Well I believe we will have to agree to disagree.
I am just showing how it's deemed socially acceptable to be openly prejudiced against people who have made an informed choice, while it's unacceptable to be predjuiced against other groups. Are we going to see you openly bashing other people who have made a choice in how they live their lives? How about immigrants who have chosen to come here? Want to start on them too? No, because it wouldn't be such an easy target.
There are many things that offend me, but you know what, I shut up about it. Because I don't want to be predjudiced to those people or groups yet I live with this every day.
I do not feel that I have to justify myself to yourself nor anybody else on my choice. It is my choice. And I stand by it. If it offends you, I am not sorry. You make your choices, and that's your right too.
You still do not have the right to impinge upon the rights of others with your habits. I do not allow people to smoke or take illegal drugs in my house. I do not allow them to drink to excess unless there is a sober driver around. If I am paying for your insurance, I would expect you to at the very least not to do something so blatantly obvious that is detrimental to your health as smoking is. An employer has the same rights as I do in my house.
The employer expects you not to do illegal drugs and smoking is something that is very much known to cause health problems not only for that person but their patients as well. It is ridiculous to even be having this discussion on a forum where there are supposed to be health care providers here. Although EMS is not really involve in teaching patients unless they are part of public safety, being an example of practice what you preach goes a long way.
If you, as a health care professional , do illegal drugs or drinks to excess even if you are a "functioning alcoholic", your medical license will be in jeopardy. Is that discrimination? It impedes upon your right to be a junkie or an alcoholic as your life's choice. Of course it shouldn't matter when it comes to treating them as patients but it does matter when they are on the other side accepting the responsibility of doing the treating.
And yes we do discriminate again people who are overweight when they can not perform their duties. 200 or 220 is the max for HEMS or flight medics. Someone who weighs in at 400 pounds probably won't make it in the Fire or Police academy. I'm sure there are many other jobs where size matters and an obese person can not apply. Even some helicopters can not transport an obese patient. Discrimination or safety?
We do have racial guidelines for hiring as we might even have to restrict the number of all American whites in favor of hiring minorities. In Miami/Dade County the majority of the population is now Hispanic to where their "minority" status is affected in some issues. Have you ever seen a white contestant in a black beauty pageant?
We also now have laws in some cities that all the restaurants must cook with 0 trans fat cooking oil. So there is a greater plan in place to help those with obesity issues. It is not just the poor smoker is being picked on. But then, when it comes to being a health care professional, your responsibilties to others must be considered and that includes your employer, your co-workers and the patients. Those at some of our hospitals and FDs who failed to see their responsibilites of employment were essentially told to find another place to work. You do have the right to seek employment where they allow your habits.
