We're always surprised at the inability of doctors to do science

We shouldn’t be surprised, of course, for it’s a long running problem. This is just the latest instance:

Children’s doctors are calling for an outright ban on disposable vapes to reduce their popularity among young people as the long-term impact on lungs, hearts and brains remains unknown.

The government should ban single-use disposable vapes, which can be bought for just £1.99 and are most popular with young people, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has said.

This would reduce their environmental impact and discourage children who have never smoked from taking up vaping and risking long-term addiction and lung damage.

As we’ve noted many a time vaping and smoking are substitutes, not complements. More people vaping means fewer people smoking. As we’ve seen with the Snowdon Curve, this is simply one of those things that are true. And as Chris Snowdon notes again. New Zealand has legal, nicotine containing, vaping, Australia does not. Smoking rates in New Zealand have fallen against those in Australia since the legalisation.

Well, there we are, actual science, vaping reduces smoking rates. Therefore doctors who wish to reduce smoking rates should support vaping. Rather than try to ban it. Because that’s what science tells us is true.

Ho hum. Still, there is always that silver cloud. That latest proposal to bring in half-trained doctors has its merits. Maybe they’ll take due regard of science as the full doctors don’t?