United Kingdom - head GP physician calls smoking in front of children "child abuse"..

August 9, 2010 - Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners (GPs), has condemned society's attitudes to food, alcohol and cigarettes. Professor Field, who represents 42,000 GPs across the United Kingdom (UK).

Dr. Fields has stated, parents that smoke in front of their children at home at in cars are "committing a form of child abuse". (Senior British Doctors demand banning smoking in vehicles when children are present..)

Fields called on parents, mothers-to-be, the obese, smokers and drinkers to turn into healthy role models for their children.

"Evidence from the US indicates that more young children are killed by parental smoking than by all other unintentional injuries combined."

Other health experts have previously called for smoking to be banned in cars when children are present, but the government's recent decision not to review existing smoking legislation means that move is unlikely.

Fields added: "Please don't take offence if we tell you to lose weight or stop smoking or drinking. You need to face facts and take responsibility but support is out there and together, we can help people live long, happy, fulfilling and healthy lives.

Reference: Smoking in the car is child abuse, GP Steve Field warns, BBC News, 8/7/2010.

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