Note from Steve: I'm on the fence on this one.
N.H. woman filed complaint; state attorney general asked to investigate
The Associated Press
ROCHESTER, N.H. - As doctors warn more patients that they should lose weight, the advice has backfired on one doctor with a woman filing a complaint with the state saying he was hurtful, not helpful.
Dr. Terry Bennett says he tells obese patients their weight is bad for their health and their love lives, but the lecture drove one patient to complain to the state.
“I told a fat woman she was obese,” Bennett says. “I tried to get her attention. I told her, 'You need to get on a program, join a group of like-minded people and peel off the weight that is going to kill you.'"
He says he wrote a letter of apology to the woman when he found out she was offended.
Her complaint, filed about a year ago, was initially investigated by a panel of the New Hampshire Board of Medicine, which recommended that Bennett be sent a confidential letter of concern. The board rejected the suggestion in December and asked the attorney general’s office to investigate.
Bennett rejected that office’s proposal that he attend a medical education course and acknowledge that he made a mistake.
Bruce Friedman, chairman of the board of medicine, said he could not discuss specific complaints. Assistant Attorney General Catherine Bernhard, who conducted the investigation, also would not comment, citing state law that complaints are confidential until the board takes disciplinary action.
The board’s Web site says disciplinary sanctions may range from a reprimand to the revocation of all rights to practice in the state.
“Physicians have to be professional with patients and remember everyone is an individual. You should not be inflammatory or degrading to anyone,” said board member Kevin Costin.
Other overweight patients have come to Bennett’s defense.
“What really makes me angry is he told the truth,” Mindy Haney told WMUR-TV on Tuesday. “How can you punish somebody for that?”
Haney said Bennett has helped her lose more than 150 pounds, but acknowledged that she initially didn’t want to listen.
“I have been in this lady’s shoes. I’ve been angry and left his practice. I mean, in-my-car-taking-off angry,” Haney said. “But once you think about it, you’re angry at yourself, not Doctor Bennett. He’s the messenger. He’s telling you what you already know.”
I almost posted this story on my blog yesterday, after seeing the Dr. on the Today show. In all fairness the woman wasn't there to defend her position, but Matt Lauer seemed to be playing devils advocate to the Dr. and I have to say, the Dr. seemed to be alright...It must be tough to have to tell people, "Hey, you need to lose weight." I mean, they already know, and it hurts their feelings, but doctors have to tell the truth,and he said he told her more carefully several times, with no results. He said he wouldn't take that class and admit fault because it would brand him a reckless doctor or something like that. I don't think that is the exact term. Anyway, it is very interesting.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a bunch of crap...
ReplyDeleteSince an increasing portion of this nation's population has become overwheight, it's become "politically correct" to say that being "fat" is okay. It's not. I'm all for respecting the fact that we all have different body types...especially women...and that we shouldn't hold people to the standards of models and Hollywood actors and actresses...but, please, being obese simply isn't healthy, and we all must realize that.
If my doctor told me smoking a pack a day was bad for me, I wouldn't be so insecure as to sue him for insulting my "lifestyle choice." A doctor has to be able to "tell it like it is" without fear of being reprimanded for telling people what they don't want to hear.
Our nation's expanding waistlines are an indicator that our society is unsustainable...look at all the famine in Africa and other Third World countries! Our obesity speaks to our over-consumption of the world's resources.
I'm on the doctor's side on this one. I do think there were better ways to tell the patient to lose weight, but honestly, I don't think the doctor would offer up the suggestion on a whim. The woman did need to lose weight.
ReplyDeleteI've learned over the years as a fairly smart guy with questionable socal skills at times that a little tact goes a long way. The doctor should have phrased his words in a less offensive way as to not get sued, but he's not in the wrong.