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Doctors Refusing to Treat Overweight Women (19th May, 2011)

Doctors in Florida are refusing to treat women if they are overweight. A report from the Sun Sentinel newspaper says that 15 out of 105 gynaecology clinics in Florida have a weight limit. Doctors at the clinics will not see new patients if they weigh more than 90kg. This is even if the women have no health problems. One of the excuses they gave reporters is that their medical equipment is difficult to use with obese people. Doctors say it is not against the law to refuse patients.

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Many doctors and patients are furious this is happening. People say doctors have to treat anyone who enters their office. They believe any doctor who does not see a patient is letting down the medical profession. Dr Maureen Whelihan of West Palm Beach said: “If I had that policy, I'd lose half my patients.” She has a point. The USA has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world. If doctors put weight limits on patients, much of the country would be sick.

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PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.

refusing to treat women if

a.

gave

2

15 out of 105

b.

limit

3.

a weight

c.

they are overweight

4.

One of the excuses they

d.

the law

5.

medical

e.

gynaecology clinics

6.

it is not against

f.

equipment

 

Paragraph 2

1.

patients are

a.

medical profession

2

doctors have to

b.

point

3.

letting down the

c.

treat anyone

4.

lose half my

d.

furious

5.

She has a

e.

of obesity

6.

highest rates

f.

patients


LISTENING GAP FILL

Doctors in Florida are refusing to treat women _____________________. A report from the Sun Sentinel newspaper says that 15 out of 105 gynaecology clinics in Florida _____________________. Doctors at the clinics will not see new patients _____________________ than 90kg. This is even if the women have no health problems. One of _____________________ reporters is that their medical equipment is difficult _____________________ people. Doctors say it is not against _____________________ patients.

Many doctors and patients _____________________ happening. People say doctors have to treat _____________________ their office. They believe any doctor who does not see a patient _____________________ medical profession. Dr Maureen Whelihan of West Palm Beach said: “If _____________________, I'd lose half my patients.” _____________________. The USA has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world. If doctors put weight limits on patients, _____________________ would be sick.


MULTIPLE CHOICE

Doctors in Florida are refusing to treat women (1) ____ they are overweight. A report from the Sun Sentinel newspaper says that 15 (2) ____ of 105 gynaecology clinics in Florida have a weight limit. Doctors at the clinics will not see new patients if they (3) ____ more than 90kg. This is even if the women have no health problems. One of the excuses they (4) ____ reporters is that (5) ____ medical equipment is difficult to use with obese people. Doctors say it is not (6) ____ the law to refuse patients.

Many doctors and patients are (7) ____ this is happening. People say doctors have to treat (8) ____ who enters their office. They believe any doctor who does not see a patient is letting (9) ____ the medical profession. Dr Maureen Whelihan of West Palm Beach said: “If I had that policy, I'd lose half my patients.” She has a (10) ____. The USA has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world. If doctors (11) ____ weight limits on patients, (12) ____ of the country would be sick.

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.

(a)

who

(b)

so

(c)

if

2.

(a)

from

(b)

out

(c)

number

3.

(a)

weighs

(b)

weigh

(c)

weight

4.

(a)

gave

(b)

did

(c)

made

5.

(a)

them

(b)

this

(c)

their

6.

(a)

against

(b)

anti

(c)

for

7.

(a)

fury

(b)

furious

(c)

furry

8.

(a)

anyone

(b)

ones

(c)

oneself

9.

(a)

up

(b)

over

(c)

down

10.

(a)

point

(b)

paint

(c)

pant

11.

(a)

save

(b)

put

(c)

weigh

12

(a)

many

(b)

such

(c)

much


SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1

1.

gynaecology ccislni

2.

weight ltimi

3.

health seomblpr

4.

cidaeml equipment

5.

nsgaita the law

6.

efusre patients

 

Paragraph 2

7.

orfusui this is happening

8.

anyone who enters their office

9.

ilntteg down the medical profession

10.

She has a npito

11.

highest rates of itbeosy

12.

much of the nyorctu


PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

limit. Doctors at the clinics will not see new patients if they weigh more than 90kg. This is even if the women have no

(    )

people. Doctors say it is not against the law to refuse patients.

1  )

Doctors in Florida are refusing to treat women if they are overweight. A report

(    )

Many doctors and patients are furious this is happening. People say doctors have to treat

(    )

down the medical profession. Dr Maureen Whelihan of West Palm Beach said: “If I had that

(    )

anyone who enters their office. They believe any doctor who does not see a patient is letting

(    )

equipment is difficult to use with obese

(    )

of the highest rates of obesity in the world. If doctors put

(    )

weight limits on patients, much of the country would be sick.

(    )

from the Sun Sentinel newspaper says that 15 out of 105 gynaecology clinics in Florida have a weight

(    )

policy, I'd lose half my patients.” She has a point. The USA has one

(    )

health problems. One of the excuses they gave reporters is that their medical


WORD JUMBLE

With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.

if     Refusing     they     to     are     treat     overweight     women.    

2.

out     105     clinics     15     of     gynaecology.

3.

no     if     health     the     problems     women     have     Even.

4.

gave     they     excuses     the     of     One     reporters.

5.

to     not     law     patients     is     the     refuse     It     against.

6.

furious     is     are     this     happening     Patients.    

7.

enters    to    who     office     have    anyone    their    Doctors     treat.    

8.

profession     medical     the     down     Letting.    

9.

my     half     lose     I'd     ,    policy    that     had     I     If     patients.    

10.

in     highest     obesity     world     the     of     the     One     rates.    


DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________


WRITING

Write about being overweight for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________


HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. BEING OVERWEIGHT: Search the Internet and find more information about being overweight. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about a doctor who refuses to treat an overweight patient. Include imaginary interviews with both the patient and the doctor. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to a doctor. Ask him/her three questions about patients. Give him/her three of your opinions on the doctors in this article. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Your partner will answer the questions you asked.

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