Bariatric Surgery Is Malpractice - Position Statement

Bariatric surgery is malpractice.

It is also assault.

Here are the indications for bariatric surgery (from: http://www.lapsurgery.com/BARIATRIC%20SURGERY/SAGES.htm):

SAGES GUIDELINES FOR LAPAROSCOPIC AND CONVENTIONAL SURGICAL TREATMENT OF MORBID OBESITY

This guideline was prepared jointly by SAGES and the ASBS

SAGES = Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons

ASBS = American Society of Bariatric Surgeons

INDICATIONS FOR SURGERY

Surgical therapy should be considered for individuals who:

have a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 40 kg/m2

OR

have a BMI greater than 35 kg/m2 with significant co-morbidities.

AND

can show that dietary attempts at weight control have been ineffective.

(ASBS is now called ASBMS.)

Since virtually all expert diet recommendations are impossible to follow starvation diets, no patient can be placed on effective "dietary attempts at weight control."

This makes fulfilling the above Guidelines a certainty, since the diet could never succeed and was  therefore illusory.

Further, it makes it impossible for a patient to provide an informed consent to the malpractice known as bariatric surgery, since the patient is unaware that the diet program that was recommended was impossible to follow.

Without an informed consent, the malpractice known as bariatric surgery becomes an assault, i.e., an unconsented to touching.

NAAAFP stands in opposition to bariatric surgery as it is malpractice and an assault.

Bariatric Surgery Is Malpractice - Advocacy Letter

Dear (insert name of recipient here),

Bariatric surgery is malpractice.

It is also assault.

Here are the indications for bariatric surgery (from: http://www.lapsurgery.com/BARIATRIC%20SURGERY/SAGES.htm):

SAGES GUIDELINES FOR LAPAROSCOPIC AND CONVENTIONAL SURGICAL TREATMENT OF MORBID OBESITY

This guideline was prepared jointly by SAGES and the ASBS

SAGES = Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons

ASBS = American Society of Bariatric Surgeons

INDICATIONS FOR SURGERY

Surgical therapy should be considered for individuals who:

have a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 40 kg/m2

OR

have a BMI greater than 35 kg/m2 with significant co-morbidities.

AND

can show that dietary attempts at weight control have been ineffective.

(ASBS is now called ASBMS.)

Since virtually all expert diet recommendations are impossible to follow starvation diets, no patient can be placed on effective " dietary attempts at weight control."

This makes fulfilling the above Guidelines a certainty, since the diet could never succeed and was  therefore illusory.

Further, it makes it impossible for a patient to provide an informed consent to the malpractice known as bariatric surgery, since the patient is unaware that the diet program that was recommended was impossible to follow.

Without an informed consent, the malpractice known as bariatric surgery becomes an assault, i.e., an unconsented to touching.

I stand in opposition to bariatric surgery as it is malpractice and an assault.

I expect the following from you:

A clear and immediate public declaration that expert diet advice is impossible to follow

A clear and immediate public declaration that expert diet advice causes diet failure

A clear and immediate public declaration that expert diet advice causing diet failure leads to needless bariatric surgery

A clear and immediate public declaration that since expert diet advice causes diet failure which leads to needless bariatric surgery, bariatric surgery is malpractice and an assault

A clear and immediate public declaration that you are opposed to bariatric surgery

A clear and immediate public declaration that you are in favor of an immediate halt to public funding for bariatric surgery

Thank you for your attention to this important  matter.