Smokers On Oxygen Create Dilemma For Doctors

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Sometimes things in medicine are not crystal clear. Take the case of smokers who are dependent on oxygen.

It is a disturbing statistic. Patients who are sent home on oxygen therapy but smoke cigarettes are at twice the risk to suffer from burn injuries.

But here is the problem: Most of the patients who are oxygen dependent are cigarette smokers. So they need the oxygen but they can put themselves and others at risk due to the fact that if they smoke in the presence of the oxygen it can be highly combustible.

The real question is when someone is a repeat offender - they have gone home, a fire has occurred and they have been burned. They are hospitalized and a few months later when it is time to go home they need oxygen but are still smokers.

The dilemma is that you want people to be able to go home with oxygen but when there is a person with a known risk even with education and support, what is the best option for their health and the health of others?