Power Harassment?

     Japan is one of the developed countries now, but in terms of smoking it is not keeping up. It is true that the total smoking rates in Japan are decreasing however the number of young female smokers is increasing rapidly, while the rate of adult male smokers is decreasing.
     To my sadness, the incidence of smoking among my staff members surpasses 70%, especially with nurses and care workers. We are working in the field of medical services. I couldn't believe this fugure at first. Smoking apparently harms not only the person who smokes but the people around the smoking person.
     I proposed a total ban on smoking at all times in my hospital at the monthly conference. The members who don't smoke were fully behind my proposal, but the other looked like they were against it. However, such smoking people do know that smoking is harmful. I asked them why they didn't refrain from smoking in the office. I continued that we were working for sick people IN THE HOSPITAL. They couldn't help agreeing to my proposal.
     I don't smoke and I'm one of the ranking members. All doctors, including part time doctors, are non-smokers. I hope smoking members don't think I am grilling them and my proposal is a power harassment.

(Vocabulary)
incidence of smoking among women  女性の喫煙率
behind ～の手助け［応援］をして、～を奨励して
I'm behind you all the way. : いつも応援してるよ。
ranking 最高位の、一流の; 上級の、幹部の
grill  ～を直火で焼く; ～を厳しく尋問する、厳しく追及する

(From comments)
spirits 《複数扱い》 気分, 心持ち
be in good/high/low spirits  機嫌がよい［上機嫌である，しょげている］
He is in good spirits despite his illness. 彼は病気にもかかわらず明るい．
reason with ＜人＞を諭す, 説得する
to no/little avail  まったく［ほとんど］役に立たない, 無駄になって
We searched everywhere for him to no avail. 彼を見つけようとあらゆる所を捜したが無駄だった．
suffocation  窒息, 窒息死; 窒息死させること
infirmity [U] (老人などの) 体調不良, 病弱; [C] 疾病, 病気

Comments

[KUMO]

Hi, Shiroi_Tora

I see patients with bacterial pneumonia on a daily basis and some of them are getting closer to death. I understood your sadness.

Thank you for the comment.

[Shiroi_Tora]

Your stance was, of course, the correct one. Smoking has caused the untimely deaths of so many of my co-workers. My younger sister, the only member of my family that smokes, has probably 10 - 20 years at best, before the ravages of her habit catch up to her.

The fact that it is a fully preventable cause that must make their degrading physical condition before death a particularly bitter experience to reconcile with.

I had visited a co-worker, a few years ago, who had at that time, about 3 months to live. I visited about once a month. The first two times, he seemed in relatively good spirits. The final visit came about 3 weeks before his death...I wish I hadn't gone that time. His psychological strength had left him. He seemed so bitter...that was the saddest thing to see. I had talked to him 15 years prior to his initial diagnosis of lung cancer...I tried to reason with him to quit...to no avail.

Many smokers don't seem to realize that while not all will get cancer...all heavy smokers...should they live long enough...shall get emphysema.

Slow suffocation...infirmity...relying on supplemental Oxygen to just exist. Not even with all the millions of dollars Johnny Carson had...he died a slow death due to Emphysema...cursing his smoking habit.