A friend was recently admitted to hospital as she had blood clots forming in her legs and was told this was related to smoking. She's had an op to remove the clots and while in hospital she was on one of those automated syringes to administer a very gradual and small dose of something to open up her arteries - had the side effect of making her flushed and feel hot.

Her toes were in a bad shape and was lucky not to have had some or all of them amputated although I believe this is looking like she's now "safe" I'm not 100% sure there still could be a chance one toe can't be saved.

The doctors have told her she must never smoke again.

My question is this. There are five of us in total and we're all smokers. I've taken to smoke outside as I'm very worried about the passive smoke but her partner is sayng it's safe because it's the nicotine and carbon monoxide that causes this disease.

Am I right to worry and carry on smoking outside or is he right and she's fine as long as she doesn't smoke herself?