Do Doctor's smoke?

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 31, 2004

I knew a few who did. One I work with now smokes cigars and reeks when coming in to take care of patients. It's a horrid thing to smell at 3 a.m., just nauseating.

SproutRN · Aug 31, 2004

I have an old RN magazine from 1944, there is an ad for Camel cigarettes. It shows a picture of a doctor smoking and it says "More Doctors smoke Camels". Does anyone know if doctors smoke these days ? I don't know of any, do you? Just curious!!

Sure they do....just like nurses, respiratory therapists, paramedics, etc.

We had one who used to come in smelling like an ashtray every morning.

Nothing better than that, eh?!

Sprout :nurse:

tonchitoRN · Aug 31, 2004

i knew an oncologist who smoked cigars. i asked him why considering the cancer risk. he told me it is the chemicals in the cigarettes that cause cancer, not the tobacco itself. he said the cigars he smoked did not have chemicals. is this true?

leslie :-D · Aug 31, 2004

absolutely doctor's smoke, and overeat, and drink/drugs....just like many other healthcare professionals.

we're human first, imperfections and all.

leslie

Saved_by_Grace · Aug 31, 2004

Yup my old pcp smoked, you could see him outside the back of the building when you pulled in for your appointment. Would think it'd make him lose his credibility when it came time to educate the patient on the evils of smoking..lol but I'm sure his nurse prob does all that. But Btw she'd be out there puffing away too.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Aug 31, 2004

* does a cat have a climbing gear? yes doctors smoke.

during and after the ww ii the tobacco companies gave cigarettes to members of the armed forces.

during world war ii (1939-1945) cigarettes were included in soldier's c-rations.
to "help" the cause of wwii the tobacco industry gave millions of cigarettes to soldiers for free, when the soldiers came home they were loyal customers.

http://library.thinkquest.org/11917/facts.htm#tales

now do doctors smoke? yes they do. some it is a habit they developed years before perhaps in college or med school. some believe they are immortal (it can't happen to me-i'm a doctor)

allnurses Guide · Aug 31, 2004

I just read a survey a couple of weeks ago but can't remember where that said nurses smoke at a higher rate than physicians.

But as has been said, every category of human being smokes . ..

steph

nursemary9, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2004

Hi

Unfortunately, MD's and all kinds of people,,professional and nonprofessional still smoke. Cigars, cigarettes andpipes!

It's really too bad in this world where we have so much documentation that it is bad for you!! That being said, we are all human & we all have our vices--drugs,eating, etc.

Mine is eating!!

MaryAnn

Katnip, RN · Aug 31, 2004

"i knew an oncologist who smoked cigars. i asked him why considering the cancer risk. he told me it is the chemicals in the cigarettes that cause cancer, not the tobacco itself. he said the cigars he smoked did not have chemicals. is this true?"

Not true. Cigar and pipe smokers are at risk of mouth and throat cancer. Not so much lung cancer because they don't inhale. Don't know where this doc got his info from. Chewing tobacco also causes cancer.

Maybe the cancer rates aren't as high in cigar and pipe smokers because they don't smoke as often.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Aug 31, 2004

I knew of course that Nurses, RT's, just about everyone smokes. I just didn't mention it fearing that I'd be opening a can of worms among our smoking members. I believe it's a free country and healthy or not, it's an individual choice. Overeating/Obesity is unhealthy as well and I choose to participate. With that said, I truely did not know if any Doctors still smoke. I do know in regards to cigar smoke that besides mouth and throat cancer that cigar smokers can, although at a much lower risk, can develop lung cancer because although they don't inhale they do breathe in their own second-hand smoke. My own Dad quit for that own reason when we were little. He didn't want his family inhaling his smoke. Thanks Dad !!!

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 31, 2004

OUCH your huge letter hurts my eyes rofl....