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Episode details

Radio 4,03 Aug 2010,45 mins

Series Series 6

Obesity Surgery

Inside the Ethics Committee

Available for over a year

Joan Bakewell is joined by a panel of experts to discuss the ethical dilemmas faced by a surgeon. The UK's obesity epidemic is out of control. More and more patients want weight loss surgery and the NHS struggles to meet their needs. Many obese people believe they don't stand a chance of an operation on the NHS and seek what they think of as the quick fix of weight loss surgery at a private clinic. But surgery doesn't suit everyone - it requires life changing commitment from the patient. When things go wrong, many ask the NHS for help. The surgeon knows that each time he treats these patients, he denies others on the NHS waiting list. What should he do? What is the most ethical way to prioritise treatment? Producer: Beth Eastwood.

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