Of course it's relevant
a patient comes to you and says "I've got diabetes but I love eating pies and cakes, smoking 50 fags a day, and drinking a bottle of wine"

You're going to say "Ok, that's fine, your decision 100%, I have no opinion on your actions".

Or, as a sensible doctor, you would more likely say "Don't smoke or drink and eat less pies and cakes"

And they will say "But I want to keep doing all this, and if I die my 3 year old child will be an orphan"

You will continue to say "oh, fine, your decision 100%".

Or maybe "You're being a bit selfish putting your cake and pie needs before that of your child, the way you are going, you will die much sooner than you need to"
(Bazongaloid, Tue 4 Oct 2011, 12:43, 2 replies, latest was 14 years ago)

I probably wouldn't be telling anyone I'm OK with a bad decision
what I will tell them is the options for their health. If you do this, x will happen. If you do this, y will happen.

At no point will I insult someone if I disagree with them. "If you want to do the following to your body, - these are the consequences . . . "

What ultimately happens to a patient is up to them, except when something life-threatening happens.
( Mrs Legless . . . belongs to, well, you know . . . :), Tue 4 Oct 2011, 12:46, Reply)

And as Gonz said, he hasn't insulted anyone either.
He's make a generalisation. Based on risks backed up by evidence.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 4 Oct 2011, 12:50, Reply)

So selfish is a term of endearment 'round your way
then?

Joking . . .


He's made a judgement on the personalities of a population, based on evidence (clincal and his own experience). Selfish is a adjective used to describe behaviour - he shouldn't be touching that argument in public at all.

And now I really am getting to bed . . . 'night
( Mrs Legless . . . belongs to, well, you know . . . :), Tue 4 Oct 2011, 12:52, Reply)

You really should stop editting your posts after the even without noting the fact that you are editting them
It's very bad manners when trying to have a discussion with someone.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 4 Oct 2011, 13:14, Reply)

But.. but... but... PIE!

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Tue 4 Oct 2011, 12:47, Reply)

It's okay Davros, it's okay, it was only theoretical pie.
It wasn't eve theoretically nice.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 4 Oct 2011, 12:49, Reply)

Phew.

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Tue 4 Oct 2011, 12:53, Reply)