Hello All,

Here in the state of Ohio, USA we have a state wide smoking ban which makes it illegal to smoke in any public building including restaurants, cafes, pubs, hospitals, office buildings, etc.

And yes... while there were a few businesses who said that their business suffered as a result of of the smoking ban, most businesses have stated that their business actually increased as a result of the ban.

So it's a been a good thing for everyone, unless you are a smoker of course, lol.

Anyway... I realize that some of you are upset about banning smoking in Australian health care facilities... but unless a hospital is willing to undergo expensive alterations -- i.e. create rooms with SEPERATE VENTILATION SYSTEMS... banning smoking is the best thing to do, as cigarette smoke can contaminate the air of the entire healthcare facility with carcinogens, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants.

Also sorry to stir the pot further , but if you are visiting a hospital at the tax payer's expense... that is you are poor or unisured and not paying your own way... then I think the government and the public DOES HAVE THE RIGHT to step in say "NO!!" to anything that could contribute to additional healthcare costs (i.e. burden to the taxpayer).

Statistically speaking, smokers incur much higher healthcare costs than non-smokers.... so if I am a taxpayer, I don't want to be supporting or even enabling a person's habit, if that habit has the potential to create even more expense!!

So I think making the patient quit the smoking habit is a very good thing.

Furthermore.. healthcare facilities ban illegal drugs and alcohol on their premises and force alcoholics and drug addicts to kick the habit, so why should nicotine addicts be treated any differently?????

Anyway... as far as sedating a patient who is a smoker, I don't agree with that idea. I think the best idea would be to give the patients counseling and a short stint of nicotine patches.

Just my $0.02,

Peppermint Patty