Is it OK for a doctor to smoke?

With their detailed knowledge of the risks of smoking, it’s not surprising that most doctors and other medical professionals usually don’t smoke. But some do, despite many having first-hand experience of its dangers.

What percent of doctors are smokers?

CPS II data show that 16.7 percent of doctors currently smoke cigarettes, as do 14.1 percent of dentists, and 23.4 percent of nurses. Twice as many doctors and den tists have quit smoking as are currently smoking. Among nurses, 25.5 percent have quit smoking; more than 50 percent of the nurses never smoked.

What profession smokes the most?

Smoking Rates by Industry/Occupation Figure 1 reveals that accommodation and food service industry has the highest rate of smokers (30.3\%), followed by construction (28.9\%), transportation (26.1\%), and water and waste management (25.90\%) occupations.

When did cigarettes become bad?

On this day in 1964, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry issued a definitive report that linked smoking cigarettes with lung cancer.

How long should you quit smoking before surgery?

The truth is that quitting smoking just four to six weeks before your surgery—and staying smoke-free afterward—can lower your risk of serious complications and help you recover more quickly.

Do doctors know the hazard of smoking?

Unsurprisingly, in medical school, quite a few doctors and quite a few students I am with smoke cigarettes. Do they know the hazard of smoking? Of course they do.

Are there any older physicians who smoke?

One of the older doctors who resigned when I joined the practice smoked developed lung cancer at the age of 64. The other doctor who retired the same time I joined the practice smoked and died of a stroke. But both were old enough to have delivered me as a baby, so, physicians smoking is generational and very likely becoming non existent.

Should doctors and nurses be allowed to smoke?

Regardless of your view on the ethical issues, from a practical perspective, many healthcare providers either ban smoking on their grounds or even refuse to hire smokers. This makes quitting a priority for many doctors and nurses who smoke.

What are the ethical issues of smoking in the medical field?

For ethical issues, the most obvious is that it could be seen as hypocritical. Doctors and nurses smoking is seen by some people as undermining their credibility when telling patients about the dangers of smoking and why they should quit.