Do I Have the Right NOT to Be Weighed?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone...

Was at the doctor for a routine gyn recently and of course the tech was doing all the pre-lims like BP and stuff. She wanted me to get on the scale, which I always defer when I've been to the doctor before. (I see a doctor 'group', so whoever I get on that day is who's there. No particular 'primary'). I politely deferred the weight and the tech told me the doctor would not see me unless I got on the scale. What's that about?!

The reason I don't get on the scale is that I am in recovery from an eating disorder, and the scale is one of my triggers. It's so upsetting to me that just the act of stepping on it can screw up my whole day. I've tried standing bakwards on it, not looking at the numbers, etc, but the simple ACT is terribly upsetting. I know this is my issue, not theirs, but I am well within my appropriate weight range and I don't know why I MUST be weighed.

Everytime I go there, I have to re-explain all over again why I don't get on the scale. Some are understanding, some are not.

It's not like I was at the doc for a weight related issue...Can I refuse and still get treated?

Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
Of course ... then there's the question...Does the doc HAVE to see every patient who comes for care? Does he/she have the right to refuse to care for patients in non-emergent situations that will not allow a full assessment of their condition?

Sure! The doc can refuse non-emergent situations.

I just think that if the doc knew what was going on - she or he probably wouldn't insist on the weigh in. However, if the doc does insist on the weigh in knowing how much it upsets Meerkat - it's probably time to find another doc who is more respectful.

I do know that docs can 'fire' patients. My father is such a difficult nutjob of a patient that he has been 'fired' by two docs. Dad got certified letters in the mail from the docs saying "not your physician as of -- because of your non-compliance..."

Taking this educational opportunity to suggest that in the future, if a patient balks at being weighed (Which I view as THEIR right) you can suggest that they stand on the scale backwards so that do not see how much they weigh and you can gain the patient's trust by writing the number down and never letting them see it.

I think I might have to call the office manager. I think I'd have to say something like: "I very much like being a client of Dr. XYZ at this office, and appreciate the care I have received. However, as Dr. XYZ's client, I chose not to not adhere to this request of weigh ins because I have an eating disorder and I find weigh ins distressing. Could you please note this on my chart so there isn't confusion regarding weigh ins at future visits."

This would telegraph to the office manager that you do appreciate the office and that you are cordial. By using the lingo of the day, client and adhere, rather than 'patient' and 'comply', you are reminding them of your ownership of your own darn body and right to decline. I think it's a gentle nudge to use the lingo that is associated with the shift in medicine to recognizing patient autonomy.

I like this. Very professional. I'll remember 'client' and 'adhere'. Thanks, multicollinarity.

Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

I've tried standing bakwards on it, not looking at the numbers, etc, but the simple ACT is terribly upsetting.

Whiskeygirl-It seems your suggestion has been attempted. Unfortunately, it's the scale itself that is giving her a problem.

First off I just wanted to say that I think you DO have the right not to be weighed. I also understand how hard an eating disorder can be. I personally don't suffer from it, but my sister who I am very close has had an eating disorder since we were sophomores in high school. It's been VERY difficult having to see her go through it....and I didn't want her to deteriorate. Right now she's doing better and hasn't weighed herself on a scale in a while (except when going to physicals). She sees a therapist as well for it, and she also suffers from severe depression. :o My sister is doing better though...taking it one day at a time. Like the post above, I think the tech is just worried about someone being mad at her, but I'm sure you could let your doctor know that you don't feel comfortable. If your doctor is not very understanding, then I would definitely switch. Good luck! I hope everything works out for you.

Hey, I understand completely (or as best I can as a person who does not have an eating disorder). One of my best friends has extreme, treatment resistant bipolar disorder, and her daughter is also bipolar, also recovering from an eating disorder. Being near scales continues to be a problem for her, and I respect that.

I may have a simple reason: When I went to a surgeon for a consult recently, I commented on how much I hated getting on the scale and the woman told me the insurance companies require it. It proves that you were actually there. I know this doesn't solve your problem, unless maybe you could find out and run some interference with the insurance company?

I wish you the best with your recovery. I know it's a challenging course.

