Despite a move toward “body positivity” in recent years and the inclusion of people (particularly women) of all shapes and sizes in advertising, some people still have negative views of “higher-weight” people.
When a person with those prejudices is a doctor, it can be particularly demoralizing and potentially dangerous to their patients. It’s not a small number of doctors who feel that way. In surveys of physicians, approximately 40% have admitted to what’s sometimes called “fatphobia” when it comes to patients who are well above their recommended weight.
In a column for The Washington Post, one doctor admitted to having this prejudice. Because he was able to lose weight through diet and exercise, he believed his overweight patients should be able to do the same. He eventually learned that weight issues aren’t always controllable and that “obesity is a complex and mostly neurological and inheritable disease.”
Why is “fatphobia” among doctors dangerous for patients?
When a doctor doesn’t understand the reasons why a patient is overweight, it can affect the way they interact with them. If they think their patient isn’t really trying to lose their extra weight and get healthier, they may spend less time with them or be less understanding of their physical complaints and symptoms – often assuming that their problems are weight-related.
This can lead heavier people to avoid seeing their doctor for regular check-ups and non-emergency issues. It can also cause doctors to fail to diagnose or misdiagnose serious conditions that may have little or no relationship to a patient’s size.
Some disturbing statistics show that both breast and cervical cancer fatalities are higher than average in heavier women. That’s even though these two types of cancers are among those that are often successfully treated if discovered early.
When can a doctor be held liable for a missed or misdiagnosis?
A doctor typically can’t be held liable for not diagnosing a condition in a patient who won’t come in to see them. Any patient who isn’t comfortable with their doctor’s attitude toward them should find another doctor if at all possible.
However, if a doctor dismisses a patient’s symptoms as weight-related without exploring other potential causes, it may be possible to hold them liable if a missed or misdiagnosis causes harm or worse. When this happens, getting experienced legal guidance can help patients and families determine their options.