Inpatients Smoker’s Rights- the Debate Continues on the MH4OT Facebook Page
November 10, 2011 3 Comments
Here is the copy of the interesting thread that developed discussing the original post that I put on the MH4OT Facebook Page.
This is a Facebook group with 310 members (and counting!) of Occupational Therapists working in Mental Health worldwide. Looks like this debate will continue- please do leave a comment if you have a view.
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The way I see it, it’s perfectly reasonable to control and limit smoking somewhat, but not to put unreasonable barriers in the way of patient choice. I should note I’ve only been a patient, so no particular expertise, but that’s my thoughts.
Last time I was in hospital, surgical assessment ward, patients wanting to smoke were allowed to go outside but had to listen to a spiel from a nurse first (“we don’t recommend or condone smoking, it would be much better if you didn’t” etc), then be told they can go (or not, of course, if a doctor is on their way to see them or whatever). If they just say they want some “fresh air”, they don’t get the spiel, in at least one case when they were openly holding a pack of cigarettes.
I was a psychiatric in-patient for a couple of months when I was 16. Smoking was complicated by the fact the age range was 12-18 (18yo patients were only there if they were under 18 when admitted), but I observed the way it worked for the adults downstairs as well. They were allowed to smoke when outside on the grounds, and I think they had a smoking lounge. Smokers under 16 were given patches, I suspect adults may have been given them if they preferred.
I don’t think forcing psychiatric patients to quit is likely to be constructive, but gentle encouragement and support is surely a good thing. Force them to be away from other patients when they smoke, stop excessive smoking, and so forth – that makes sense to reduce the likelihood of new smokers starting.
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