Chris Wynne, clinical director of radiation oncology at Christchurch Hospital, said yesterday that he knew starting the habit was stupid.
But this was the only way he could highlight the suffering of cancer patients during industrial action by radiation therapists. The therapists are taking action in a dispute over pay with the District Health Boards (DHBs). The next strike will start on January 9 and go for three days.
Wynne, who has tried cigarettes only once before, as a teenager, said he was willing to smoke for "as long as it takes" to highlight the stupidity of the situation.
"I've tried everything sensible so now I am doing something stupid. Appealing to common sense hasn't solved these strikes," he said.
"The union and management are so close but they don't seem to be able to resolve this. The doctors have said if they tell us what the difference is in the money we will make it up, so it isn't even about the money any more."
Deborah Powell, national secretary of the radiation therapists' union, said she sympathised with Wynne.
"I agree with him that this situation is stupid and I can understand his feelings of frustration because we are frustrated too," she said.
"However, the problem is the DHBs and their offer. We are losing staff to Australia because pay and working conditions are better and we need to change that. If this doctor wants to help he should be sitting on Gordon Davies' (chief executive of the Canterbury DHB and national DHB spokesman) doorstep and asking him about money."
Action on Smoking and Health spokeswoman Sneha Paul said Wynne would know the risks of smoking as well as anyone. "Smoking is the single largest cause of preventable deaths, so we would recommend he found another way to express his concern. Every cigarette does you damage."
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