Why Increase Hospital Equipment Size for Obese Patients?

I don't think that obese people should be denied health care because the equipment can't handle their weight, but at the same time I also don't think it's fair to make healthy people pay for the equipment. Unlike typical disabilities, obesity is largely a disease that you can do something about. I think if you need special hospital equipment to accomodate your girth, you should pay for it yourself. Just like if you need two airplane seats, you pay for the extra one. It goes back to the argument that things are made for average-sized people and if you are an outlying person on the "average" scale, you'll have to pay a little extra to get accomodated.

I'm a short person and sometimes I have trouble finding pants that have the proper inseam, so I often have to get petite sized pants that cost extra or get my pants tailored. When I go to the doctor, the "average" blood pressure cuff doesn't fit my arm, so they have to get the special smaller one...if it were to cost extra for that, I guess I'd pay it...I wouldn't expect other taxpayers to cover that expense.

No one should be denied basic care and health....although I don't want my taxes going to support people who are not taking responsibility for their own health. Honestly...we need to start making it painful for people to not be healthy...otherwise they really have no motivation. Ask any obese person and they know they are overweight, yet continue to eat unhealthy. There's a difference between those trying to make a positive difference in their health...and those that don't care. So make it cost them more money...and maybe that is the incentive for some people to finally take some action. Hit em where it hurts the most...the wallet...as no one likes that. At this rate our health care system will be bankrupted by preventable "lifestyle" diseases.

Hmm.... " I don't want my taxes going to support people who are not taking responsibility for their own health" ... so would you then stop public money from providing very expensive chemotherapy and surgical treatments for lung cancer on patients who have developed that disease as a result of their smoking? Or who require liver transplants after years of alcoholism... or $50000 helicopter rescues of people who recklessly go jetskiing in rough surf on closed beaches with posted warning signs who then get swept out to sea as a result of their stupidity? Or drug rehab programs for criminals? Where is the cut off line?

That said, I also don't think it is viable to equip every hospital with such equipment. Perhaps what we need is particular hospitals set up with specialist wards - which would probably require those patients to travel etc.

i have known a couple of skinny people who unnecessarily go to the doctor repeatedly in hopes of finding something wrong so they will be able to collect disability benefits instead of getting jobs. there are numerous trips to different doctors and emergency rooms costing us taxpayers a lot of money for nothing. not only do they want medical but also housing and food stamps since they are to darn "sick" to work. this ticks me off far more than an obese person needing special equipment for needed medical care. many obese people get that way because they are poor. healthy foods cost more than cheap junk food. if these people had to pay extra for the large sized equipment they might end up dying because they cant afford it. many uninsured people i know fat or thin are going without needed care due to cost since theres no public heathcare in the united states.

Infact, Colorado, Oregon and Utah by state law allow agencies to charge people for the cost of conducting an emergency rescue, and at least one point in Thatcher's day the tax on tobacco products in the UK was meant to offset public health costs for tobacco smoking (at least, that's what friends told me when I was working there).

I think arguments like "I don't want my taxes going to support people who are not taking responsibility for their own health" are destructive. It's the Law of the Uniintended Consequence. In this case, people who don't get health care because of extra upcharges are more likely to end up in hospital emergency rooms, where the costs are higher (and still carried by the rest of us).

Here's an idea: why not tax fast food restaurants, manufacturers of snacks, and school districts that allow soda machines and who cut physical education to defray the costs of the specialized equipment?

- If you like this idea, then think of one unintended consequence. (One idea: think of what has happened with increased taxes on cigarettes and cigarette sales in the US).

And if there were public healthcare, then we would all get to wait for months on end to be able to get it. Look at Canada. I know people who live where there IS public healthcare, and you know what? They come here, to AMERICA, to get healthcare so they don't have to wait for MONTHS to see a doctor. Yea, no public healthcare for me, thanks! I like to pay for my own doctors, instead of paying for the rest of the countries!

Not providing equipment modified for the morbidly obese, without a tax, is akin to not providing oxygen for the smoker with lung cancer or medications for the drinker with cirrhosis of the liver, without a tax. Health care is a never ending science of constant "modification".

As a nurse of 27 years, I feel I can safely say that had we not had equipment modified for the morbidly obese, our health care system would have later dealt with a more morbidly obese population that had new or more co-morbidities that would have rendered them disabled or worse.

Ultimately it's more "cost effective" if you provide the needed equipment to treat ALL patients, no matter their illness.

