Question:
Has anyone ever had a medical doctor refuse to treat them because of their weight?
I just got home from seeing my orthapedic surgeon. Been having low back problems and knee pain for about 6 months now. He keeps telling me that my weight is the problem. (duh!!!) then he asks me how the celebrex and pain medicine are working. I tell him the celebrex gives me diareaha and the pain medicine works for about 1 hour then makes me sick to my stomach.He walked out of the room to get me something else instead of celebrex. When he came back I asked him "If I were of normal weight, what would you do for my condition then?" he said "I'd probably order another MRI" I said " I haven't even had a first one" he stammered around looking at my file and said " I see, let me give you something for pain" he walked out of the office and I heard him say "GEEEZ" to one of the other doctors in the hall way. Then he came back, handed me the prescription and walked into another office before I could even ask him something else. I am on the verge of tears. I can't even explain what I'm feeling exept that my feelings are hurt. All I thought on the way home is " he won't even treat me because I'm fat" So he'll just give me pills and hope I go on my way quietly. Which I did. But I did ask them to write another letter of medical necessity. Have I been discriminated against by my own doctor? I have noticed that this is the second doctor that now will not give me the time of day since I have not lost any weight. They will continue to write letters of medical necessity to my insurance but they will not treat me adequatly. I can go on getting new doctors but my ego is so bruised I don't want to go back to the doctor. No matter what my problem is. Anyone got any suggestions? — K T. (posted on July 25, 2001)
July 25, 2001
Yes, I had a doctor who wouldn't treat my knee pain. I never
had knee problems until I fell on some ice and injured it. My
doctor treated the initial injury; but, when I was still having
pain months later, her only "treatment" was to tell me to take
motrin and to lose weight. She was deaf to the fact that my knee only
became a problem after I injured it. She wouldn't even give me a
referral for physical therapy, she made a little diagram with some
exersizes for me to do. She didn't see a person with an injury, she
saw a fat woman who she believed was causing her own pain. I
think she was punishing me for being fat. However, she was the one
who explained wls to me and referred me to surgeon for a consultation.
That started me on this wonderful journey....I am grateful for that.
— [Anonymous]
July 25, 2001
My sister dealed with this several years ago. She was told by every doctor
to "lose weight" to deal with her sore, creaking knees and she
was only 16!! Well, 5 years later she's down about 70 lbs and her knees
are worse than ever!! FINALLY, a doctor realized that something was wrong
with her joints, and it may have been aggrevated by the weight, but not
caused by it. I would look for another doctor and explain when making your
appointment your situation. See if the doctor has a similar attitude and
if so, keep looking. Just hang in there.
— [Anonymous]
July 25, 2001
Both my sister and I had this trouble. In 98 we had and OB tell us
straight out that we are to FAT and he could not see us anymore. I was
already 5 months pregnant and my sister was about 3 months. I was so hurt
I did not even know what to say. I called to talk to them to see what was
going on and they never would take our call's. At the time I was about 285
LBS and that was too fat for them...
— Amy M.
July 25, 2001
I THINK IT HAPPENED BUT I WAS TO STUPID TO KNOW. I WENT TO THE DR. WITH
BACK PAIN AND SHE ASKED IF I GAINED MORE WEIGHT AND I SAID NO SO SHE WALKED
OUT OF THE ROOM AND NEVER CAME BACK THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW HER. I
FOUND OUT LATER IT WAS A DISC. NOT MY WEIGHT. THESE DR. NEED TO GET OFF
THEIR HIGH HORSE.KEEP LOOKING THERE IS A DR. OUT THERE FOR YOU.
— Debby B.
July 26, 2001
This has happened to me many times and to my mother as well. She was so
anemic she could have dropped dead at any time and her doctor kept telling
her she was tired because she was fat. She changed doctors and they
addressed the anemia right away because she was actually turning gray. It
was immediately obvious to the new doctor that something was wrong. My
suggestion is to write letters to whoever regulates doctors and their
licenses. There has to be some way to let the medical community know that
doctors are discriminating against people who need care and that they are
providing sub standard care. If we were all one race and this was
happening it would be a major issue and it would be addressed, but because
fat people are looked at as second class citizens it is swept under the
rug. I say you should write a letter if for no other reason than to
empower yourself. You never know who you may help in the process. We are
all good people who deserve proper care! Warm wishes and Good luck with
everything:-)
— Sara A
July 26, 2001
Hi! I have been to so many hospitals and doctors, and I can honestly say
that I haven't experienced that type of discrimination. Incompentent
doctors? Yes, I've seen plenty of those. However, only rarely has a doctor
mentioned my weight, and usually it is only AFTER we have discussed all my
other treatment options. I think that is mostly because I absolutely REFUSE
to be treated any differently. You must go into any doctor's appointment
ready to assert yourself. DEMAND to be treated with respect and dignity.
