/Publicity for WLS

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I respectfully disagree with you. In today's " Information Age " I

think patients and the public, at-large, *owe* it to themselves to

become educated about any and all health issues that affect them or

their families. There is a difference between gathering and

providing information and making 'diagnoses and recommendations'.

I certainly agree with your point that WLS is not a convenience item

nor a cosmetic procedure, but it IS very much a consumer product (as

is all healthcare, in general). The type of informational

programming being discussed is different from a commercial

promotion. While there have been surgeons who have hyped WLS

strictly for profit, I feel thay are the exception rather than the

rule.

And, yes. You are right that surgeons are already overwhelmed with

demand for Bariatric surgery. That is because it is the most

effective treatment for morbid obesity available today. But I don't

think the solution is withholding the publicity to keep the demand

down. As you said, there are people whose lives depend upon this

operation, but they will DEFINITELY go untreated if they are never

made aware that help is out there.

I also agree with you that there needs to be better education of PCPs

through medical journals, etc. But, unfortunately today, there is

not always that " trickle-down effect " of information. Why do drug

companies find it so effective to advertise directly to consumers?

Because when a patient asks their doctor if " such and such " is right

for them it speaks volumes.

Maybe doctors are just experiencing " information overload " . There is

more information available today than ever before. Especially for

PCPs who are expected to keep abreast of such a wide variety of

knowledge. I think that most PCPs do an admiral job of staying on

top of things. I, personally think it is impossible for any one

person to know everything about everything.

What is wrong with a patient hearing about something that might be

pertinent to their case and then opening a dialog with their doctor?

My PCP knew very little about WLS until I brought him some

literature. I don't think less of him for not knowing. I think MORE

of him for being willing to admit he can stand to learn more about

something! I wish there were more doctors who were willing to have a

give and take relationship with their patients. Sure, they are the

experts and they bring that expertise to the equation. But I think

patients have a right and a RESPONSIBILITY to play an active role in

their healthcare and this rounds out the equation.

As long as Obesity remains the number one health EPIDEMIC in our

nation, then publicity for WLS is very much needed. If there is a

shortage of surgeons to meet demand, then we need to get more

surgeons trained. We need to get insurance companies to uniformly

acknowledge that BPD/DS and the RNY are the most effective treatments

available for MO, and cover it for everyone who can benefit from it.

OK, off my soap box, now. Thanks for listening!

Terri Hassiak

BMI 60

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=H980366398

Appealed " Out-of-Network " Ins. Denial - AND WON!!!

BPD/DS with Dr Pomp on 6/25/01

email(no spaces): bunsofluff @ hotmail.com

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