I think that when people driving cars get into car accidents and need emergency and medical help and all the extra space and time from firemen, paramedics, ICU and trauma doctors, ambulances, etc... we should charge them extra. I mean driving is an inherently dangerous activity, many people die from it when there are other options like public transport, biking, walking, etc that don't damage the environment so much and don't put the rest of us at extra risk and expense. No matter how good or careful a driver you are you are kidding yourself if you believe you are safe, just a moment is all it takes.
So...

As a trauma surgeon, when somebody arrives in the E. R, with injuries sustained in an A.A. it's all business. The entire team is always 100% committed to helping that person get through this. We do not have the time nor the luxury to have a discussion about the physical nature of the individual, other than what and where they are damaged, and what we are going to do about it.

I believe there are additional charges for some of the services mentioned, however , many trauma patients have no insurance nor the money to pay for them. We do not concern ourselves with that. We have a higher duty to perform, that's why we get to be called doctor, and you know, except for some of the trash on the internet, it makes it all worth it.

You know what would be nice... more things paid for to treat the actual problem not just the symptom. (and the emergency situation created)
More resources available.
I'm not in the UK, so I can't speak about that, but I know here there'd likely be a lot less expense later on if there was better insurance covered preventive care and health services.

but is the cost of obesity-related disease, and providing this equipment, fair to tax-payers who put time and effort into eating healthily and exercising?

It's interesting that Merriam-Webster's dictionary includes, as part of the definition of "fair", the following: 6 a: marked by impartiality and honesty : free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism

I could get behind the tax on high fat/high calorie foods. A lot of people chose the 'bad foods' because they are cheaper than the good foods. Even out the cost and you've eliminated that excuse. Fat or Skinny, anyone purchasing those foods would be paying the tax, so it affects everyone the same. Choose to eat healthy and you choose not to pay the tax.

I kind of like the idea of having a specialized obese patient hospital in each state...a facility that's specifically designed for the needs of the morbidly obese and staffed with physicians that specialize in obese patients. The cost of the center could be offset by a tax in each state placed on items that promote poor health: soda, junk food, cigarettes, etc. That way, if there were people that needed to have special equipment, they could be placed in their state's "fat hospital". It may not be perfect, but hey, it's a start.

I was obese.

I was obese because I was working fulltime and going to school fulltime and didn't have the time, energy or the money to exercise and eat healthy, because if I'd had some extra money, I could have hired a personal trainer, bought exercise equipment for my home, and had healthy meals planned out for me by a nutritionist and delivered, so I could have been healthy despite working so hard. As it was, obviously I was flailing about in a sea of stress eating anything I could find.

So now, I'm working less. I've lost a lot of weight because I've had time to get healthy - healthy eating and living takes a lot of planning, I'm sure I don't need to tell you.

I don't think it's fair to assume that people who are obese choose to be that way, that they are simply lazy and that "but it's not FAAAAIR" for other people to offset the cost of their treatment. Ever wonder if it's fair that obese people have to live lifestyles that make them obese, while healthy people get to live lifestyles that allow them to be healthy? Is it "FAIR" that your condo building has a great gym? You pay for it, of course. But you can.

So the next time you're complaining about FAIR, think about how fair it is that you've got everything going for you. Some compassion for those who don't would be in order.

"I don't want my taxes going to support people who are not taking responsibility for their own health."

Then make sure you're not paying for the skateboarders, motorcycle riders and football players, then.

*rolleyes*

"It's estimated that obesity costs the NHS £9 billion a year. (In comparison, smoking-related illness costs about £1.5 billion per year, and the tax on cigarettes raises nearly £9 billion each year.)"

Sounds like B.S. Note the word "estimated". These are the kind of tatics used by Marxists remove more civil rights.

Hopefully Americans are not stupid enough to miss this. Then again....

Regardless of there size they are still human and need to be taken care of in a hospital setting as anyone else. As a healthcare worker it would great to have the proper equipment for someone that is obese. It would provide a safer place for the patient and the worker. We pay higher insurance rates because of other ridiculous reasons. Let's start with trying to encourage others to live a healthy lifestyle and remember you don't have to be obese to be unhealthy!

I agree that everyone should have the opportunity to receive health care, regardless of their weight.

But I also really like the idea of some sort of "fat tax" on unhealthy foods. I'm in university, and a lot of people I know buy unhealthy foods because the food is cheap and they don't have a lot of money. For example, a double cheeseburger at McDonalds is about $1.50, and a 6" turkey sub at Subway is about $5.00.
Healthy food needs to be cheaper and more widely available.

