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| No. 30 | 
Aug 28, 2005, 09:42 PM
They should give this guy a medal.
 | | Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 31 |
Aug 28, 2005, 10:35 PM
Originally Posted by sbic56 I saw this doc on an interview tonight. His manner was blunt, but factual. Her husband was obese as well, so he educated her on how statistically he would probably die many years before her, because of his gender and his weight. Then he told her how there were many more elderly women than men and how if she wasn't seen as attractive, her chance of finding another relationship were even slimmer. She would never weigh herself, but he estimated her to be about 250# and 5'7".
I can see where his bluntness may have been more than she could take. If so, find another doctor. He didn't do anything but tell her the kind of facts to which people relate. Threatening people with heart attacks doesn't mean as much as reinforcing how much their personal lives may be impacted by their obesity. The truth hurts sometimes.
Frankly, I find the last part offensive. I don't go to a doctor for dating advice. I think if someone said that to me, I would ask him how many hours a week he spends at work and whether it was hurting his marriage.  | | No. 32 |
Aug 28, 2005, 11:30 PM
Originally Posted by BlevinsRN People just can't stand to hear the truth. I uderstand that there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to discuss someone's weight but the article doesn't give any specifics of how the doctor approached the issue. My guess is that the patient just didn't like what she was hearing. To me, that lawsuit ranks right up there with someone sueing Mcdonald's for making them fat. 
I was reviewing a pt's medical hx by phone with the pt. When I mentioned that the dr noted that she was morbidly obese, the pt. demanded that the dx be removed from her chart.
The pt. was "insulted" that the dr. was calling her "fat". I had to explain to the pt. that this was a medical dx and want not meant to be a derogatory term.
| | No. 33 |
Aug 29, 2005, 12:05 AM
If the md had said "Lady, you're a fat pig, push away from the trough", I could understand being offended. And if he talked to her about finding someone after her husband died from being fat, I could understand being ticked off and refusing to go to him. But to file a complaint with the state medical board? Seems alittle extreme. The truth hurts!
I'm morbidly obese and I've had doctors "suggest" I lose weight but none have actually confronted me with the plain ugly truth nor really talked with me about dealing with my "excess calories stores". I guess they think I know all about it since I'm a nurse. but I'm also their patient and human. Sometimes a kick in the hindquarters is good for you.
Enough about me. Honestly, I hope this lady eventually "hears" what he said and takes care of herself.
Sherry T
| | No. 34 |
Aug 29, 2005, 02:19 AM
Originally Posted by ragingmomster that just ONE patient that hears "MORbid ObeSITY" over and over and over from one of our anaesthesiologists while having an epidural placed would do something about it. I am embarrassed to admit that I don't have the stones to call him on it.
I am confused---what would you "call" him on---the fact that he cared enough about this patient's well being to point out how very grave her situation was (that's why, after all, it's called MORBID obesity----you can DIE from it, if you don't take some very serious action, and fast. That's why many morbidly obese patients have one last chance to save their lives, and that's in the form of gastric bypass--not a surgery to take lightly, but necessary, and rife with complications that can also kill you (the surgery was a success---but the patient died---sort of complications, such as DVT and pulmonary emboli.
Some of these patients are in such denial that they need a good swift kick in the a** to hear and finally accept the truth--sort of a "Toughlove" approach. I think the anesthesiologist of whom you speak does these patients a favor, if he shocks them into opening their eyes and making some radical lifestyle changes.
I'd rather someone saved my life than coddled me because he was afraid of being politically incorrect in his terminology.
| | No. 35 |
Aug 29, 2005, 08:50 AM
Originally Posted by barefootlady I am fat. Not so fat as to be unsightly but still I need to lose a good 50 lbs. My doctor has addressed this situation with me in a kind, caring, professional manner. I have set a target date to begin some big changes in my life. My doctor is aware of my plans and has offered to give me tips, recipes, and support in every way she can. I love my PCP, choosing her for my doctor was one of the smartest things I have ever done, not to mention the wonderful care she's given hubby. I hope this doctor does not get a bum wrap from the court because he was doing his job correctly. Sometimes no amount of tact will lessen the instructions a doctor must give a patient. For once, after reading every post on the event, I would support this doctor. 
I agree. Being a bit chunky myself, I wouldn't want my doc to sugar coat anything. He didn't do that when I was quitting smoking; he reminded me exactly how bad that was for me. Why should it be different about my weight?
| | No. 36 |
Aug 29, 2005, 08:55 AM
Originally Posted by KarafromPhilly Frankly, I find the last part offensive. I don't go to a doctor for dating advice. I think if someone said that to me, I would ask him how many hours a week he spends at work and whether it was hurting his marriage.
I think this was the part that bothered her, too. She didn't want to hear these stats at all. Perhaps he shouldn't have treaded there or perhaps he just hit a nerve and it will eventually do her some good. Still, leaving the doctor is the way to go. Suing him? Give me a break!
| | No. 37 |
Aug 29, 2005, 09:11 AM
Originally Posted by asher315 If the md had said "Lady, you're a fat pig, push away from the trough", I could understand being offended. And if he talked to her about finding someone after her husband died from being fat, I could understand being ticked off and refusing to go to him. But to file a complaint with the state medical board? Seems alittle extreme. The truth hurts!
I'm morbidly obese and I've had doctors "suggest" I lose weight but none have actually confronted me with the plain ugly truth nor really talked with me about dealing with my "excess calories stores". I guess they think I know all about it since I'm a nurse. but I'm also their patient and human. Sometimes a kick in the hindquarters is good for you.
Enough about me. Honestly, I hope this lady eventually "hears" what he said and takes care of herself.
Sherry T
I have to agree with you. when I used to be obese the truth used to hurt me, now being thin and looking back I can't thank them enough, or else there is a good chance I'd be 6 feet under  . Also, it's not like the MD was riding her bihind constantly about the issue.
Frankly, to each its own and some will much rather chose to feel "insulted", or make up every excuss in the book as to why they are obese and can't lose weight....rather than do something about it. This is MHO. I agree that the truth hurts. I can understand the patient only and only IF the MD said anything as stated in the post above or constantly nagging them about it.  | | No. 38 |
Aug 29, 2005, 09:29 AM
For crying out loud! Would she rather he lied?
Originally Posted by sunnyjohn Doctor Reprimanded for Calling Patient Fat
Dr. Terry Bennett Is Outraged After State Medical Board Found Him at Fault for Suggesting Patient Lose Weight
Aug. 24, 2005 -- Dr. Terry Bennett believes in being honest with his patients, but one woman was so offended about the way he spoke to her about her weight, she filed a complaint with the state Board of Medicine.
The New Hampshire state attorney general launched an investigation, asked Bennett to take a medical education course and admit he has made a mistake.
Bennett is outraged.
"Part of my job is to tell you the truth," Bennett said. "You come in here, you pay $75 to sit on the couch. I'm not going to sit here and talk about the weather with you. If you're noticeably obese, I know that you are going to have future health problems."
---------------------------------------------------------- http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/sto...1063448&page=1 | | No. 39 |
Aug 29, 2005, 09:29 AM
Fat is fat is fat is fat. Thats not muscle that builds up around the waist. Why people hate the word I dunno.
I actually find the term morbidly obese to be more upsetting than being called fat but thats just me.
Z
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