Numerous Canadian hospitals run lotteries that are utilized as fundraisers. Prizes ranging from large cash benefits to estate that is real cars are given out to lucky winners, while the proceeds are used to offer the medical operations at the hospitals.

For many, this seems such as a win-win proposition. But a minumum of one name that is big the Canadian medical industry thinks that these lotteries could be more dangerous than people assume.

Medical Journal Editor Speaks Out

Into the many recent dilemma of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, editor-in-chief Dr. John Fletcher published an editorial stating that hospitals choosing to perform these lotteries should make sure to ensure they have been protecting players whom are in risk for problem gambling if they want to reside as much as their social obligations.

‚It is contradictory for legislation to ban hospitals from selling one potentially harmful, but legal, addictive product on their premises tobacco while allowing them to actively market another lotteries,‘ wrote Dr. Fletcher. ‚Have we lost our moral compass to such a degree that people are blinded to our duty to ‚first do no harm‘ by the attraction of easy income?‘

Fletcher did make it clear which he was not advocating for the ban on medical center lotteries. After all, he said, most individuals may take component such drawings and simply have a little fun. During the time that is same they raise much required funds for good causes. But hospitals should take care to also make sure they are not using those who are prone to compulsive gambling.

According to Fletcher, just about 4 percent of Canadian adults are believed to have gambling problems of varying amounts of severity. Not surprisingly, this group that is small for much more than their reasonable share of gambling revenues, generating about 23 percent of the nation’s total.

In many cases, somewhat innocuous policies could possibly encourage gambling problems. For example, Dr. Fletcher points out that in hospital lotteries that are most, there are incentives created getting players to shop for more tickets. If one admission costs $10, ten may only cost $50 thus encouraging people to save money to increase their chances of winning.

These kinds of incentives may lead to huge outlays of money in order getting the best odds of winning possible. And also as Fletcher himself stated, issue gamblers will often have extreme difficulties in stopping at a responsible spot, instead accruing debt if not losing jobs, homes or household relationships because of their gambling.

And Now for Another Viewpoint

But not everyone will abide by Dr. Fletcher’s take on the problem. Dr. Robert Bell, the elected president and CEO of University Health Network, told The Globe and Mail that he was disappointed by Fletcher’s editorial.

Bell cited a 2011 study from Sweden that lotteries were among the smallest amount of addictive forms of gambling, making them less dangerous for society as a whole. That, with the good that the lotteries do, made him feel comfortable with the hospital contests.

‚The hospital lotteries perform a tremendous number of good in providing funding for enhancing care that is patient truly funding crucial research funding that is tough to raise in different ways,‘ Bell said.

There are wide ranging hospital lotteries throughout Canada. A few of the biggest lotteries that are annual had the opportunity to raise as much as $10 million or more for major hospitals.