Crystal M.
Don't let them take away our DS!
May 25, 2009
It has been a while since I have last posted, I had my DS done on Feb. 4th of this year and it went great!! I have lost almost 85 lbs so far and I am feeling great with no complications what so ever!! But...... Today I was very saddened to get a letter in the mail from the Ontario Ministry of Long Term Care. The letter informs that "On May 14th, 2009 the newly formed Ontario Bariatric Network Advisory Board responded to a request from the ministry regarding the clinical indications for the Duodenal Switch procedure. The recommendation is as follows: The Advisory Board does not recommend the duodenal switch for approval in Ontario. A special working group is being created to review the literature on this and other surgical variants to make recommendations on indications. Pending completion of this review, the board recommends freezing approvals for Out of country for the DS due to the high complication rate and difficulty of repatriation, high morbidity/mortality and long term requirements for intense follow up." It goes on to inform that due to the fact that I was given prior approval they will follow through with the funding that is owed to my surgeon, but they are encouraging him to halt any further surgeries from being performed for Canadian patients who have received OOC prior approval. I am very SAD, ANGERY, and UPSET by this news. This surgery has saved my life, has changed my life, and has affected me in ways that I am just starting to discover. There are so many people in Canada who can benefit from it or other weight loss surgeries and yet they are taking that option away from us. I did my research before making this life changing decision, the DS has the highest benefits to people who are my size, and assists in preventing or alleviating many conditions which would cost our Health care system much more money in the long run. This "Advisory board" has listed its reasoning behind their decisions yet the studies don’t support what they are saying... It always comes down to money, since in our society that seems to hold more worth then a human life. I am hoping that people will talk to their Doctors, participate in the studies, share your experiences and get the information out there, if we put it right in their face they will have to come up with other excuses as to why they are preventing us from having this surgery, they may even be forced to tell the truth, that it is due to issues of funding. I know that I should be grateful that I have already had my surgery and that it has been paid for but I am thinking about all of the other people who are just like me who can benefit from this; we need to fight for it!!
0 Comments
About Me
Chapleau, ON
Location
51.3
BMI
Nov 12, 2008
Member Since
