Expert: Diminishing Dawn - 7/20/2010

Question
Hi Dawn,

I am looking for a bariatric surgen/ clinic in ontario that does not require a referal from my family doctor. I am close friends with my doctor and know she would not be supportive of my desire to explore the route of bariatric surgery. any help would be appreciated.
Kathy

Answer
You will need a doctor to fill out your form for the referral. You can have any doctor do it
if you have a specialist. Have you even tried with your doctor? A referral doesn't mean she necessarily has to agree.  She just writes the facts down.

I would give it a try with your family doctor. You can bring the OHIP report with you that discusses why OHIP is doing bariatric surgery.   Here's some links worth printing out.

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/providers/program/mas/tech/reviews/sum_baria...

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/media/news_releases/archives/nr_09/may/nr_20...

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/ohip/ont_bariatric_surgery/default.a...

Give it a try with your doctor. If not, find another doctor. Even in a community that has a doctor shortage, there are doctors. You just need to know where to look.

Where are you located?  I can maybe refer you to your local support group. They might be a valuable source of info for you in regards to referring doctors.

Dawn