Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Crossing the line? The NH Board goes public on Dr. Bennett
The Union Leader: Board sets hearing for Dr. Bennett"One complaint charges he spoke to an obese female patient about her condition in a way that caused her distress and embarrassment. The other complaint, which was filed in 2001, said Bennett advised another female patient to buy a pistol so she could commit suicide to end her physical suffering.
Bennett’s attorney Chuck Douglas said the bigger issue is “how much under the First Amendment (of the Constitution) can government intrude into a doctor’s office . . .
. . . The notice released yesterday quotes Bennett as telling the woman, 'You need to lose weight. Let’s face it if your husband were to die tomorrow who would want you. Well, men might want you but not the types that you want to want you. Might even be a black guy.'
'The racial undertone gave rise to concern by the board the complaint might need further investigation,' Head said."
Boston Globe: State investigates doctor accused of racial remark to obese woman
"In a telephone interview Tuesday from Rochester, Bennett defended his message to her, saying he has read polls that say black men prefer overweight women.
Bennett, who treated members of the bin Laden family while practicing in Saudi Arabia from 1974 to 1981, denied wrongdoing Tuesday. He also said he is angry the board is reconsidering the 2001 complaint.
'That patient is currently in a nursing home completely demented, tied to a chair drooling on herself and doesn't recognize anybody,' said Bennett, 67. 'She was in pretty nearly that condition at the time she filed that complaint.'
As for the obese woman, Bennett said he gives the same -- admittedly harsh -- lecture to every obese female patient, and feels it would be bad medicine not to. He said he is sorry the woman was offended, but that he has apologized.
Charles Douglas, Bennett's lawyer, said his client is being attacked by the board, which, by its own rules, does not discipline doctors for bedside manner. 'If a patient does not like the message, go to another doctor,' Douglas said."
Posted by Kevin |
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Comments:
Dr. Bennett is 67? He should get a medal, not a citation, for practicing this long in this antagonistic climate we call a health care system. At least he can retire. Most of us have to keep watching our every move, praying to make it through another work day without a complaint or a lawsuit. Sorry, but that's the way alot of docs feel.
# posted by 
: 8:45 PM
: 8:45 PM
I'm now reminded of a student I had--thankfully, very briefly--in my second semester of teaching at our community college. I was teaching a "pre-composition" course for students who had not tested at the freshman level of writing ability. A middle-aged woman came to me during a break to challenge my requirement that all essays, including drafts, be typed or word processed.
"What if you don't know how to type and don't own a computer?" she asked, with a look that said, "Now I've got you!"
Dumbfounded, I looked at her and said, "I don't know how you'll get through college, these days, if you don't learn pretty quickly! It's a requirement of my class."
She left after the class ended for the day, looked up any staff member she could find, late on a Saturday afternoon, and complained that she had been horribly humiliated. She wanted to be sure "that will never happen to another student!"
She didn't get very far, and Dr. Bennett's patient shouldn't have, either. It does sound as though he should have stuck to the fact of her obesity and left the racial slur and other stuff; the fact remains, we're talking chairside manner, not competence. I would have gone in search of another doctor.
"What if you don't know how to type and don't own a computer?" she asked, with a look that said, "Now I've got you!"
Dumbfounded, I looked at her and said, "I don't know how you'll get through college, these days, if you don't learn pretty quickly! It's a requirement of my class."
She left after the class ended for the day, looked up any staff member she could find, late on a Saturday afternoon, and complained that she had been horribly humiliated. She wanted to be sure "that will never happen to another student!"
She didn't get very far, and Dr. Bennett's patient shouldn't have, either. It does sound as though he should have stuck to the fact of her obesity and left the racial slur and other stuff; the fact remains, we're talking chairside manner, not competence. I would have gone in search of another doctor.
# posted by : 9:58 PM
: 9:58 PM
Here's an identical case from Norway - for those who read Norwegian: http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2005/02/01/422060.html
- for those who don't, the doctor in this case asked his patient if she was working out; she then answered that she had a membership card at a health studio - to which the doctor replied; "Anyone can have one of those cards, it doesn't mean you're using it. If you were working out, you wouldn't be so fat."
He then asked her about her food intake, she claimed to be eating three regular meals a day, to which he answered "I don't believe you, - you can't eat three ordinary meals a day and yet be this fat."
- The doctor was reported to the medical board and promptly disciplined.
- for those who don't, the doctor in this case asked his patient if she was working out; she then answered that she had a membership card at a health studio - to which the doctor replied; "Anyone can have one of those cards, it doesn't mean you're using it. If you were working out, you wouldn't be so fat."
He then asked her about her food intake, she claimed to be eating three regular meals a day, to which he answered "I don't believe you, - you can't eat three ordinary meals a day and yet be this fat."
- The doctor was reported to the medical board and promptly disciplined.
