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Obesity is not a moral issue (Herald Sun, letter to the editor)
25 October 2007
Contrary to the assertions of Mirko Bagaric ("Losing it in the fat wars", October 23), moral judgments around obesity play no part in doctors' decisions to recommend surgery.
Obesity is a physical condition that substantially alters the risk of surgery.
Any doctor considering surgery will make an objective assessment of the risks and benefits to the patient.
It would be negligent not to take into account the patient's physical characteristics, including weight, in assessing risks.
If that assessment shows that the risks outweigh the benefits, then a doctor must recommend against the operation.
This is not about morality; it is about safe patient care.
Dr Douglas Travis
President
AMAVictoria
Victorian Medical Directory
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