You deserve it. We ALL do. Another thing I did was arm myself with
information. I read anything I could get my hands on about my medical
conditions, treatment options, medications, etc. I have never been afraid
to question my doctor's diagnoses or his choice of treatment. Also, I have
never been afraid to change doctors if I wasn't satisfied. Once my PCP
(BTW, a wonderful man, one in a million!) gave me a referral to a
psychiatrist. The man was a jerk. I immediately went back to my PCP and
asked for another referral. He asked why and I told him that the guy was a
jerk. He laughed, said, "yeah, I know, but your insurance co. likes
him." He promptly gave me a referral to a guy he knew was good, and
everything worked out. I guess the point of my rambling is that if you let
doctors treat you like that, they will because they can get away with it.
BUT, if you come in to an appointment showing that you are knowledgeble
about your own body, ask questions, and refuse to move until you get the
right answers, I think you will find that you can get what you need. Good
luck in your quest to find adequate health care. It is out there, but you
may have to search. Maria
— Maria H.
July 26, 2001
Yes, I am 29 years old and have experienced some very troublesome
encounters with some very ignorant and unprofessional medical docotrs. I
had stopped going to my GYN or any other for over five years because the
last GYN told me that she didn't like examining "fat" people and
I should just stop being lazy and exercise (I was 18 years old). I had a
Physician's Assistance exam me for a physical and as she was walking out of
the room, she said "you are fat and should go on a diet."
Through recommendations from friends I have since found a wonderful PCP and
GYN for which I adore and have been with them for the past five years.
They are sensitive and caring people who have been supportive in my recent
decision to have WLS.
Unfortunately, doctors are people and people sometimes can be very stupid
and insensitive to others (for whatever the reason is). Nevertheless, your
health must remian a priority to you. My advice is to continue to search
for a "PROFESSIONAL", caring, sensitive and truthful doctor -
they really do exist!
Good Luck!
— Lisette R.
July 26, 2001
I know how you feel when yuou say it hurt your ego. When I was about 19
years ld, I had to go and see a gynecologist. A very old man. Just after
giving my exam he commented that I was "about 50 pounds
overweight" I was hurt and lashed out by saying "Well, that's not
why I came to see you and you have your nerve you are 'about 50 years too
old'! I was mad and didn't go back to see a doctor for quite some years and
when I finally did, I was very fortunate and got a wonderful male doctor
who I have been with ever since. It is hard to overlook ignorant people but
if you can overlook them, you are the winner!
— Happy B.
July 26, 2001
I'll post this anonymously so that I don't get 'bashed'. First of all, I
too, have been discriminated by a physician because of my weight. AT age
20 when I weighed about 210 (seems SKINNY now!), my ENT doc refused to
remove my tonsils because I was 'TOO FAT'. That hurt so bad!
I tell you this so that you know I've 'been there, done that'. Now for my
answer to your question... Doctors are in business to HEAL the problem,
not HIDE from it. Your weight is not allowing him to heal you and the way
he 'sees' it, you aren't making an effort to lose the weight and help
yourself. I work for 3 doctors so I do know how they think, be it right or
wrong. Pills are an 'easy' fix, and an MRI will tell him what he already
knows.... your body weight has destroyed your knees. In a normal weight
person, another MRI would be indicated because there would HAVE to be an
underlying problem to be causing the pain. May I ask what you would think
if a similar letter would have been written by a smoker with lung cancer
who REFUSES to quit smoking against Doctor's orders because it's difficult?
Doctors are only our 'Guides' to a healthy life, only WE can make it
happen by doing what they say. Move forward with your surgery and your
healthier life and in the meantime PLEASE stop feeling so picked on.
Perhaps YOU are the one who is not 'treating yourself adequately'.
Forgive my bluntness, but we ALL need to take responsibility for our
'condition'. Heal Thyself. I Am: 'Anonymous', 16 wks post-op, and 60#'s
lighter.
— [Anonymous]
November 19, 2001
I too have had doctors be very unkind about weight. I also have found
doctors who are understanding and kind. I had a very bad fall that caused
many broken bones and required four surgeries. The most unkindness was
caused by anesthesiologists (sp?) who were really enraged that they had to
participate in an operation with an obese person and told me so in no
uncertain terms 5 minutes before surgery. I woke to find permanent teeth
chipped each time. You have to be your own advocate. Tell the doctor that
you can understand that they may be upset that you are obese, but you are
not to be treated in an angry manner as a result. I think that the whole
issue of discrimination is based on the myth that fat people are lazy
slobs, lacking willpower etc. That is not the case. Noone would actively
chose to be obese and the holding room before surgery is not the place to
deal with these issues.
— [Anonymous]
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