# posted by : 1:48 AM
: 1:48 AM
When my grandfather was 95 years old, his doctor told him he was too fat and he needed to lose weight. My father took him out of that office and they went to a diner and ate Cake. Lots of cake. My grandfather died 2 years later at age 97. Just shows he should have listened to his doctor. P.S. He didn't report the doctor to the attorney general.
# posted by : 8:43 AM
: 8:43 AM
I'm dumbfounded that in light of newer information - comments that are completely RACIALLY MOTIVATED - you people still sit here and defend him. Dumbfounded.
The man is an ass. There is no way around it.
The man is an ass. There is no way around it.
# posted by : 6:51 AM
: 6:51 AM
You guys need to get an Apple IPOD. Haven't you ever heard the songs: "Baby Got Back" and "I like Big Butts". That's what this is all about.
# posted by : 11:58 AM
: 11:58 AM
One doesn't need to be a rocket scientist or watch one's every move to know that any kind of remark that could be considered racist (or sexist) by those most sensitive may end you in trouble these days. Do you think this type of comment would fly at any other job, e.g. in corporate environment? So why doctors are any different? There are some cases when doctors can talk of this type of things e.g. when the information is needed for diagnosis/treatment e.g. asking someone about sex life or telling about risk factors associated with race. But as far as non-health-related comments are concerned, doctors shall practice the same caution those of us working for corporations have been practicing for years.
Surely, there are ways of telling the obese patient that it'd be better for her health if she lost weight without bringing race into it? It's not like this comment was any more likely to make her loose weight. Frankly, as far as incentive for loosing weight is concerned "if your husband were to die tomorrow, you'll not be able to marry the men you'd like" is quite lame. How many married people change their lifestyle because of what would happen if their spose were to die tomorrow?
----
About 95-year-old grandfather: are you joking or do you have any reason to believe your father would've lived longer had he lost weight? There are lots of thin people who don't live that long. Do you have any study to show that weight loss at this age is beneficial? BTW. hasn't there been a study recently that said that it is dangerous to go on a diet at an advance age? Or and did that doctor told your grandfather that only black women would want him?
Surely, there are ways of telling the obese patient that it'd be better for her health if she lost weight without bringing race into it? It's not like this comment was any more likely to make her loose weight. Frankly, as far as incentive for loosing weight is concerned "if your husband were to die tomorrow, you'll not be able to marry the men you'd like" is quite lame. How many married people change their lifestyle because of what would happen if their spose were to die tomorrow?
----
About 95-year-old grandfather: are you joking or do you have any reason to believe your father would've lived longer had he lost weight? There are lots of thin people who don't live that long. Do you have any study to show that weight loss at this age is beneficial? BTW. hasn't there been a study recently that said that it is dangerous to go on a diet at an advance age? Or and did that doctor told your grandfather that only black women would want him?
# posted by : 4:10 PM
: 4:10 PM
Medical Boards don't just deal with illegal conduct they also deal with unethical conduct. I, too, am amazed people still want to defend this physician. I had a feeling there was a little more to they story than making a 'you're fat' comment - seems I was right.
# posted by : 5:32 PM
: 5:32 PM
"About 95-year-old grandfather: are you joking or do you have any reason to believe your father would've lived longer had he lost weight? "
Have you lost your mind? My grandfather wanted to die when he was 97, he'd had enough. I was joking about how ludicrous the expectations are in today's health care system. Today my doctor told me I was fat, should I sue him? I think i'll try to diet instead.
Have you lost your mind? My grandfather wanted to die when he was 97, he'd had enough. I was joking about how ludicrous the expectations are in today's health care system. Today my doctor told me I was fat, should I sue him? I think i'll try to diet instead.
# posted by : 6:12 PM
: 6:12 PM
"I, too, am amazed people still want to defend this physician."
You lack appreciation for the ego that comes with a medical degree. It's a massive thing.
You lack appreciation for the ego that comes with a medical degree. It's a massive thing.
# posted by : 10:06 PM
: 10:06 PM
You lack appreciation for the ego that comes with a medical degree. It's a massive thing.
Is that like "all black people like fried chicken, jews are money hoarders, Italians are all mafiosos?
Is that like "all black people like fried chicken, jews are money hoarders, Italians are all mafiosos?
# posted by : 8:29 AM
: 8:29 AM
there should be different standards among the races because some races have weaker muscle tone and will obviously weigh less while others will have more muscle mass and weigh more. Can any of you guess which is which? All I can say is that weight is carried different by different people. Some people are equipped with the genetics to maintain their weight better proportionally. That is why it cracks me up that Kirstie Alley made that comment about wanting to date black men because she was overweight (yes it had nothing to do with their awesome physiques). Someone needs to tell her and the dummies like her that, most black and brown women carry that weight in the right places...NOT THE BELLY and chin.
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# posted by : 10:33 AM
: 10:33 AM
