Ethical aspects of smoking cessation among the population from Transylvania.

Ethical aspects related to the approach of persons addicted to tobacco use are a particular concern of pneumologists. Considered for a long time ”an expression of the modern way of life”, smoking is viewed today as a pandemic disease, being at the same time an epidemic that can be completely prevented. We present the ethical aspects of the approach of persons addicted to tobacco use, the peculiarities of the medical approach in smoking cessation and implicitly, of the doctor-patient relationship and how to make patients responsible for their own health within this relationship. The final aim of the medical intervention was to restore patient’s autonomy in making decisions regarding smoking cessation, along with a change in lifestyle. In changing the patients’ attitude, the principles of autonomy and non-maleficence represented a strong motivation, the patients benefiting from the presence and implementation of a National Smoking Cessation Program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]