Weight bias: A consideration for medical radiation sciences

Letter in response to Laing et al., “An evaluation of radiation therapy patient body mass index trends and potential impact on departmental resource planning”

“…Language characterising patients as “challenging”, “difficult”, “inconvenient” or “embarrassing” may be used. 2 Repeatedly framing health issues as a problem or inconvenience in the context of a specific population (in this case, large patients) can contribute to stigmatisation and practitioner bias. This has far‐reaching negative consequences for the affected communities.…”

Response to Letter to the Editor: An evaluation of radiation therapy patient body mass index (BMI) trends and potential impact on departmental resource planning

“…Large‐bodied patients are welcomed into departments that are not designed for them: gowns that do not fit, chairs that are too small, and weight limits and dimensions of equipment that are insufficient. 2 Without critical evaluation of the barriers to inclusive care, we cannot address how we can better serve this patient population. 2 This was the aim of our paper: to assess the patient body mass index trends and understand how this can be used to inform future departmental planning.…”

“… 2 Without critical evaluation of the barriers to inclusive care, we cannot address how we can better serve this patient population. 2 This was the aim of our paper: to assess the patient body mass index trends and understand how this can be used to inform future departmental planning.…”