A Montérégie resident denounces a situation of “grossphobia” in a CISSS de la Montérégie-Est establishment: an orthopedic doctor allegedly suggested diets to her rather than an operation that she badly needed.
For almost two years, Manon Provencher has been living with intense hip pain. X-rays taken on December 10, 2021 showed light wear. But his ailments greatly worsened in the following months, until they became “unbearable”.
“I walk with a cane, I limp. I am unable to put on my stockings, my shoes, to cut my toenails,” she describes in a complaint filed with the CISSS de la Montérégie-Est and that The Press consulted.
In September 2022, as his quality of life deteriorates, Mme Provencher is referred to orthopedics by her family doctor. The consultation takes place on November 9.
The specialist “only looked at the x-ray” which was about a year old, says the 61-year-old obese woman.
He said to me: “Listen, ma’am, it’s light wear and tear.” He didn’t examine me. He immediately told me about diets and a consultation with a nutritionist. I told him, “I’m in so much pain, this doesn’t make sense.” He ended up telling me: “Anyway, with the weight you have, I wouldn’t operate on you.”
Manon Provencher
Overweight and obesity can indeed complicate hip surgery.
After much protest, the doctor offered her a cortisone injection in the hip, a treatment which “did nothing,” she says.
“From November 2022 until July 24, 2023, I continued to suffer and my physical condition deteriorated,” notes the patient in her written complaint.
During this period, she knocked on several doors: osteopath, acupuncturist, physiotherapist, physiotherapist, etc. “Apart from stuffing you with pills, there’s nothing more I can do for you,” his family doctor reportedly told him, who was relying on the orthopedist’s opinion to rule out any major hip problem.
A response from the private sector
Exasperated, the grandmother of four grandchildren turns to the private sector; she consulted a physiatrist at the Montreal Spinal Intervention Center. On the basis of a physical examination and a radio-guided injection, during a second appointment he detected significant damage to… the right hip.
“He said to me: “Madame, your hip is finished, I can see it.” » The physiatrist orders new x-rays. Result ? “Severe wear and tear”.
M’s family doctorme Provencher obtains a second orthopedic opinion for his patient in the public network. She got an appointment last April. Verdict: the patient must be operated on “as a priority”.
This consultation made me realize that I lost more than a year of quality of life enduring excruciating suffering because the [premier médecin orthopédiste] never asked for new x-rays and just talked about my weight.
Extract from M’s complaintme Provencher
A physical examination could also have helped to obtain the correct diagnosis, she regrets.
In addition, the percentage of fat around the patient’s hip in no way compromised the operation, she was assured, contrary to what the first expert consulted had stated.
“What is revolting is the inaction, the lack of compassion of this orthopedic doctor who refused to treat a patient because of prejudices of grossophobia,” says her partner, Denis Boucher.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Manon Provencher and Denis Boucher
Mme Provencher would like to have an operation by the second orthopedist she consulted – and in whom she trusts – but the delay of several months for a priority operation in the public network seems “unbearable” to her.
The couple will have to turn to a private clinic.
“We will have to eat into our modest retirement savings to pay for an operation that costs around $25,000,” Mr. Boucher is indignant.
If the consultation of November 9, 2022 had been more rigorous, “my partner would have already had public surgery for several months, while having respected the waiting times of our health system,” he says.
The CISSS de la Montérégie-Est refused to comment on the file for reasons of confidentiality, but a spokesperson explains that each complaint gives rise to an investigation by a medical examiner. In addition to submitting to a code of ethics and a code of conduct, health professionals must also respect a “policy on equity, diversity and inclusion which aims to maintain an environment respectful of diversity and free from discrimination for all,” she wrote in an email. “In the event of proven misconduct in this area, a doctor would be exposed to the same disciplinary sanctions as any other employee. »
At the time we were writing these lines, Denis Boucher and Manon Provencher had just learned that the examining doctor had rejected their complaint, but that he had made suggestions to the orthopedist to ensure better follow-up. ‘future. The couple will appeal the decision.