To a Point Lord Copper

The general principle seems absolutely fine.

Miss Hewitt defended the right of doctors and managers to draw up local guidelines on treatment after a survey revealed that some trusts are already banning operations.

Liver transplants for continuing alcoholics would seem something of a waste for example. Joint replacements for the grossly obese: might not even need them if the weight was lost first. However:

At least four trusts have stopped orthopaedic surgery for smokers, according to the research for Sky News.

Forgive me, but what is the connection between bones and joints and smoking? Just how can tese be denied upon the basis of "clinical need"?