Hospitals not hiring smokers

According to the New York Times:

More hospitals and medical businesses in many states are adopting strict policies that make smoking a reason to turn away job applicants, saying they want to increase worker productivity, reduce health care costs and encourage healthier living.

This isn't sitting well with some people:

“There is nothing unique about smoking,” said Lewis Maltby, president of the [National] Workrights Institute, who has lobbied vigorously against the practice. “The number of things that we all do privately that have negative impact on our health is endless. If it’s not smoking, it’s beer. If it’s not beer, it’s cheeseburgers. And what about your sex life?”

Previous attempts to deny smokers employment resulted in legislation in many states that prohibits "discrimination against smokers or those who use 'lawful products.'" Some of these laws carve out an exception for health care organizations, though.

As a live-and-let-live person, Maltby's argument resonates with me.

On the other hand, the smell of a cheeseburger isn't detrimental to your health.

Smoking is a troublesome habit because its effects aren't limited to the smoker: they encompass everyone within range of the smoke. And secondhand smoke is a health hazard.

So while in the abstract I don't care whether you smoke, in practice I care very much whether I have to suffer your cigarette's side effects.

I much prefer social pressure, rather than legislation or drastic measures like hiring bans, to change people's behavior. However, if I'm stuck in a hospital bed, I can do without an attendant reeking of stale cigarette smoke. If it takes a ban on hiring smokers to ensure that, so be it.

In the tradeoff between the freedom to smoke and the right to be free of smoke, count me in the latter camp.