“The London Telegraph is reporting that the doctors believe ’smokers, heavy drinkers, the obese and the elderly should be barred from receiving some operations.’ Perhaps the doctors are following the lead of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, the British agency that provides guidance on public health. In 2005, NICE proposed that the National Health Service use age as a measurement of a patient’s worthiness for treatment. The reason for the hard hearts in Britain: The NHS can no longer afford to provide free treatment for everyone. For Britons, healthcare rationing isn’t just a threat. It’s a reality.” (01/29/08)