Sir, – The debate about smokers telling lies on their life assurance application forms should no longer be necessary. There is now a simple test called co-oximetry that can be carried out in a doctor’s consulting room that will indicate the amount of carbon monoxide in a patient’s blood. Smokers have a significantly higher level of carbon monoxide so they can be identified easily. It doesn’t surprise me that insurance companies, which often appear to be out of touch with the rest of society, have not implemented the usage of this device. I suggest they Google it. – Yours, etc,
Dr TOM O’ROURKE ,
Gorey,
Co Wexford.