Should health care institutions refuse to hire smokers?

Should hospitals and other health care centres refuse to hire smokers?

It's a question being debated Friday afternoon at the eighth annual OttawaConference on Smoking Cessation, taking place at the Westin Hotel.

"It's known, and employers are very much aware, that smokers incur very significant costs," said Andrew Pipe, the head of the prevention and rehabilitation division at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and the moderator of today's debate.

"Their rates ofabsenteeism are greater. The rates ofillness are greater. The insurance costs associated with providing supplemental health care are much higher if there are smokers."

Pipe offered a preview oftoday's debate withOttawa Morninghost Giacomo Panico. Listen to that conversation here.

Ottawa Morning6:12Should hospitals refuse to hire smokers?

Should hospitals refuse to hire smokers? It's an idea being debated by doctors today.