THE Scottish Government is consulting on whether electronic cigarettes should be banned from being consumed on hospital grounds. Recently, Public Health England called for electronic cigarettes to be prescribed by doctors as an aid to quitting smoking. Depending on the outcome of the Scottish Government's consultation, electronic cigarettes could end up being the first medicine that you are outlawed from consuming in a hospital. Confused? When it comes to electronic cigarettes you are not alone.

Neil McKeganey,

Director, Centre for Drug Misuse Research, 19 Keith Street, Glasgow.