Posted on 08/24/2005 7:20:13 AM PDT by Millee
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 board subcommittee, 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 the 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."
'Okay you're ugly too!'" - R. Dangerfield
;D! Thanks, I needed that.
He'll be prosecuted for hate speech.
In a politically-correct world where "feelings" are more important than facts anything is possible.
He should have flattered her and told her that she didn't sweat much for a fat girl. :-)
The doc defended himself well.
When she sits around the house, she sits around the house!
"He should have flattered her and told her that she didn't sweat much for a fat girl. :-)"
Or that she was "amazingly light on her feet" for such a big person.
I don't get it...
Because the doctor was indicating that it was her responsibility to lose the weight, it was her fault she is fat, and there is no one to sue about her condition.
Your career's not over 'til the fat lady sues.
Gotta love the late Rodney Dangerfield.
I get it.
Obesity is generally a product of poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyle, and caused in many cases by emotional issues. I know that's a broad brush, and there are people who have genetic disposition to heavyness and medical issues, but for the most part we know why most people get fat, the problem is between the person's hands and their mouth.
Then, take that person, who has poor discipline, and throw in the victim mentality: "It's not MY fault I'm fat! My mother blah blah blah blah..."
Throw that person into our culture where people will spend small fortunes on "magic bullet" "cures" to obesity - just take a pill, and you'll be skinny!
That's how you get this woman who's offended. She probably expected to be given a miracle cure to her weight, not told the cold, harsh truth.
And you're ugly, too.
Maybe he shouldn't have started the letter of apology with "Dear FatAss".
Sorry, no way in hell I'm going to apologize to someone for telling them the truth.
Look Cow, you are FAT... its unhealthy, and you need to make an effort to lose weight, or expect to have health problems and die younger than you could.
GO to a nursing home, or Senior center, and look around... you will see there ain't too many old obese people around... THERE'S A REASON!!!
You are offended that you are FAT, then do something about it.
>>"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.' <<
How big is this woman? If she's 10 pounds up, it was unwarranted, however if she 100 up, this doctor was doing his job.
This woman need to get her bunched up, big girl panties out of the crack in her butt and understand that she is overweight and the doctor is telling the truth.
I can understand that she is hurt by the bluntness of it, but sometimes the truth can hurt. Find a new doctor is this one is not in touch with your feelings, woman.
And to all the people who would like to flame me on this, I used to be a size 6 and will not revel now what size I am in but understand that after two kids (starting at 35 years old), the "baby weight" has not come off.
Get over it, I'm fat and I know it.
Rubenesque, fluffy, pleasingly plump, it's fat and those of us who are there should be realistic.
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