John Nuttall, 57, needs surgery to set his ankle which was broken in three places and did not heal correctly with a traditional plaster cast. Doctors, however, have refused the treatment because he is a smoker. Ah, the glories of socialized medicine.
The ankle in question was broken nearly two years ago and had not healed properly with a plaster cast.
The required operation, which Nutall denied earlier because he feared catching MRSA, involves using pins to reset the ankle bones properly.
Doctors at the Royal Cornwall Hospital have refused to operate because they believe that his heavy smoking habit could hinder the healing process.
Mr. Nuttall is in constant pain from the feeling of the bones in his ankle rubbing together. The pain is so great that the doctors decided to prescribe him with a daily dose of morphine.
He fears that if the operation is not done soon his bones will become so calcified that an operation would no longer be possible; forcing him to live the rest of his life in constant pain.
Dailymail.co.uk quotes Mr. Nuttall:
'"I am in agony. I have begged them to operate but they won't. I have tried my hardest to give up smoking but I can't. I got down to ten a week at one point but they said that was not good enough.
"I spent 12 months trying to give up and used patches and everything, but nothing works.
"I have smoked for over 40 years and it's not going to happen.
"We were brought up at a time when cigarette advertisements were everywhere and there were no warnings.
"I want to warn other smokers that they could be denied medical treatment and there is nothing we can do about it.
"I have paid my dues as a taxpayer-and now the NHS won't treat me."
"It is very painful," he said. "If I walk more than a few steps I can feel it grinding."
UK Doctors Refuse Ankle Surgery Because Patient is a Smoker
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