Lotus, a doctor who would foist an unapproved device like ours on a patient -- and collect money for it -- might find himself/herself under scrutiny for removal of license. What does anyone really know about e-devices and liquid? I mean really know. And a doctor must meet a much higher standard than some burned out cig smoker wanting to quit or vape in public. A discussion about e-cigs by a doctor might be warranted. Selling them? I think not.
There is no "right to vape," by the way. It's always with permission of a property owner. So trash that phrase, since it's meaningless.
Over the past many months, I worked in sending multiple missives to the FDA and politicians -- and we lost this battle. The war isn't over, but we lost this battle big time. The next battle will come over the next decade, for harm reduction. I'll be working toward that goal. And I'll do it with my feet firmly on the ground, based in reality, not dreams and not throwing rocks at regulators.
TB, if you want to take my "throw a rock" comment out of context and pretend that you're more firmly based in reality than I am, then fine. Not sure what "dreams" you think I'm having. I'm obviously just saying we should use
every legal means we can to slow or prevent a ban. But whatever makes you happy. I think you just like to argue ;-)
Do you really believe that getting as many doctors as possible to contact the FDA in support of PVs would not be of some help? Is that
your reality?
I agree that many scientific studies need to be done to verify and improve the safety of e-cigs. But I think the available evidence supports the belief - held by many doctors - that PVs are much safer to use than tobacco cigarettes.
As for my "Right to Vape," of course I don't have a right to use my device wherever I choose. Never said I did. However, I
know I have a right to vape where I am not bothering anyone. Like in my own home. I will continue to have that right until the government makes doing so explicitly illegal. I will not "trash that phrase." That's the right we should all be fighting for, freedom of choice.
As for my mom's doctor, he's a good one. Perhaps he's putting his patient's health ahead of his potential liability.
My mother lives with me so I can help take care of her. She is 70 years old, has COPD, and has smoked 2-3 packs a day since she was 14 years old. She has tried every method I know of to quit and always gone back to the cigs. The sound of her cough every morning, and several times during the day, was unbelievable. It sounded like she was wretching so hard her insides were turning out - sometimes for 5 or even 10 minutes at a time. For me, listening to that sound, it's seemed like forever. She simply couldn't expel the gunk building up in her lungs.
After 5 weeks on the PV, 90% of that cough is gone. For right now, that's
all the scientific evidence I need. And I thank her doctor with all my heart every time her coughing spells abate, and each day that I see her with more color and energy than she's had in years.
That's
my reality.
