My other healthcare blogs are participating in a smoking theme day, so I thought I’d do it here at healthcare.wurk.net as well.

It’s a paradoxical situation when healthcare workers smoke. On the one hand, they’re supposed to be setting a good example. On the other hand, healthcare workers are often under a tremendous amount of stress which may push some towards smoking.

Many hospitals have banned smoking indoors but some, like the University of Missouri Health Care and Boone Hospital Center, will not allow smoking on any hospital-owned property including all outdoor areas, including green space, parking lots, and even inside parked cars. Starting Sept. 1, employees may also be cited for smelling like tobacco smoke.

Hospital administrators says this smoking ban is for the benefit of patients, co-workers, and the smokers themselves.

Do you think this is fair or a violation of privacy?

On an episode of Boston Legal I saw recently, the judge ruled that it was a fair and the case brought against an employer who fired his employee for smoking (outside the office building) was dismissed.

Update: The round-up of posts about smoking can be found at Baldiness.

Columbia Daily Tribune, April 29, 2006

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