City Council Considers Smoking Ban Outside Hospitals

While smoking is already banned inside hospitals, the NY City Council is considering a bill that would prohibit puffing away outside hospital entrances and on hospital grounds. The AP reports, "The measure seeks to ban smoking on hospital property and within 15 feet of any hospital entrance or exit. It would apply to public and private hospitals, as well as residential health care facilities and diagnostic and treatment centers." However, if the bill passes, those 15 feet from hospital grounds should get some ashtrays ready: When smoking was banned on a Buffalo health facility's campus, the smokers moved across the street—and in front of residential houses. One smoker admitted he was going to throw his cigarette butt in the street; when a TV station reporter asked, "Why can't you throw butt in garbage can?" the smoker answered, "I will. I didn't think of that."

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By Jen Chung in News on July 29, 2009 8:55 AM

Comments [rss]

[mis]inheritance

I am not a smoker myself, but I just think about all the freedoms this state and city take away from the individual.

I don't like secondhand smoke myself, especially before entering a hospital, but I really hope they don't fine people for smoking outside.

Sure it would be great if people took the time to realize that if they smoke 2 feet from an entrance that they are sharing their smoke with others, and that's when you assertively tell them to inhale further away from the entrance.

Just another law in New York.

Guest

Smoking is stupid. but who gives a shit if it's outside the doorway.

yytttt

they should ban smoking outside the womb/grave.

ides_of_march

Politicians cause cancer; ban them too. They definitely irritate the nostrils anyway.

NannyState

I get cancer just listening to these whiny jerks pontificating about second-hand smoke. Smoke wherever you want, fuck 'em all.

Snoopy

Strangely enough my uncle believed he became stricken with throat cancer due to the fact that he delivered to bars where people were smoking. I found it hard to believe because most of his deliveries were in the morning and early afternoon when there were very few people in the bars.

If the second hand smoke issue was real then there would be very few bartenders alive over the age of thirty.

I'm not saying smoking is good for you, but it appears not to be as bad as some people make it out to be. Especially second hand smoke.

Spirit of 76

Smokers are inconsiderate litterbugs anyway. I can always tell where a gathering area for smokers outside office buildings are. Even if they have butt cans, urns and other receptacles, you'll see butts absolutely everywhere. I've seen people actually stand by an ashtray and drop their butts on the ground anyway. And if I had a penny for every time I saw a lit butt sailing from the window of a moving car...

The Hanger-On

If this is a problem, hospitals should create their own bans. Why does the government need to get involved?

John Del Signore

Wow, where will all the nurses smoke? I worked at a major cancer hospital once and it was incredible to see so many co-workers outside smoking. If you're going in for treatment you don't want to have to walk through that.

Tpooh2

I guess you worked at MSK too then..

UnrepentantFenian

Every time someone says "there ought to be a law" there probably oughtn't.

Manitoba

But, there should be common sense. Since that rarely exists, we create laws.

hotstepper

if you don't like smoking, then don't smoke. nobody wants to hear you bitch about smokers in order to inflate your own sense of decency. the puritanical anti-smoking sentiment has reached a hysteria not seen since the good ol' witch hunting days.

Manitoba

I think most people are fine with smoking in reasonable places. I was never bothered by smoking in bars, because when I went to a bar, I knew people would be smoking there. If I didn't want to be around it, I wouldn't go.

When I go to a hospital, though, I shouldn't have to be around it. If hospitals want to have a space for smokers, they should install a canopy away from the entrance.

Same as when I go to Europe - I know people smoke in movie theaters, restaurants, etc., so if I don't feel like being around it, I don't go to places where people smoke. Regardless, comparing the US to Europe in terms of smoking is impossible; in the US, smokers always seem to look sickly and pathetic, huddled under umbrellas when it's raining, trying desperately to get one last drag before going back to work. Further, giving the way our health-system works, my tax dollars and healthcare premiums go to support people who've made the decision to smoke. In England, they would decide that you made the choice to smoke, so if you get sick, the health system will not exhaust itself to care for you.

nicemarmot

Yeah, all those people who prefer not to breathe in toxic chemicals are just crazy!

hotstepper

can you "prefer" without telling everyone about it? proselytizing may be fun, but nobody actually cares how self-righteous you feel for not smoking.

nicemarmot

I'll shut up about it just as soon as the cigarette smoke stops entering my lungs. My silence for your fresh air, how does that sound?

hotstepper

since you're a clean air freedom fighter, you may want to shut off all electronic devices and get to work on your garden so you're not eating anything delivered by tractor trailer. industrial and commercial air pollutants are much more toxic and prevalent than tobacco smoke.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/airpollution.html

nicemarmot

"Clean air freedom fighter"? Seriously?

Actually, I'm allergic to nicotine. Thanks for playing, time to go home.

hotstepper

allergic? way to pull that one out in the home stretch. i guess we really should legislate based on your personal comfort. cuz, ya know, it's all about you. smooches!