Smoking & Ethics.

I was perusing through BBC News this morning as I often do and came across this article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6559215.stm

Ireland has had a smoking ban inside pubs, clubs, and bars since March 2004. Northern Ireland will have one in place on April 30 and England will have one starting July 1. In Ireland, researchers studied participating bar workers lung function and exposure to smoke before the smoking ban and one year after. What they found was a 99% decrease in smoke exposure, dramatically improved lung function, and significant reduction in cough and phlegm production. Many advocates against the smoking ban contest there are only trace amounts of harmful carcinogens in second hand smoke. After this study, they still have not changed their stance. I find this interesting considering just after one year of the smoking ban, such dramatic results can be produced. To say that second hand smoke is not harmful sometimes seems to me as proposterous in this day when we have a wealth of knowledge proving its harmful effects.

The smoking ban also brings up an ethical issue. The article stated "People, including bar workers, should be given a choice of working or socialising in a smoke-free environment or a well-ventilated, designated smoking lounge." Workers should not be forced to be exposed to harmful second hand smoke. The previous exposure was shown to be about 40 hrs a week. I can't even imagine how much harm that must cause. In the last lecture, Dr. Shahi defined ethics as "doing the right thing and doing things right." All bar, restaurant, club, and pub workers have the right to good health. They should not be forced to breathe in harmful smoke day in and day out. It is not a stipulation for their profession. This smoking ban is doing the right thing and doing things right.