McCowan et al raised valid points on the invaluable roles that can be
played by health care professionals in smoking cessation programmes.
However, their statement that "there were no difference in adverse
pregancy outcomes between women who stopped smoking by 15 weeks gestation
and non-smokers." is another poignant reminder that such roles have been
overshadowed by greed and self interest rather than keeping an eye on
patients' interest. Smoking ruins lives and wrecks families. The sheer
magnitude of this plague (smoking kills 5.4 million worldwide)
demonstrates that health care professionals and those in the academic
world have failed to muster the strength to be truthful with patients
about the detrimental effects of smoking.
Rapid Response:
Failure of academics and healthcare professionals
McCowan et al raised valid points on the invaluable roles that can be played by health care professionals in smoking cessation programmes. However, their statement that "there were no difference in adverse pregancy outcomes between women who stopped smoking by 15 weeks gestation and non-smokers." is another poignant reminder that such roles have been overshadowed by greed and self interest rather than keeping an eye on patients' interest. Smoking ruins lives and wrecks families. The sheer magnitude of this plague (smoking kills 5.4 million worldwide) demonstrates that health care professionals and those in the academic world have failed to muster the strength to be truthful with patients about the detrimental effects of smoking.
Competing interests: None declared
Competing interests: