Over in Britain, this is how officials are thinking about further rationing health care:

Patients could be denied treatment because they smoke or are overweight, Patricia Hewitt said yesterday.

The Health Secretary insisted it was right for those whose lifestyle choices could make treatment ineffective to be refused care in some circumstances….

Health trusts in Suffolk were among the first to announce that obese people would be denied hip and knee replacements on the NHS.

I guess the smokers and the obese should just tolerate their pain with a “stiff upper lip.”

BTW, this is the same Patricia Hewitt who earlier claimed that the falling number of hospital beds was a sign of success.

So not only does socialized medicine hurt patients, it makes Orwell spin in his grave.