Having visited the USA quite a few times, I must point out that nowhere have I seen so many really obese people, weighing well over 200 kgs. In Israel, obesity for a woman is 80-120kgs. So like pornography the term is a matter of geography. The first thing a doctor must do is good bedside manner. What a dietician or caring social worker can do, a doctor must never do. Only your personal physician, in her/his clinic might recommend a diet to his patient.

The article never ever said she was OBESE- and the anaestheoligist was out of place-he is NOT her private family doctor, and this woman will always remember this birth badly. Shame on the doctor. To the new mother-mazal tov, I am sure you will be an excellent mom, enjoy the baby and life and remember that you are far nicer than that dr.

that they couldn't find a vein in her fat arms, and the doctor was fed up with trying to help the complaining patient.

Many many years ago, I suffered from excruciating pain in my lower abdomen and left side. My G.P. sent me to the Carmel Hospital in Haifa. I was in a large Internal Ward and placed near the door. Every time someone opened the door it hit my bed and the pain was terrible. The Professor on his morning visit with the entourage of young doctors came over to my bed and I tried to sit up to answer his questions, wincing with the pain. The Prof. sneered and said: "surely your pain can't be this bad..." Eventually, in another hospital, they discovered I had a cyst on my kidney with a stone in it. Doctors, lashing out with your tongue is something patients never forget.

None of us know exactly what was said and when, so let an investigation disclose that. But I must tell you without disclosing my own background, that obese patients often object to any discussion of their weight no matter how delicately it is raised with them., and therefore physicians are often reluctant to discuss the issue with them. This has nothing to do with whether the obese person is smart, kind or presently healthy. The comments above are indicative of the problems faced by physicians in dealing with this problem.

someone would get sued

I'm not "beating up" on American women. I am simply saying that if you weigh over 200 pounds and your belly hangs three inches over the waistband of your jeans, please do not wear a sheer camisole which ends four inches above your navel. Please also do not display your tattoos, or a piece of jewelry pierced in your navel. It really is quite gross. That is all I am saying -- people should have a little respect for your physical attributes, and dress accordingly. I am REALLY not interested in viewing four inches of cleavage on someone who is grossly overweight. I'm reasonably certain that your mother did not display a great deal of belly or cleavage. Being overweight in and of itself is not a crime; just a medical challenge. I'm sure your mother helped save many lives. I hope that she spent at least enough time working to save her own. Being overweight is not good. But yes, I am thin. Genetic good fortune, for which I do not claim credit, but a couple of hours in the gym every day. It's as much a matter of health as anything else. It has its downside too -- craving for salt, low blood pressure, and an inability to gain weight, even when recommended. But on balance, it is probably better to be underweight than overweight, although there are medical issues attendant to either. My issue is more one that I'm really not all that into food. I eat to live; I do not live to eat. I'm also a vegan, which has nothing to do with animal rights, or anything else. I happen to LIKE veggies, and I don't really like meat, poultry or fish. Oh -- by the way -- under the British system, I would be a solicitor. I'm allowed to argue in Court. Therein the difference, honey.

I agree. But there are a multitude of risks attendant to inserting an epidural line, which is a much longer process. A C Section can be a relatively quick procedure; and then the mother can be brought around. But yes, I do know that there are huge risks attendant to the use of general anaesthesia. It's just faster, and safer to use in most cases. I suspect that the majority of laymen do not understand just how much risk delivery entails. We do not know if the woman in question was toxemic, or suffered from eclampsia. Both will kill; I suspect you know that. But being an anaesthesiologist facing a complex medical challenge does not excuse deriding or demeaning the patient, who is likely concerned enough already, does it?

I didn't see anything about this woman being a smoker. While I find smoking to be a vile habit, I don't think you should assume facts not in evidence. But even if she was -- she was a woman about to deliver a child, and she deserved a better standard of care and concern than derision and contempt.

Thank you for your comment. I am a cancer survivor, and I have never engaged in behavior which would enhance the likelihood of cancer. I was simply born with a gene that made me prone. It wasn't my fault. But the job of a physician is to find a way around a problem -- not blame a terrified patient for the problem. I tend to doubt that people are overweight by choice. Some behavior modification and change in eating habits are quite probably in order. But that is no justification for being verbally abusive to a woman about to give birth. A physician takes the oath in order to help and to heal; not to criticize and demean.

at a different hospital while waiting for a DC. A little sensitivity training would go far

are more likely to have an easier delivery and a child with birth defects from malnutrition. In addition, the skinny mother is less likely to have enough milk to breast feed the baby. My sister learned that the hard way. For the first baby she stayed thin and worked until she went into labor. The birth process for a little baby was only four hours but being thin my sister could not give the baby enough milk from her breasts. In addition, the baby had scoliosis of the spine and was an unhappy screamer baby who turned into an unhappy screamer child and a vicious adult no one wants to marry. In contrast, my sister gained a lot of weight for her second child to have enough milk to nurse her. That baby was a 9 pounder and the delivery was very difficult, but the child did not have birth defects and was happier natured. So take you choice: a skinny birth mother or a wiser one who gained weight to give her baby all the nutrition that was needed for a healthy baby.

who tell screaming women in labor, "Why weren't you screaming when he stuck it in you?" I think I would prefer to be told, "You're too fat."

If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. No matter how much our patients can anger us for a million and one reasons, it is never, ever acceptable to fly off the handle professionally. He could have asked another doctor to take over or even refuse to give the mother an epidural if he felt it would endanger her health. Believe it or not, it IS possible to deliver without one! A GP can gently discuss the health risks of obesity at another time but on the delivery table?! Absolutely not acceptable! This complaint should be investigated and if it is found to be true, the doctor should have to issue an apology. I would love hospitals to make personnel attend periodic sessions of ethics and patient relations. Susan

when they are sexually attracted to them, to inhibit desire. Maybe the doctor was attracted to the woman and used a put down to keep from doing something inappropriate. The Scriptures say it is an abomination for a man to be a midwife, so he should not have been in the delivery room from HaShem's perspective. The woman should have insisted on all females in attendance at the delivery.

to Isaeli's....Israeli's all live in denial of any responsibilty for anything they've done ..they resist anything that would take away even a modicum of their right to victim status. TATA

Israel is a free country where everyone has the right to live according to their beliefs. The lady is in full right to abuse her body and die of diabetes complications if she chooses so. After all, compared to a good self-image, functioning kidneys are so overrated!

that's a great part of life, isn't it? those ever present reminders that life is fragile at best. Personally, when men have babies, only then are they fully qualified to make any knowing comments on pregnancy. The comparison, I guess, would be like a women's expertise of late life male circumcisions.....

Perhaps this Doctor should have been told in return that he should be seeing a psychiatrist for his God complex and disgusting social behavior. Pregnant women are bound to lose pregnancy weight but he as a psychopath has little chance of recover ;/