'Get tough' on unhealthy lifestyles
A poll of more than 2,000 people by private health provider Bupa found 34% supported charges for treatment for people who smoke, drink or are obese. More than four out of 10 favoured some sort of penalty for people they considered to have self-inflicted health problems. And 8% said people who led an unhealthy lifestyle should be denied treatment.
The survey, which came ahead of Bupa's annual health debate, also found that 47% of people believed the government should increase taxes on cigarettes and alcohol.
Source: BBC News (22 November 2005)
posted by Simon Clark @ 05:29
2 comments
2 Comments:
"self-inflicted health problems."
Suppose the question that needs to be answered here is whether it is the "self-inflicted" part that people object to or the unhealthy lifestyle.
What about AIDS victims or people suffering from STD's? These could be viewed as self inflicted but whether they have been caused by an unhealthy lifestyle is probably up for debate.
What about breaking a bone whilst ski-ing or slipping disc while playing golf? All "self inflicted" so should these people be forced to pay for their own care?
This is a copy of the letter I recently sent to BUPA:
"Dear Sir/Madam,
It was with some concern that I read the article in The Daily Telegraph yesterday (and which was also reported on the BBC's News edition at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4457330.stm) outlining Bupa's survey findings which stated that 34% of people surveyed supported charges for people who smoke, drink or are obese. All of this cited under the general heading of penalties for those who have "self inflicted" health problems.
I take it then, that in order to be consistent, you will also be supporting the charging and penalising of people who have sports injuries as these are certainly self inflicted too and, moreover, they too cost the NHS and other health providers a great deal of money. In fact, a survey was produced on these costs some years ago and they proved to be enormous. Likewise, how about people who engage in other potentially risky activities such as hill walking or trekking and safariing in wildernesses and other far flung regions of the globe?
I should like a reply on these questions although, I suspect, however, that you had not taken the activities I have just cited into account. Moreover, the fact that the public supports penalties for those who smoke, drink or are obese does not necessarily make such an attitude right, added to which, were those members of the public surveyed asked to consider those activities I have just mentioned? I doubt it!
Next, what's obese anyway? The WHO has lowered the body mass index definition and hence, if there is a problem regarding obesity it has now been compounded and distorted.
On the face of things then, I am not much impressed with your survey as what it really seems to indicate is that Bupa has decided to jump on the current prohibitionist bandwagon. How trendy and unworthy of a supposedly serious health provider! In fact, if subsequent Bupa policy becomes as badly thought out as the basis on which it's questionnaire appears to be founded, then that's a very good reason for not taking out a private health policy with your organisation.
Yours Truly etc. etc"
I also sent a copy of this letter to Michael Summers, Chairman of The Patients' Association.
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