Deliquesce,

Whether it is a regular hospital or a psych hospital is immaterial, IMHO... as it should be banned in ALL health care facilities not just for the pollution issue that I mentioned earlier, but also because it is a fire/explosion hazard.

(It's an explosion hazard if a lit cigarette is near an area where oxygen is used)

Anyway... as far as banning it only in psych hospitals, I don't really see that as discrimination.

I think psych hospitals have to deal with the threat of violence much more than a regular hospital-- including the possiblity of a patient deliberately setting fire to the facility through the use of cigarettes, lighters, etc, as an act of retribution or even a form of suicide.

So no, I don't think it is discrimination.

However why Australia doesn't ban smoking in ALL healthcare facilities is beyond me. Given the fact that smoking is such a unhealthy practice, allowing smoking in a health care facility is hypocritical IMHO.

Peppermint Patty