LNAT Essay

Could someone please mark this essay and tell me if this essay is good. I don't really know how these are marked.

QUESTION - "Cancer patients who smoke should not receive treatment on the NHS unless they quit. Is this a good idea?"

The NHS is a state funded healthcare system which is free for all UK citizens. With cancer being one of the biggest causes of death, it is crucial that patients comply with advice by healthcare professionals to ensure they their treatment is most effective. However, no matter what, all patients should be treated the same. This essay will argue why preventing cancer patients who smoke from receiving treatment under the NHS is not a good idea.

One reason why it is argued that cancer patients who smoke should not receive treatment under the NHS is because smoking may worsen their physical condition. This could lead to ineffective outcomes which in turn results in taxpayers’ money being wasted on treatment, time, accommodation, and care which could have been given to someone who had a better chance of recovery or in more critical condition. However, while this view is convincing, it fails to consider the mental health aspect of patients who have to quit smoking. For example, patients could experience withdrawal symptoms, leading to mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression which could then have a knock-on impact on their already weak physical health. This shows that if this policy was considered, the NHS would have to implement support for those struggling with their mental health, however the NHS may not have the funding available for programmes and staff to accommodate this, hindering the ability to provide support. This reinforces that cancer patients should not be refused treatment from the NHS, as this policy struggles to balance both the physical and mental health of vulnerable individuals.

One reason why cancer patients who smoke should not be refused treatment under the NHS is because they have the right to autonomy. This means that all individuals have the right to make their own decisions on what they do and put into their bodies. Therefore, prohibiting smoking could be seen as a breach to their human rights. However, it is argued that preventing cancer patients who smoke from receiving treatment under the NHS could encourage those individuals to quit smoking, mostly due to the fact they would be receiving free healthcare. Therefore, this could result in many benefits including reduced risk of deteriorating condition and the possibility of people quitting smoking permanently. This could lead to a healthier lifestyle after recovery and reduced risk of getting cancer again or other physical health conditions. Nevertheless, this argument is less convincing as the NHS could still encourage patients to quit smoking without the harsh consequences which make them feel forced into the decision. They could still gain all the health benefits from choosing to quit smoking in their free will without feeling forced due to the financial means of the alternative of private healthcare. This could be done through educational leaflets on the benefits of quitting smoking, how to manage side effects, or where to access therapy sessions to help with their mental health following this change. Do we really want the ill-health being forced to decide between their autonomy and their health?

Another reason why cancer patients who refuse to stop smoking should not be denied treatment under the NHS is because they may not be able to afford their own private treatment meaning they have to live untreated. Therefore, they not only risk their condition getting worse but also, they face an increased risk of death. How can refusing this treatment be justified? If this policy was implemented, we would likely see an increased risk of cancer related deaths. Who's to blame here? Would the NHS be held responsible? As I have already mentioned, it is not easy to just quit smoking. Therefore, if patients have a condition as serious as cancer in which treatment could be the decider on life-or-death, it is obvious that we would want to save the lives of our citizens no matter the circumstance.

In conclusion, the proposal that ‘cancer patients who smoke should not receive treatment under the NHS’ is not a good idea. The consequences clearly outweigh the benefits. Cancer patients should receive treatment regardless of their smoking habits, as this protects their physical and mental health, respects their autonomy, and ensures that financial barriers do not determine who lives or dies. The NHS’s role is to save lives, and refusing treatment in this situation would go against that principle.