June 7, 2004

The Sun Times

Letter to the Editor

290 9^th Street East

Box 200

Owen Sound ON N4K 5P2

RE: Article Saturday, June 5, 2004 – “Senior Smokers Get a Break”

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to Mr. Merriam’s column of June 5, 2004.  In public health, we try to look at the big picture, the whole community.  Focusing on one perspective may produce amusing newspaper columns but it does nothing to help our community become healthier.  In 28 years of medical practice I have never met anyone who wanted to be sicker, be in more pain or suffer needlessly from injury. The goal of public health measures is to help our community become healthier- a community with less injury, less suffering and less illness for all ages!

 The lifestyle choices that we make contribute to our ‘community’ health.  Historically, public health measures have been most successful in the long term when public policy changes have been implemented.  A few examples include immunization laws, clean water regulation, food safety legislation, communicable/reportable disease laws and rabies regulation.  These policies do curtail some individual choices but, when there is conflict between individual choice and the common good, Canadians have historically chosen the common good.  

 I am committed to our senior’s right to a safe and healthy environment, good personal care, good health care, opportunity for growth and social connections as well as opportunity for safe physical activity.  However I am strongly opposed to allowing individuals the choice to harm others and I actively discourage individuals from choosing to harm themselves.  Smoking cigarettes is a choice not a necessity or a right in life.  To me, life itself is a privilege and with that awesome privilege comes the responsibility to look after it as well as possible for ourselves and for others.  We are never ‘free’ from that responsibility regardless of how freedom might be defined.

I disagree with Mr. Merriam that seniors do not want to be healthier.  They do desire health and they can be healthier. They appreciate health more than younger people do.   Most elderly folk like to exercise, eat well and participate in learning and social events.   Most seniors will participate and be successful in appropriate smoking cessation programs and will see benefits in peripheral vascular disease remission, improvement in diabetes control, reductions in cardio-vascular medication requirements, mental alertness and a great improvement in lung function.

I am optimistic that eventually all inside spaces will be free of tobacco smoke and all our citizens- from babies and children to the elderly will have clean indoor air to breath.  Through policy change we can give our seniors the true dignity that comes through good health. 

Sincerely working for a healthier community. 

Hazel Lynn, MD, CCFP, MHSc

Medical Officer of Health