...the part about proving you were there??!!! that's bull. tell them your cleared and returned check does that.

op- plain and simple... you have every right to refuse, regardless of the reason.

period.

Yes, you have the right to refuse to be weighed. You also have the right to refuse to have your BP taken, to refuse to take your medications, to refuse to follow the advice of your healthcare providers. Patient rights, plain and simple.

If I were you, I'd select a healthcare provider that listens and works with you regarding your special needs.

I'd bet the tech is following her boss's directions. I wouldn't blame him/her for the clinic's policy.

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

LadyT618-if you are in an appropriate weight range, then you know it. You won't need a scale to tell you that.

Have you not learned anything about anorexia nervousa? Skinny women look at themselves in the mirror and see a fat girl. How is some one going to just know it when they can not even see what is right in front of them. I am not degrading the OP in anyway. Congratulations for how far you have come. But weight is very important. We had a high school girl with this and she would come in everyday to get weighed. She had her own gown that we kept hidden for her and everything. Its just as important as getting a constant weight on some one with edema.

I completely understand where you are coming from not wanting to be weighed!!!

I have suffered from a eatting disorder since I was 12 and was able to "recover" when I 19 in that process I had gained a fair ammount of weight(this is NOT the ED talking!) I went to a doctor to get my inhaler refilled and saw a different doctor and he asked, "is this a normal weight for you?" Just those words sent me into downward spiral and tiggered me back into my ED...now there were probably several other factors but that was the straw that broke the back!

I have been "lucky" enough to transition myself into EDNOS but I still suffer on a daily basic & dont think I will ever be turely healthly ever:o

People DONT understand what ED's are & I dont think expect them to! It just kills me that people read something in a magizine about ED's & then think they know about it.

When it comes to knowing if you are in the appropiate weight range I think you have a handle on it & I :balloons: you for recovering from this! I think refusing to was the right thing! It is really to bad the "tech" felt the need to "bully" you into a corner to make herelf feel better! I have never heard of a doctor refusing to see someone for not wanting to weigh in....You would think she would chart that & have the doctor speak to you about it!

We had a high school girl with this and she would come in everyday to get weighed. She had her own gown that we kept hidden for her and everything. Its just as important as getting a constant weight on some one with edema.

Actually, if you work with many people that have eating disorders, you will find that by forcing a daily weight you are actually REINFORCING the notion of the OCD-like obsession with the numbers.

Anorexia is not generally about becoming thin but it is a control issue. It's ALWAYS about the number on the scale. Anorexics see that number as a badge of pride or humiliation. It's not uncommon for them to starve themselves past a preset number.

For example, SuzyQ Moviestar is reported to weigh 85 pounds in the weekly tabloid. The anorexic mind doesn't see this as a danger but as a challenge to beat. This is not to say that they should never be weighed, but oftentimes it's more therapeutic to NOT weigh.

Anorexia is not generally about becoming thin but it is a control issue. It's ALWAYS about the number on the scale. Anorexics see that number as a badge of pride or humiliation. It's not uncommon for them to starve themselves past a preset number.

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I agree with you that is isnt about the # and more about the control but with that said there are "many" anorexic's that after several years dont weigh thereselves anymore. I think when your 1st start all with the diesase it is about the # & you wear it as a badge but after battling it for several years you begin to accept that you will never be happy with any # you see.

There is also alot more ED's out there then just Anorexia. A very good friend of mine is a very "classic" bulimic and she ways 170 lbs.....you would never think she would bave a ED & then there is people with EDNOS.

Weighing yourself can become very OCDish. I once had to lock my scale in my trunk for a week because I was weighing myself 10+ times a day....I have to say that was one of the hardest weeks of my life!

Specializes in Medical Telemetry, LTC,AlF, Skilled care.

When I've floated to the psych unit at the hospital I'm at, patients with eating disorders were not allowed to know their weight simply because it was so upsetting. The were also weighed backwards on the scale so the couldn't see what they weighed and the nurse or tech who recorded the weight was not allowed to disclose it to the patient. Perhaps next time at the dr's office tell them of your condition and asked to be weighed with your back facing the scale. Could that work for you?

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