Karen Counter isn't quite sure what side of the law she's on, but she's 100 per cent sure she is right. The GP from the NSW north coast is signing up to proliferate electronic cigarettes - a product that has sparked outright war within her profession and disagreements within the government.

E-cigarettes containing nicotine are illegal in Australia, unless the user has a prescription to help them quit smoking. But very few doctors [...] are willing to do so at present because it contravenes medical guidelines.