Quote:
Originally Posted by Peppermint_Patty
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.
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there have been a string on MI experts coming out and saying that banning smoking in psych wards will likely increase aggressive behaviour, actually. inpatients aren't allowed to keep lighters etc, so there is no possibility of pxs setting alight to things.
just to be clear: the smoking doesn't actually happen
inthe wards, but
outside the hospital - probably in the grounds, in a well ventilated area. and for psych wards, there is always someone with you supervising.
so banning it from the ground doesn't actually do anything, imo, other than send the message that the state has total power over everything they do
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as i've said - would have no issue with this if it were extended to all hospitals. but it is beyond me as to why the mentally ill are targeted. my honest opinion is that it is likely that there simply weren't enough people who cared enough about the rights of the mentally ill to oppose it, whereas a blanket ban across all hospitals has many opposers.