Yeah, Right, Whatever

A woman has filed a complaint against her doctor. Why? Did he proposition her? Did he grope her? Was he negligent in his care of her medical needs?

Nope. He told her she was fat. Obese, to be exact.

The New Hampshire attorney general is investigating a Rochester doctor because a patient complained that he bluntly told her she needed to lose weight.

Dr. Terry Bennett said that he's outraged by what he calls a baseless complaint. A patient was apparently insulted when Bennett told her that she was obese and could only get healthier by losing weight....

Bennett said that it's a lecture he gives to many of his overweight patients.

"It's your weight, ... and there's dozens of programs," Bennett said. "You don't have to come in here. You can join Jenny Craig. You can go see Weight Watchers."

Bennett said he tells obese patients that their weight is bad for their health and their love lives. But the lecture drove one patient to write a letter to the Board of Medicine, which has passed on the complaint to the Attorney General's Office....

Bennett said that the Attorney General's Office tried to get him to settle the matter by agreeing to attend a medical education course, which he refused.

"I'm sorry," Bennett said. "If she's watching, I'm devoutly sorry to have offended you. I didn't mean to offend you. I meant to tell you the truth. And that's what I tried to do."

The Board of Medicine would not comment on the case, but Vice President Kevin Costin said, "Physicians have to be professional with patients and remember everyone is an individual. You should not be inflammatory or degrading to anyone."

Bennett said that he thinks his apology should be enough.

Truth hurts, doesn't it, Lady? (and, yes... I can say that because I have heard from my doctor that I would be a lot healthier if I dropped some weight. And I'm trying.)

Granted, the AG has to investigate every complaint that comes into the office. But... a "medical education" class? MORE doctors need to be willing to say "look, you are engaging in unhealthy behavior. If you want to feel better, put down the doughnut and put on your walking shoes."

Some people can be swayed by gentle encouragement. For everyone else? To quote an old friend of mine- "Some people need to be offended."