Smoke Free Scotland - 'lives Will Be Saved' Say Scotland's Doctors
Speaking just 24 hours before Scotland's enclosed public places become smoke free, Dr Peter Terry, Chairman of BMA Scotland, said: "Smoke free legislation is a legacy that Scotland has given to its future generations. This will be remembered as the time Scotland took a bold and politically courageous step to improve the health of people in Scotland.
"For years, Scotland's pubs, restaurants and workplaces have been filled with deadly smoke which has contributed to thousands of deaths from cancer, heart disease and stroke. Let us not forget that this legislation has been put in place to protect the public and employees from the hazards of second hand smoke. Economic arguments around loss of trade are not proven and raise the question over what value employers place on the health and life of their employees and customers.
"Tomorrow, Scotland clears the air, and in doing so it leads the way for other countries in the UK to follow suit next year. On behalf of doctors across Scotland I thank the Scottish Parliament for introducing this legislation that will help save lives which, for too long, have been cut short by the deadly weed that is tobacco." Doctors across Scotland have backed the BMA's campaign to ban smoking in enclosed public places for almost a decade and today, some took the opportunity to express their views:
Dr Stirling Bruce, GP in Glasgow said: "Significant progress can only be made to improve health in deprived areas if there is a major cultural shift in attitudes towards smoking. I believe that this new law will help to enable this change. Throughout my career as a GP I have regularly witnessed the devastation that tobacco brings to families and in years to come I believe we will ask - why did this take so long?"
Dr Graeme Eunson, Junior doctor in paediatrics in Edinburgh said: "The effects of second hand smoke can affect people at any age. I work in paediatrics and regularly see children with severe respiratory problems, many of which are exacerbated by, or directly linked to, exposure to second hand tobacco smoke. This weekend marks a change to Scotland's enclosed public places for the benefit of Scotland's future generation. We should recognise the real difference this will make - lives will be saved."
Dr Julie Brittenden, Consultant in General Surgery in Aberdeen said: "I am delighted that Scotland has made the decision to stop smoking in enclosed public places. It will help prevent people from facing early death and disability from passive smoke and will help the country re-evaluate its unhealthy relationship with tobacco."
Dr Andrew Thompson, GP registrar in Tayside said: "Smoke free enclosed public places protect people from passive smoke and help smokers who have tried to stop in the past give up for good. This law will make a real difference to health and a real difference to Scotland."
Dr Andrew Armstrong, Retired Consultant in Dumfriesshire said: "I unfortunately witnessed many deaths from tobacco related diseases over the years when I was a doctor. Smoke free enclosed public places mark a difference in attitude that will make a significant difference to health. I only wish that this was introduced many years before now."
-- Smoking kills 13,000 Scots each year from tobacco related diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Passive smoke also kills hundreds of people each year in Scotland, causes heart disease and asthma, aggravates asthma in adults, is known to cause middle ear and respiratory infections in children, and is linked to cot deaths.
-- Smoke free enclosed public places legislation is expected to be implemented in England, Northern Ireland and Wales in 2007.
http://www.bma.org.uk
Smoke Free Scoþia - "vieþi vor fi salvate" Spune Scoþia a Medicilor - Smoke Free Scotland - 'lives Will Be Saved' Say Scotland's Doctors - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate