Court threat over obesity surgery
BBC NEWS Scotland 17/07/08
A woman who weighs 24 stone intends to take Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board to court if it does not consider her for weight-loss surgery.
Laura Brown, 34, insists her weight is leaving her in pain and house-bound. She became angry after the health authority told her she would have to attend a year-long diet programme before she could undergo surgery.
Ms Brown, from Glasgow, believes her only option to lose weight is to have a gastric band fitted around her stomach.
Seven years ago she lost 12 stone with the help of weight loss drugs prescribed by her doctor. Since then she has put all the weight back on.
The health board have told Ms Brown that she will have to attend their weight management programme for at least a year before she can be put forward for the operation.
In England it is recommended that anyone with a BMI of over 40, like Ms Brown, should automatically be considered for surgery because of the cost efficiency. Scottish guidelines are currently under review.
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