Originally published September 8 2005
Woman files complaint after doctor calls her obese
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A New Hampshire woman has filed a complaint with the state's medical board after her doctor told her she was obese and needed to lose weight for health reasons. The doctor has refused to admit wrongdoing in the incidence, although he wrote a letter of apology to the woman when he learned she was offended.
As doctors warn more patients that they should lose weight, the advice has backfired on one doctor with a woman filing a complaint with the state saying he was hurtful, not helpful.
Dr. Terry Bennett says he tells obese patients their weight is bad for their health and their love lives, but the lecture drove one patient to complain to the state.
"I told a fat woman she was obese," Bennett says.
I told her, 'You need to get on a program, join a group of like-minded people and peel off the weight that is going to kill you.'
He says he wrote a letter of apology to the woman when he found out she was offended.
Her complaint, filed about a year ago, was initially investigated by a panel of the New Hampshire Board of Medicine, which recommended that Bennett be sent a confidential letter of concern.
Assistant Attorney General Catherine Bernhard, who conducted the investigation, also would not comment, citing state law that complaints are confidential until the board takes disciplinary action.
The board's Web site says disciplinary sanctions may range from a reprimand to the revocation of all rights to practice in the state.
"Physicians have to be professional with patients and remember everyone is an individual.
You should not be inflammatory or degrading to anyone," said board member Kevin Costin.
Other overweight patients have come to Bennett's defense.
"What really makes me angry is he told the truth," Mindy Haney told WMUR-TV on Tuesday.
"How can you punish somebody for that?"
Haney said Bennett has helped her lose more than 150 pounds, but acknowledged that she initially didn't want to listen.
"I have been in this lady's shoes.
I've been angry and left his practice.
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