Societal lack of Empathy

[_ajax18]

Bill Clinton did that back in the 1990's. 5 years total with no more than 2 consecutive years in a life time.

I never thought I'd be looking back fondly on Bill Clinton, and yet this quote shows just how much better he was than Obama.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Then watching that woman call the ambulance to pick her up in the hospital because she didn't want to diet was disturbing.

I guarantee you that ambulance ride cost Medicaid, the taxpayers, around $3000-$4000. One ride. For a person who refuses to control her eating. It's beyond ridiculous.

- Doc

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

If you watch "My 600 LBS Life" carefully you'll see that all have serious mental health issues. Just cutting the food won't solve the problem, and in fact is deadly.

We can all think of some group that we personally don't want to receive help. Maybe those that are morbidly thin don't deserve our help.
SEE https://frugalistablogdotcom.files.word ... t-thin.jpg

Not cutting food is a death sentence. The doctor on that show typically won't do a surgery unless they lose weight in the first place. In fact, unless they lose weight, the surgery itself can be deadly because their hearts are already stressed to the point of not working.

Therapy is a good thing. I think the idea is to get them to a healthy place so they can have a life, and then hopefully become a contributing member of society. It shouldn't be indefinitely financed by the taxpayer, though.

- Doc

[_canpakes]

Another thing that appalls me when watching, "My 600lb life"...

I'm appalled that folks in these situations are probably receiving compensation by the network and some measure of fame for putting themselves in this situation. I hope that I'm wrong about that.

As for the rest of the post, ajax, I'm largely* in agreement with you.



*no pun intended, of course. ; )

[_ajax18]

The doctor on that show typically won't do a surgery unless they lose weight in the first place. In fact, unless they lose weight, the surgery itself can be deadly because their hearts are already stressed to the point of not working.

Is the reason all those people from around the country make a cross country trek to Houston because Dr. Nowzardan is the only bariatric surgeon who will take the risk of anesthetizing and operating on a 600lb person? I wonder how many of them die on the table. It doesn't look like many surgeons are willing to operate on these people.

[_Jersey Girl]

I haven't watched the show in question. I didn't use your link yet.

Not cutting food is a death sentence. The doctor on that show typically won't do a surgery unless they lose weight in the first place. In fact, unless they lose weight, the surgery itself can be deadly because their hearts are already stressed to the point of not working.

If you are talking about bariatric surgery, and I'm sure that you are, there are steps leading up to it. You are correct that the patient must lose weight first to demonstrate the ability to be compliant with after care and successful weight loss and maintenance for the long haul. Another prereq for bariatric surgery is psych eval. Gastric By-pass and Gastric Sleeve surgeries both require nutritional supplementation--for life. Gastric By-pass presenting the strongest need and heavy duty supplementation--for life.

These aren't simple surgeries, possibly excepting lap band procedure. The recovery requires total compliance.

Therapy is a good thing. I think the idea is to get them to a healthy place so they can have a life, and then hopefully become a contributing member of society. It shouldn't be indefinitely financed by the taxpayer, though.

- Doc