Rationed health care in UK to withhold treatment to those who need it most?

Sunday Telegraph:

Doctors are calling for NHS treatment to be withheld from patients who are too old or who lead unhealthy lives.

Smokers, heavy drinkers, the obese and the elderly should be barred from receiving some operations, according to doctors, with most saying the health service cannot afford to provide free care to everyone.

Fertility treatment and "social" abortions are also on the list of procedures that many doctors say should not be funded by the state.

The findings of a survey conducted by Doctor magazine sparked a fierce row last night, with the British Medical Association and campaign groups describing the recommendations from family and hospital doctors as "out­rageous" and "disgraceful".

About one in 10 hospitals already deny some surgery to obese patients and smokers, with restrictions most common in hospitals battling debt.

...

The Government announced plans last week to offer fat people cash incentives to diet and exercise as part of a desperate strategy to steer Britain off a course that will otherwise see half the population dangerously overweight by 2050.

Obesity costs the British taxpayer £7 billion a year. Overweight people are more likely to contract diabetes, cancer and heart disease, and to require replacement joints or stomach-stapling operations.

Meanwhile, £1.7 billion is spent treating diseases caused by smoking, such as lung cancer, bronchitis and emphysema, with a similar sum spent by the NHS on alcohol problems. Cases of cirrhosis have tripled over the past decade.

...


I wonder if they will start offering lap band surgery for the overweight. What is clear is that the control freaks of socialism first want to take over health care and then they want to deny treatment to those who need it most. I am puzzled why the UK is so proud of this mess. If an insurance company were to deny coverage like this, liberals would be outraged.

It should be noted that in a free market health care system like the US people who make lifestyle choices may have to pay more for their health care coverage than those who lead a healthier life, but neither is in danger of being denied treatment because of those choices, even if they choose to go with out health care, they will still get treatment at the emergency room. They probably will have to pay out of pocket for their lap ban surgery.

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