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Perhaps it can be said that the last prejudice is against those who are overweight. I know a woman who is overweight not because of what she eats, but because the the corticosteroids that she has to take because of her breathing. What of people who have endocrine disorders and are overweight because of that? What of people who have eating disorders? Should we deny them all the treatment because of their weight.

There is already a medical prejudice against people who are overweight. Everything that is wrong with an overweight person can be blamed on their weight...just ask most doctors. It is appalling how unprofessional some will be when dealing with an overweight person. They will do a lot more to save a nomal weight person than they will to save an overweight person. This is a fact. How do Doctors make that judgement? How do people live with their decisions?

In asking if a person should be denied treatment, it cannot just be limited to smokers and overweight people. Anyone who has made choices in their lives that negatively effects their health must be put in that lump sum. If one denies smokers and obese people treatment, one must also deny athletes treatment because it is a consequence of their choices that made them need new knees. How about rodeo riders? How about firemen who have smoke inhalation problems?

To deny someone treatment is to deny a lot more people treatment. Smokers cannot get lung transplants. I agree with this. However, I do believe that smokers need breathing treatments and oxygen to pull them through the rough times.

There is a saying that a person who lives in a glass house should not throw stones. This is true. We all have our vises. Should we deny drinkers treatment for their esophageal variceses? Should we deny divers treatment for the "bends"? Should we deny people who drink coffee teeth whitening treatment? Of course not. How can we make such judgments on who can have treatment or not.

Believe me, the price that the smoker and the obese person are paying is high already. How can we add to their pain?

Learn more about this author, Renee Dawson.
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