be allowed to imperil nonsmokers. Since regular exposure to sidestream smoke does place nonsmokers at risk, hospitals ought to regulate where patients, visitors, and staff may smoke. Designated smoking areas serve this purpose. Of course nobody has âdemonstratedâ that designated smoking areas spare the lungs of nonsmokers. Nevertheless,nothing. Most chronic psychiatric patients