Former policeman goes to court after NHS says he's not fat enough for surgery

dailymail.co.uk ^ | 07/11/2011 | DAILY MAIL REPORTER

[massmike]

A former police officer is taking his legal battle over a health trust's refusal to fund obesity surgery to the Court of Appeal.

Thomas Condliff, who weighs 22 stone, says he needs the stomach operation to save his life. In what is believed to be the first case of its kind, he is appealing today against a High Court judge's refusal of his application.

Mr Condliff and his lawyers argue the 'irrational' decision violated his rights under the Human Rights Act and also breached the trust's own funding policy. The grandfather from Talke, Staffordshire, became obese because of the drugs he has taken to treat long-term diabetes.

He says he would rather avoid the "very unpleasant" surgery, involving removing part of his intestine and stomach, but without it his life is in danger. He suffers from 13 illnesses, takes 28 different drugs and uses breathing masks and inhalers.

[massmike]

Full title:

'Give me a gastric bypass - it's my Human Right!' Former policeman goes to court after NHS says he's not fat enough for surgery

[GeronL]

Give Give Give... someone else should pay for anything I want!

[WayneS]

“I don’t want to look like a weirdo — I’ll go with the Mumu...”

[clee1]

Mr. Condliff:

Your medical conditions make the surgery and the postoperative recovery period more than likely fatal.

Why should the taxpayers pay for an expensive procedure that is likely to kill you when you are obviously nearly dead anyway?

[Bluebird Singing]

“He said his weight spiraled out of control in recent years as a result of medication.”

Then, what good would a gastric bypass do? Metabolic problem?

Just admit he’s overeating, for Pete’s sake! He should use some will power and just stop eating so much. If he thinks he’s got problems now, just wait ‘til he finds out how fun life is with a gastric bypass.