Should the NHS provide free care to those who become ill through personal lifestyle choices?
Yes
The purpose of the NHS is not to discrimate against people for their choices but to provide excellent healthcare free at the point of need for those who require medical attention.
How do doctors determine between a casual drinker who goes too far or a habitual alcoholic, for example. The Hippocratic Oath demands they treat those in need and not be faced with judgement calls on eligibility.
Not to provide medical attention to excessive drinkers for example opens the door to 'rationing healthcare' which imposes moral and ethical burdens on doctors and the system.
National Insurance contributions are paid by all employees to part-fund the NHS and therefore the vast majority of patients have already 'contributed' to the cost of their treatment in some way.
No
In order to provide the best healthcare it is essential that individuals take responsibility for themselves and do not clog up the sytem or waste valuable resources through self inflicted abuse particluarly by excessive drinking, smoking or weight gain.
Lifestyle choice is exactly that, a choice, and if a choice has consequences you must be prepared to face and pay for them. If governments can tax sugar, alcohol or tobacco to reduce consumption why not charge for medical treatment as a further inducement.
An NHS which treats everyone for every condition is unfundable. Should taxpayers pay for other lifestyle choices like plastic surgery for anyone who wants it?
The NHS must provide the taxpayer value for money in a fair, sustainable and effective way. It is unfair and unsustainable to treat people for self inflicted problems at the expense of those who attempt to manage their health risk.
