Fat people will have to diet -- by law

[Guest guest]

One of the inevitable results of socialised medicine. How long before

we have to agree never to use alternative therapies?

 

 

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--

Fenris Wolf

 

RSPCA-Animadversion

 

http://www.webtribe.net/a/animadversion/animadversion.htm

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

In message <vR2U5UB5bS3+Ew9v, Fenris Wolf

<Fenris writes

>One of the inevitable results of socialised medicine. How long before

>we have to agree never to use alternative therapies?

 

 

Ummm - Where'd the rest of it go? Anyway, here it is (I hope!)

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk

 

Fat people will have to diet if they want to see the doctor

By Melissa Kite, Political Correspondent

 

Labour plan patients' contract

 

 

OVERWEIGHT people and heavy smokers would have to sign contracts

promising to diet or give up cigarettes in return for treatment, under

radical new plans being drawn up by Labour.

Written contracts would set out the patients responsibilities while

offering them help to cut down or quit smoking, lose weight, take more

exercise or eat a more nutritious diet, The Times has learnt. Those

who failed to keep their side of the bargain or kept missing

appointments could be denied free care.

 

The contracts would also bind doctors to certain standards of care and

to providing a formal channel of redress if they fail to measure up.

 

The move comes amid growing concern about the strain on the health

service from avoidable illnesses linked to smoking, alcohol, bad diet

and workplace stress. For example, Britain suffers a relatively high

incidence of heart disease and lung cancer.

 

The plan is outlined in five new policy documents that have been put

out for consultation among Labour Party members. They will be debated

at the party conference this autumn, agreed in 2004 and form the basis

of the next election manifesto.

 

The health service document describes the NHS as a " free, yet finite

service " and states that Labour intends to stop wasting care

resources. " The concept of reminding patients about the limits of the

National Health Service and about their responsibility in using its

resources sensibly is one we want to take forward. "

 

The agreements would set out the standards of care the patient should

expect, but also " remind him or her of the reciprocal nature of their

relationship with their doctor " . There appeared to be confusion over

whether the contracts would be legally binding. The document seen by

The Times states that it would put the relationship between doctor and

patient " on to a statutory footing " , although it says later that " this

type of agreement would not be legally binding. It would take the form

of a joint statement of mutual good intent. "

 

Nor is it clear exactly what sanctions would be taken against a

patient who refused to co-operate. This is expected to be addressed

during the consultation exercise and a senior Health Department source

said: " This document is about kick-starting the debate. As the NHS

gets better, the issue of the patients responsibilities becomes more

stark. "

 

Paul Burstow, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: " We have

had ministers micromanaging hospitals, doctors and nurses. Now it

sounds like the control-freak tendency in Whitehall is aiming to

micromanage patients. These contracts are patient targets in disguise.

 

 

" The Governments performance management of the NHS is becoming

excessively prescriptive and all-pervasive. The danger is that

initiatives such as this will not give us a patient-centred NHS. They

could end up putting power back in the hands of providers -- in this

case, those who issue the contract. "

 

Persistently violent patients have already been warned that they will

be denied treatment and the Government is considering fining patients

for missed GP appointments -- of which there are an estimated 17

million a year. The Tories have said they will charge for abuse of the

system.

 

The Government has also tried through GPs to stop people smoking.

Nicotine-replacement products have been available on prescription

since 1999 and the number of successful quitters reached 227,300 in

March 2002.

 

Would you sign this deal with your GP?

 

I, Margaret Smith, agree to co-operate with the following action plan

to manage my emphysema, high blood pressure and irritable bowel

syndrome:

 

 

1: To reduce drastically and eventually cease smoking;

 

 

2: To take moderate exercise daily;

 

 

3: To reduce my intake of salt, eat more fresh fruit, vegetables and

wholemeal bread and cut back fried, fatty and fast foods.

 

 

In return, Dr George Kildare will treat me to the best of his ability

for the above conditions, providing any medical assistance necessary,

including nicotine-replacement therapy and blood pressure medication.

 

Signed

Mrs M. Smith Dr G. Kildare

--

Fenris Wolf

 

RSPCA-Animadversion

 

http://www.webtribe.net/a/animadversion/animadversion.htm