More on smoking and mental health.
Further to the publication of a report by the Royal College of Physicians, which I wrote about yesterday, the Independent invited Forest to respond to a comment by Professor Stephen Spiro, deputy chairman of the British Lung Foundation.
According to Spiro:
"Routinely considering whether someone presenting with a lung disease, or indeed any patient who smokes, might benefit from referral to mental health services, could make the key difference for many individuals."
After some consideration I replied:
"I would respectfully suggest that any doctor who routinely says to a patient who smokes that they might benefit from referral to mental health services will need his own head examining.
"Joking aside, the medical profession has a duty to treat everyone equally regardless of lifestyle. Such an idea represents a serious threat to people's personal liberty and I hope all right-thinking doctors will condemn it out of hand."
Needless to say my comment has not been published. I know print editions are limited for space but it failed even to make the online edition.
Last night I emailed the health editor, who wrote the story, to ask what had happened. (After all, it was he who contacted me for a comment.)
This morning he replied:
I filed it last night as soon as you delivered it but it has evidently been cut. Many apols. In my view it strengthened the story.
Just thought you'd like to know.