Borrowdale Fell Race

[dcglim]

I beg to disagree. I found the post pretty distasteful. A doctor blithely describing his own patients' illnesses as "self-inflicted" displays an unpleasant sense of smug superiority and crass insensitivity.

I got the distinct feeling that the poster wasn't that far off actually wanting to penalise these feeble untermenschen - after all, they're probably 'the benefit thieves' you seem to despise so much.

Quite a few fell-runners I know (and good ones) have had problems to greater or lesser extents in the past with alcohol or drugs, and the last thing they would have wanted is 'help' from someone as grossly insensitive and superior as that. Don't worry, they're 'hard-working' now though, so you can rest easy.

Jimmy, I'm sorry if anybody feels that I've been judgemental or insensitive. It sounds like you've had your share of insensitive doctors and I'd be very unhappy if my patients thought that of me. That was not my intention. As I stated in my post, most of us don't always live the healthiest of lifestyles, myself included. I have been obese most of my adult life and don't come from a healthy family.

I do however, stand by my original point that we have our own hand in causing much of modern illness. It is not my opinion, it is not my judgement, it is a fact. And I'm not sure how my original post is showing "casual contempt"?

Cancer and heart disease are the two biggest killers in the developed world. Smoking, obesity, poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle significantly increases the risk of these. Of course, genetics and bad luck have a big role to play and I am not suggesting that if you have cancer, it is entirely your fault.

But the reality is that obesity is costing the NHS billions. Alcohol-related incidents accounts for a very significant number of NHS attendances. Smoking increases your risk of dozens of cancers and heart disease and stroke.

1 in 4 adults are obese in the UK (and growing!). To deny this isn't a problem and not causing illness would be wrong and exacerbate the problem.

Back to my original point and its connection with fell running. These patients all need help. Whether it is cause by a poor diet or falling off the side of a mountain, all patients deserve the best treatment in a fair and non-judgemental way. And this was the response I was making to Mike, who suggested that the injured fell runner should be charged for his NHS care.

Happy fell-running!