Comments on: Smokers are denied surgery in the UK http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/06/smokers-are-denied-surgery-in-uk.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:09:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: scalpelhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/06/smokers-are-denied-surgery-in-uk.html#comment-75825 scalpel Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:46:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/06/smokers-are-denied-surgery-in-the-uk.html#comment-75825 The cotinine test cannot differentiate between smoking and the use of nicotine patches/gum/lozenges. I haven't smoked in years, but my cotinine level is elevated because I use the lozenges daily.<br/><br/>I wonder if they might supplement the cotinine test with a carboxyhemoglobin test in certain cases. Nonsmokers who use other forms of nicotine do not have the same perioperative complication concerns, and should not be discriminated against.<br/><br/>This is an issue with life insurance rates here in the US as well. The cotinine test cannot differentiate between smoking and the use of nicotine patches/gum/lozenges. I haven’t smoked in years, but my cotinine level is elevated because I use the lozenges daily.

I wonder if they might supplement the cotinine test with a carboxyhemoglobin test in certain cases. Nonsmokers who use other forms of nicotine do not have the same perioperative complication concerns, and should not be discriminated against.

This is an issue with life insurance rates here in the US as well.

]]> By: Jason Steenhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/06/smokers-are-denied-surgery-in-uk.html#comment-75820 Jason Steen Tue, 05 Jun 2007 08:21:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/06/smokers-are-denied-surgery-in-the-uk.html#comment-75820 What kind of craziness is this! It would never fly here in America - I can just imagine LOL What kind of craziness is this! It would never fly here in America – I can just imagine LOL

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/06/smokers-are-denied-surgery-in-uk.html#comment-75819 Anonymous Tue, 05 Jun 2007 07:29:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/06/smokers-are-denied-surgery-in-the-uk.html#comment-75819 One wonders if they will also be given a pass when it comes to the extortion-theft of their government in regards to funding services that they are denied...<br/><br/>~Criminallopath~ One wonders if they will also be given a pass when it comes to the extortion-theft of their government in regards to funding services that they are denied…

~Criminallopath~

]]>