Russia bans smoking in operating theatres

Operating theatre There was a rare victory for the Russian anti-smoking lobby yesterday after surgeons were banned from smoking while they carried out critical operations.

Moscow Surgeon Yuri Grogov was furious with what he declared to a major infringement of his personal freedom. ‘These stories of ash being dropped into open wounds are wildly exaggerated’ he insisted. ‘One or two cigarettes ends being left inside patients during open-heart surgery doesn’t mean you should take away the pleasure of smoking for thousands of Russian surgeons.’

The ban comes after a brief trial period during which surgeons had undertaken to smoke only low-tar brands and to flick their ash away from their work. However last month one Moscow patient who had his appendix removed learnt from x-ray photos that a dirty ashtray had accidentally been left in its place.
Surgeon The smoking ban becomes effective immediately and also applies to patients, who will no longer be able to request masks providing a mix of oxygen and high tar tobacco smoke. Doctors and nurses are exempt for the time being, but are asked to refrain from smoking pipes and cigars while on the ward.