"We've all heard about widening of aircraft seats in the light of growing levels of obesity..."

Ha! I just spent two hours on either a new or newly remodeled aircraft and it was the MOST uncomfortable two hour flight of my life. I was truly wedged in the seat. Thankfully my flight companion took pity and offered to raise the arm, but we were still crammed in there.

The older planes/older seats provided more room than these things. The proof was in my return flight on an older plane - so much more comfortable.

Hand in hand with the talk of widening aircraft seats has been talk of fitting more seats on a plane so more passengers are accommodated and thus, more money earned.

I think the "wider seat" talk has expired and airlines are packing in the passengers.

I think that blaming obesity on working a lot, no gym, and no nutritionist is a cop out and it doesn't help others who are obese to recover from their condition. I think if an obese person needs special equipment, they should pay for it, just as anyone with a disorder has to pay for it. I have family members on dialysis and they have to pay for it. I am proud of you deciding to become healthier, but the truth is, you made a decision to care about yourself. That is the difference, not your job. People do not need a gym, nutritionist, or a lot of time to weight a normal weight. My mother had five kids, worked two jobs, had a husband, and went to college, without becoming obese or going to a gym. She also graduated with awards, on the dean's list, and served as an ambassador of her college. Ever time I think of making an excuse about anything, I think about my mother. She watches her weight and cuts back when she gains. She is not super thin, but she is a size 8 in womens and she's cute. As a person who has conquered obesity, you especially owe it to others to make no excuses and take responsibility. We are talking about saving lives, not just a few dollars on a hospital bed. Making excuse with out providing solutions helps no one. I lost weight without a gym, also, I write down everything I eat (and I eat everything, including junk food!) and I put myself first. I am proud of you, but do not give credit to your job. Give credit to yourself, and your self determination to become who you are.

Where I live, my property tax pays for our public school system, even though I don't have children. Is it fair that my tax dollars are going to pay for the education of other peoples children?

Just as all children deserve an education all people deserve proper medical care, with the proper equipment, regardless of their size.

I had the pleasure of enjoying one of the fat people beds in the hospital (not sure of the reason). All I remember is that it was too wide to fit through most of the doors and they had to take it apart. It was comfortable though... I would get lost in it =P

Yeah it is definitely a tough call for those who are obese from non-lifestyle factors. I do think there should be either more levies posed on foods that impact the health care system more or provide more taxable benefits for those who make more preventative health care choices such as working out, eating healthy foods and taking health supplements.

My two cents:

I agree that the proper equipment should be available to all people. I also agree with Ali's comment that more should be done to address the causes of and the prevention of obesity. Key to that will be coming to agreement on what the causes of obesity actually are, and how to prevent it. So far the fat free craze which began in the '90's sorely missed mark, as did the extremely low carb take on diet. The places most looked to for dietary info, like the US food Pyramid, the American Heart Association, etc., are still pushing high glycemic load diets, which are not the solution, either. Ali used the word "combat" in her comment (good choice of words, Ali!). The problem is that there can't be a unified fight against obesity until there's agreement on the actual cause(s) and how to prevent it. Without that, as the population continues to age, an increasing number of demands are put on the healthcare system as the poor state of health of many of the baby boomers now reaching into their 60's worsens, much of this due to obesity, as well as inflammatory related conditions (eg: arthritis, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, to name a few) which are the result of deplorable dietary and lifestyle habits. Without a major change, this will eventually break the bank, so to speak, as far as our current healthcare system stands. I might add, that day is probably not as far off in the future as we think!

In my little corner of the world I'm taking care of myself so, hopefully, I won't be adding too much to the already overwhelmed state of our current healthcare system.

Listen to yourselves ... many of your arguments have been used in history to deny the rights of the mentally retarded and the malnourished immigrant masses. How do we justify the dollars spent on cancer research and treatment; what about infertility or the treatment for pre-term children? Dollar for dollar, person for person, there are many "rare" diseases that have had many many times the money expended to save a few - was that wrong? What about caring for someone who chooses to ride a motorcycle without a helmet and crashes -- do we just let them die, it was their choice after all? What about those who choose to have a genetically abnormal child? We as an "advanced" society need to look at the needs of all our members and act in ways that may not benefit us personally but are in the interest of the wider society. Have a care where you place blame and deny rights - you never know when you may be the one in need.