Is it unreasonable for a back surgeon to refuse surgery to a patient that needs spinal repairs and is in constant pain, when the patient has COPD and emphysema and still is smoking though the patient has reduced smoking?
Some people, due to other health issues, are not safe candidates for surgery. My late BIL had COPD, post polio syndrome and other issues that precluded his doctors from using general anesthetics. We also live in litigious times and doctors are even more cautious about risky procedures.
