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Appeal against no-smoking rule in psychiatric unit dismissed

Stuff.co.nz(external link) - An appeal challenging the smoke free policy of the Waitemata District Health Board - including a smoking ban for mental health units - has been dismissed. 

Two psychiatric patients and a former nurse challenged the smoking ban by way judicial review, saying it was a breach of human rights. 

In a decision released on Wednesday, the Court of Appeal upheld the total ban on smoking that has been in place since 2009 and prohibits smoking inside and on the grounds of all Waitemata District Health Board (WDHB) sites, including its mental health units. 

The Court of Appeal supported the policy, saying it was addressing the need to reduce both the incidence of smoking - particularly in the mental health sector - and exposure to second-hand smoke...read more >>(external link)